School Name Dragon School
Description Co-ed; day school and boarding from Year 4
Age range 4-13
Size 630 in the prep school; 215 in the pre-prep
Fees £4,930 per term (day fees for Year 3, rising to £6,610 for ages 8-13)
Address Bardwell Road, Oxford , OX2 6SS
Email (general enquiries – school secretary) sarah.bird@dragonschool.org
Website www.dragonschool.org
Telephone (general enquiries) 01865 315400
Head Mr Crispin Hyde-Dunn
Head’s PA Julie Taylor
Email Julie.taylor@dragonschool.org
Director of Admissions Kate Heath
Email admissions@dragonschool.org
Telephone 01865 31540
The Dragon was started by a group of university dons for their own children back in 1877 – so it has a good pedigree! The school’s ethos is described as combining ‘robust informality’ with ‘relaxed rigour’, which creates a balanced environment that ensures each child will flourish.
Aware of its size, (it’s not small) the school puts great emphasis on knowing each child and providing stellar pastoral care. Teaching is of a very high standard and a huge range of after school activities and clubs extend timetabled subjects and games with every kind of interest and activity. Encouraging children to follow their dreams and passions is order of the day.
A recent Global Citizen programme has been piloted in Years 1 and 3 to encourage young Dragons to become leaders in philanthropy and social entrepreneurship and to become the visionaries who will set the future agenda for social transformation. Direct skills learnt include debating and reasoning skills and activities exploring the ‘seven Cs’: communication, consideration, courage, curiosity, composure, collaboration and critical thinking.
Early registration is advised. However vacancies can occur at any stage, so calling the Admissions Office is always advised. The admissions process varies according to which year a child is entering. The process for 7 plus applications to the Dragon School is detailed below.
There are 20 places available at the Dragon for 7+.
As early as possible, but could be as late as summer term preceding entry (but leaving it this late is risky and would be contingent on a chance vacancy becoming available). The school offers Year 3 day places on a ‘first come, first served’ basis – in effect making early registration essential in practice.
Please click here for a link to the Dragon School’s 7+ registration form:
Registration fee: £100
Places must be booked in advance. Please contact the admissions department by email (admissions@dragonschool.org) or by calling them on 01865 315405.
If you are unable to make any of the set open days, individual family tours can be arranged during term time on weekdays and Saturdays. Parents can choose to come with or without their children on such a tour. If possible, the school will arrange for you to meet the Headmaster if he’s available. (In addition, if you’re interested in boarding, you will be able to meet a Houseparent as well – but this is not applicable for Year 3 entry.)
Children are assessed in maths and English via an assessment morning, which is held at Lynams (the Dragon’s pre-prep) in the Autumn Term prior to the year of entry. This is for children who have been offered a place, so it is not competitive, but designed to check that children are comfortable with the general standard of work and will be able to access the curriculum once they get to the school.
Skills and knowledge is tested in the style of a lesson rather than that of a formal examination, and children will be observed in relation their social skills and ability to get on with others in the group.
If a child visits on an individual basis, they will visit for half a day during which time they will complete similar assessment tasks as the Autumn assessment and spend some time in a classroom with current Lynams’ children.
Parents of the few who do not reach the required standard will be informed accordingly and advice will be given as to whether a pupil may improve with extra coaching, in which case the School may agree to re-assess the child at a later date. Where the school feels that the child would struggle, despite extra tuition, and declines to offer a place, the Registration Fee is returned.
7 plus English practice papers, ideal for The Dragon School 7+ exam preparation:
7+ English: Vocabulary and Grammar
The Complete Illustrated Guide to 7+ Comprehension
The Complete Illustrated Guide to 7+ Writing
7 plus maths practice papers, ideal for The Dragon School 7+ exam preparation:
7+ Mathematics: Mental Arithmetic
7+ Mathematics: Problem Solving
The Complete Illustrated Guide to 7+ Mathematics
7 plus Listening practice papers, ideal for The Dragon School 7+ exam preparation:
Here is a link to the many senior schools that the Dragon sends its children to – it is an impressive list and includes: Bedales, Beneden, Eton, Harrow, Malborough, Millfield, Radley, Tonbridge, Wellington, Winchester and Wycombe Abbey.
The Dragon does not offer Bursaries at 7+ but does offer them at 8+ (Year 4) where it has approximately five places for new applicants, whose parents would otherwise be unable to send their children to the School.
A forces discount is available for those in receipt of the CEA. A discount of 20% of fees will apply if Dragon boarding (from Year 4) begins in the junior years.
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