Award‑winning Cotswolds private school named among UK’s best

Windrush Valley Prep School in Ascott‑under‑Wychwood, between Burford and Chipping Norton, is an independent primary school for boys and girls aged three to 11.

The school, which was founded in 1951, currently charges around £3,200 per term as of 2026, but prices vary depending on year group.

It is registered with the Department for Education, the Independent Schools Council and the Independent Schools Association, and is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate.

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On its main homepage, Windrush Valley states: “The school is ranked in the top 30 independent preparatory schools in England by the Sunday Times.

“Earning it the prestigious accolade of Best Prep School in Oxfordshire.

“The school has also received an Award for Excellence by the Independent School Association.

“Small class sizes, highly experienced teaching staff, affordable fees, and a focus on academic excellence are the fundamental tenets of the school.”

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The school’s “Successes and Accolades” section and historic news items record that it has appeared in The Sunday Times Best 100 Schools league table multiple times.

This includes being ranked 21st in England in an earlier edition, which it says made it the highest‑ranked prep school in Oxfordshire at that point.

Recent data compiled by education platform Think Academy, which uses SAT-based outcomes to produce a 2026 top 50 prep‑school table, places Windrush Valley around 26th nationally.

This is consistent with the school’s description of itself as a top‑30 independent preparatory school.