United Kingdom · Oxford
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.
Magdalen College School, or MCS, is a selective independent day school in Oxford, with pupils from Year 3 through Sixth Form. Its curriculum leads to GCSEs and A Levels. Founded in 1480, it combines a junior school with a senior school rather than ending at the usual preparatory-school transfer age.
The most important question for a daughter is which year she would enter. Sixth Form is already co-educational, but the younger years are changing gradually. A general description of MCS as “becoming co-educational” is not enough to establish eligibility.
For any family, we would assess three things together: the correct admissions route, the child’s response to academic selection and the daily journey. MCS requires pupils to live with their parents in the Oxford area; it does not provide boarding.
The co-education admissions page gives this timetable:
| Stage | Published change |
|---|---|
| Sixth Form | Already co-educational |
| Years 3 and 4 | Girls join from September 2027 |
| Year 7 | Girls join from September 2030 |
| All year groups | Fully co-educational from September 2034 |
Girls applying to Years 3 or 4 for September 2027 follow the same assessment standards as boys. Register by 31 October 2026 for that intake. The Year 7 deadline for September 2030 is 31 October 2029.
Do not assume that a girl can enter Year 7 in 2027 because the Junior School is admitting girls that year. Ask about the specific cohort, including how it progresses through the school.
The official directions page gives Cowley Place, Oxford OX4 1DZ. It describes Oxford station as a 20–30-minute walk away and links public transport options.
MCS also operates a subsidised bus partnership with Headington Rye Oxford, covering twelve routes. Check the actual stop, return time and availability rather than assuming that the geographical coverage guarantees a convenient journey.
Junior and Senior visits answer different questions. For a younger child, ask about the transition into selective schooling and after-school care. For an older pupil, examine subject choices, workload and support.
The age labels refer to admission points, not qualifications.
Common Entrance is an entrance-examination route used by preparatory schools. The Prep School Baccalaureate, or PSB, is an assessment framework; neither is a university-entry qualification. Pre-test offers remain conditional on the specified Year 8 assessment, such as Common Entrance, PSB or academic scholarship examinations.
MCS publishes 2026 GCSE results of 58% Grade 9 and 93% Grades 9–7. Its 2026 A Level summary reports 45% A* and 83% A*–A. These describe selected cohorts, not a forecast for an individual child.
The application page asks for a passport or birth certificate. Non-British passport holders must also supply a share code. Families relocating from overseas must arrange appropriate immigration permission and live locally with their child.
The non-refundable registration fee is £180 including VAT for UK applicants, or £300 for applicants currently living overseas. Senior School applicants receiving Universal Credit or eligible for free school meals can request a waiver.
The main registration deadlines are:
The published 13+ timetable is:
| Step | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration | 31 October 2026 |
| Bursary application | 6 November 2026 |
| Entrance examinations | 16 January 2027 |
| Interviews | 26 or 27 January 2027 |
| Results | 4 February 2027 |
| Acceptance | 1 March 2027 |
At 13+, the assessment combines online tests with written creative work. The interview includes discussion of the child’s interests and a text. Use the school’s familiarisation material and confirm any access arrangements before the test.
The Junior School’s 7+, 8+ and 9+ tests are on 23 January 2027, followed by observation lessons in early February and acceptance by 1 March. The 7+ page specifies observation lessons on 4 or 5 February and results on 9 February.
For Sixth Form, the published timetable gives a 31 October 2026 bursary deadline, tests on 7 November, interviews on 28 November, and acceptance by 4 January 2027. Scholarships have additional deadlines; consult the Sixth Form entry page for the relevant award.
Sixth Form offers normally require six GCSE grades at 8 or 9, including intended A Level subjects. Further Mathematics has higher mathematics-specific requirements. Applicants whose first language is not English must discuss the school’s English qualification requirement with the registrar.
The ordinary 2026 Senior and Sixth Form process is complete. The application page advertises higher late fees of £360/£600 but still attaches older 2024/2025 dates to them. Confirm availability and the actual late fee before paying for a late application.
The 2026–27 fee table lists these termly amounts:
| Stage | Before VAT | VAT | Including VAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior School | £8,363.33 | £1,672.67 | £10,036 |
| Junior J3/J4, Years 5/6 | £8,363.33 | £1,672.67 | £10,036 |
| Junior J1/J2, Years 3/4 | £8,054.17 | £1,610.83 | £9,665 |
Sixth Form adds £165 including VAT per term. Calculated across three terms, tuition is £30,108 for Senior School, £28,995 for Junior Years 3/4, and £30,603 including the Sixth Form levy. These are 2026–27 calculations, not confirmed fees for September 2027 entrants.
Separate costs include:
The entry pages also publish acceptance deposits: Junior 7+ £750 for UK applicants or £1,500 overseas; 13+ £1,500 UK or £2,500 overseas. The latter is adjusted for bursary holders. Confirm the deposit and refund terms for your actual entry point.
Registration, deposits and tuition serve different purposes. Ask for the contract’s withdrawal notice and any fees due if plans change before or after joining.
MCS says about 10% of Senior pupils receive assistance. Its bursary page offers means-tested reductions from 10% to 100% at 11+, 13+ and 16+, including relevant internal transfers.
Bursaries are not awarded on entry to Junior School. Overseas applicants are not normally eligible, and the school prioritises pupils already living or educated locally.
The financial review considers income, assets, liabilities and family circumstances. The published income guide is around £125,000 or below, not an entitlement threshold. Both academic eligibility and available funding matter.
Full bursaries can include help with uniform, lunches, trips and examinations. A school offer does not automatically include a bursary, so wait for the actual funding decision before judging affordability.
For a girl entering Year 3 or 4 in 2027, investigate how the first mixed cohorts will be supported. For a girl entering Year 7 before 2030, another school is needed.
Compare Dragon School when considering a preparatory education with boarding and a later senior-school transfer. That comparison is about age range and living arrangements, not a claim that one school is universally better.
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.
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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.
5 minStart with your child’s needs and the schools you can realistically access. A boys’, girls’, or co-educational label does not tell you enough about teaching, friendships, support, or daily life.
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.