Oxfordshire private prep school announces 20 acre land purchase

St Hugh’s School, a co-educational day school and boarding school for pupils aged three to 13, is at Carswell Manor.

Headmaster David Griffiths, in his letter to parents, said the purchase “will almost double the size of the school’s usable open area” and represents “a bold statement of ambition from the governing body” as the school looks ahead to the next decade of growth.

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The newly acquired land will play a central role in the school’s strategic vision for the next five to 10 years.

St Hugh’s has been working closely with architects to shape a comprehensive development plan, including a new dining room, enhanced teaching spaces, and expanded facilities for the pre-prep, prep, and the new senior school which formally opens in June this year.

The additional land will allow for new activities on-site such as clay ‘pigeon’ shooting, but perhaps one of the most exciting developments is the creation of a new school farm.

This initiative will significantly expand outdoor education provision, particularly for younger pupils, with plans to involve children and local farming families in shaping the project. Full details will be shared with the school community later this year.

The school has thanked the alumni whose generosity made the purchase possible, as well as the Woodgate family, the land’s vendors, for their support throughout the process.

Completion of the purchase is anticipated in late summer, with parts of the land expected to come into use by the autumn term.

Headmaster Mr Griffiths said the land acquisition was “an extraordinary moment of growth, optimism, and possibility,” emphasising the school’s commitment to delivering an exceptional educational environment for current and future pupils.