Cokethorpe School

Cokethorpe School
Cokethorpe's new school branding 2021
Location
Oxfordshire , Oxfordshire , OX29 7PU England
Information
Type	Private day school
Motto	Inopiam Ingenio Pensant
Religious affiliation(s)	Church of England and Roman Catholic
Established	1957
Chairman of Governors	John Bennett
Headmaster	Damian Ettinger
Gender	Boys until 1992 Coeducational from 1992
Age	4to 18
Enrolment	about 660
Houses	Senior School: Feilden, Gascoigne, Harcourt, Queen Anne, Swift, Lower House and Vanbrugh. Prep School: Baker, Gwyn, Lockwood and Symonds. [1]
Colour(s)	Navy blue and gold
Publication	The Ocellus- The termly newsletter & The SHEDule- The list of the academic year's event
Former Pupils	The Cokethorpe Society
Setting	Rural (150 acres)
Website	www.cokethorpe.org.uk

Cokethorpe School is a private day school in Witney, West Oxfordshire. The school was founded in 1957 by Francis Brown. ^[2] It is a member of HMC, IAPS, and The Society of Heads. The school has approximately 660 students from ages 4 to 18.

History

Cokethorpe School

The country house was used by Simon Harcourt, 1st Viscount Harcourt. ^[3] When Major Percy Henry Guy Feilden and his wife, Dorothy Louisa Brand, moved there in 1908, they undertook extensive renovations. ^[4] He died on 25 March 1944 and was buried there. ^[5] His son, Major-General Randle Guy Feilden, who was later knighted, was his successor. In 1957, it was left with part of the grounds to Francis Brown, who opened the school as a secondary boys' boarding school with 14 pupils. In about 1960 Yarnton Manor was used as a dormitory of the school. ^[6] In 1963, a charitable trust was formed, and in 1966, the school buildings and grounds were sold to the school trustees. ^{[2] [3]}

Stone commemorating restoration and extension of the school chapel in 1973

Cokethorpe School is a joint Church of England and Roman Catholic foundation. ^[7] The chapel is on the golf course on the school grounds. It is the former parish church of Hardwick and was restored and extended in 1973.

In 1985, the roof of the northwest wing was studied while the building was being repaired. ^[8] In 1986 work began on the construction of further buildings. The School started admitting girls in 1992 and opened a Prep School in 1994. The boarding facility was closed in 2003.

Facilities

The school runs out of an 18th-century Grade II* listed Queen Anne style country house. ^[9] The grounds include a chapel, rugby/football pitches, and astro pitches. A carved ‘giant’ peacock stands at the central crossroads within the school grounds. Cokethorpe has a strong sporting tradition with students playing national age group rugby and England women's hockey.

Notable former pupils

See also: Category:People educated at Cokethorpe School

• Martin Edwards, former Manchester United chairman
• Richard Hills, jockey, six-time British Classics winner, twin brother to Michael Hills
• Michael Hills, jockey, 1996 Derby Stakes winner, twin brother to Richard Hills
• Toby Sebastian, actor – portrayed Trystane Martell in the HBO series Game of Thrones
• Henry Purdy, professional rugby player

References

1. "Welcome from the Head of Sixth Form".
2. Crossley, Alan; Currie, C.R.J. (eds.); Baggs, A.P.; Chance, Eleanor; Colvin, Christina; Day, C.J.; Selwyn, Nesta; Townley, Simon C. (1996). A History of the County of Oxford. Vol. 13: Bampton Hundred (Part One). pp. 110–118. ISBN   978-0-19722-790-9 . Retrieved 27 January 2012.{{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)
3. "Cokethorpe School, Oxfordshire". Venues. Remotegoat. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
4. "People of Headington: Katharine Feilden". Headington, Oxford. Stephanie Jenkins. 3 January 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
5. Jeffery, Zoe. "Percy Henry Guy Feilden (b. – 1944)". Records. Geni. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
6. Crossley, Alan; Elrington, C.R. (eds.); Baggs, A.P.; Blair, W.J.; Chance, Eleanor; Colvin, Christina; Cooper, Janet; Day, C.J.; Selwyn, Nesta; Townley, Simon C. (1990). A History of the County of Oxford. Victoria County History. Vol. 12: Wootton Hundred (South) including Woodstock. pp. 475–478. ISBN   978-0-19722-774-9 . Retrieved 3 February 2012.{{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)
7. "Pastoral Care". Cokethorpe School. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
8. Steane, John (1986). "Cokethorpe Park (PRN 11202 SP 37100620)" (PDF). The Newsletter of the Council for British Archaeology Regional Group 9 (Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire) (16). The Council for British Archaeology. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
9. Historic England. "Cokethorpe School (Grade II*) (1048970)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 7 June 2014.

51°45′11″N1°27′54″W / 51.753°N 1.465°W / 51.753; -1.465