United Kingdom · Oxford
Dragon is a co-educational day and boarding prep school in Oxford for ages 4–13. It suits families seeking education through Year 8, with a separate senior-school move afterwards. Fees vary by year group, and flexi-boarding offers an alternative to full boarding.
Dragon School is an independent, co-educational prep school for children aged 4–13, from Reception through Year 8. A prep school prepares pupils for a separate senior school; Dragon does not offer GCSEs or a sixth form.
Founded in 1877, Dragon offers day places and boarding in Oxford. The Prep is at Bardwell Road, OX2 6SS. The younger children’s site is at 306 Woodstock Road, Summertown, OX2 7NR.
The central decisions are whether the child will attend by day or board, whether the Oxford journey works, and how the family will plan the move after Year 8.
Dragon is worth considering if you want a co-educational prep and value a choice between day attendance, some boarding nights and full boarding. Confirm which arrangements are available for the child’s age.
The school describes a family atmosphere for boarders and advertises a Sunday London coach. These are school descriptions, not an independent assessment of boarding life. Ask about supervision, weekend routines and the coach’s current stops and times.
It is less suitable if you want one school through age 18. If Magdalen College School is a possible next step, check that school’s own entry requirements and assessment timetable. Attending Dragon does not guarantee admission there.
The cited admissions policy describes three classes in each of Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. It adds a fourth class at Year 3. Older pupils attend the Bardwell Road Prep site.
Open Mornings are offered each term at both sites. Book through Admissions and ask to see the intended year group. Confirm its campus and actual start and finish times, especially if siblings will attend different sites.
Reception to Year 8. The policy names the main points of entry as Reception (4+), Year 3 (7+), and Year 4 (8+), with some day and boarding places at other ages. Entry in Year 8, the final prep year, is uncommon: there is limited time to prepare a child for a scholarship or Common Entrance.
Common Entrance is an examination route used by some independent senior schools. Others use their own assessments, and scholarship candidates may take additional examinations. Ask how Dragon prepares pupils for the intended destination and when that preparation begins.
A child may be registered at any time after birth. The registration fee is £155, inclusive of VAT and non-refundable. Registration places the child on the list for the intended year; it does not secure a place.
The school says it contacts registered families about Open Mornings and entry procedures a year before the proposed entry date.
The policy asks for the child’s personal details, normal home address, current school where relevant, and details of everyone with parental responsibility. International families are referred to Sable for Child Student visa and immigration assistance. That referral is not a guarantee of visa eligibility or approval.
Places in Years 1 and 2 are occasional and generally depend on a pupil leaving. Ask about the specific year group rather than assuming that registration ensures later entry.
The fees page says all fees and extras include any applicable taxes. Fees are payable in advance; specialist tuition and extras in arrears. Fees are subject to annual review. Current parents are sent to the Parent Portal document “How to Pay School Fees.”
School fees from September 2026
| Band | Per term |
|---|---|
| Boarders | £17,250 |
| Day pupils | £11,575 |
| Pre-Prep Year 3 | £8,640 |
| Pre-Prep Year 1 and Year 2 | £7,520 |
| Pre-Prep Reception | £6,560 |
Flexi-boarding (1–3 nights a week), pre-booked the term before:
| Nights | Charge |
|---|---|
| One night | £99 |
| Two nights | £186 |
| Three nights | £268 |
Occasional one-off stays: £115 a night.
The registration fee is separate from the acceptance deposit. For Reception, the deposit is one quarter of the applicable termly fee at entry. For Years 1–8, it is one half. The school says the deposit is returned on the final bill.
The amount therefore depends on the entry year and applicable fee band. Ask Admissions for the exact sum and the family-deposit arrangement for siblings.
The same page lists these extras:
| Extra | Published charge |
|---|---|
| Music tuition | £52 per half hour |
| Learning support | £52 per half hour |
| LAMDA speech and drama tuition | £22 per quarter hour |
| Pre-Prep after-school care, one regular day each week | £130 per term |
| Pre-Prep after-school care, one-off booking | £22 per day |
| London coach | £26 per trip |
| Escorted taxis | Variable; request a quotation |
Dragon offers full-boarding discounts for children of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office employees and Armed Forces personnel. The page does not specify the percentage; ask Admissions to confirm eligibility and the reduction.
The school also links to a pupil absence insurance scheme. Check the policy terms rather than assuming that absence automatically reduces the school bill.
A three-term year at the listed day-pupil rate is £34,725; full boarding is £51,750. These are calculations from the published termly rates, not all-inclusive quotations. The younger-year bands are lower.
Budget separately for registration, the deposit and selected extras. The deposit affects cash needed on joining but should not be treated as a permanent extra tuition charge if returned as stated.
Official pages and documents we read. If a figure matters to your budget or your application, open the link and confirm it is still current.
Friendly orientation, not an application. Dates, fees, and programme details move. Confirm everything with the school.
MCS offers selective day education through A Levels. Girls join Years 3 and 4 in September 2027 and Year 7 in 2030; Sixth Form is already co-educational. The entry route, local living arrangements and full budget all need checking.
LondonAlleyn’s is a selective co-educational day school for ages 4–18. This guide explains the different junior-school routes, the 11+ and 16+ processes, and the costs that sit outside tuition.
BristolBristol Grammar School is a selective, co-educational independent day school from Reception through Sixth Form. Its subject range makes it worth considering for a child who wants academic choice while living at home. Senior and Sixth Form fees are £7,422 per term from autumn 2026. Admissions pages still describe the previous entry round, so families applying for 2027 need a new timetable.
CheltenhamCheltenham College is a selective co-educational senior school for ages 13–18. It combines day places, full boarding and limited day boarding with GCSE, A-level and vocational routes.
Dragon is a co-educational day and boarding prep that ends at 13; Magdalen College School continues to Sixth Form and is gradually becoming co-educational.
8 minStart with the child and a realistic weekly timetable. Then confirm who provides care, which nights are covered, and what happens when plans change.
7 minStart with the qualification your child would actually receive. Then check its subjects, language demands, and recognition in the countries where they may study next.
7 minStart with your child and the family's likely plans. Define the non-negotiables, verify the school's claims, compare three realistic options and visit with specific questions.