UK private school announces expansion on parkland estate

Cokethorpe School has secured planning permission to transform the former headmaster’s residence into a new nursery for children from nine months until they start school.

Work is already under way to prepare the building, with the school also progressing the registration process and meeting the regulatory requirements needed ahead of opening.

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The nursery is expected to open towards the end of 2026, subject to the completion of the necessary approvals, including Ofsted registration.

The new nursery school building at Cokethorpe School near Witney (Image: Fortitude Communications)

The new nursery will be based within the school grounds and is intended to offer high-quality early years provision for children before they start school, creating much-needed additional nursery places for families in Oxfordshire.

Harriet Stapleton, Bursar at Cokethorpe School, said: “We are pleased to have secured planning permission for the nursery and are now continuing with the work needed to prepare the building, complete the registration process and meet the regulatory requirements ahead of opening.

Harriet Stapleton, bursar of Cokethorpe School (Image: Cokethorpe School)

“This is an exciting milestone in the development of our nursery, offering an early years provision in a setting that makes the most of Cokethorpe’s beautiful rural surroundings, extensive outdoor space and excellent facilities. We look forward to sharing further details as the project progresses.”

Cokethorpe School is an independent, co-educational day school for pupils aged four to 18, set within a 150-acre parkland estate in Oxfordshire.

Founded in 1957 and co-educational since 1992, the school provides a research-informed education in a happy, rural environment that nurtures and celebrates a broad range of talents and interests.