Awarded ‘Outstanding for boarding’ by Ofsted, Old Swinford Hospital (OSH) provides a unique educational experience where learning doesn’t end at the afternoon school bell. As a state school, OSH offers boarding school education at a fraction of the independent sector fee; and fees are not subject to VAT.
September 2025 is history-making as the school becomes fully co-educational. Girls boarding will begin its fifth year, and they have certainly made their mark. OSH girls have quickly become sportswomen, singers, potters and cadets, designers and dramatists, and are fully immersed in boarding school life.
OSH is a community of many parts where every student is encouraged to be themselves, and to make their own contribution. We welcome an eclectic mix of aspirational young people from all over the UK and overseas. Diversity of life is embraced, and learning to live – not simply work – alongside one another is a life skill that cannot be underestimated. ‘Pupils live together, learn together and thrive at Old Swinford Hospital’–Ofsted
Preparing students for the future underpins everything we do. Staff understand and respond to the individual and collective needs of students, and help each find and develop his or her own voice. Through our broad academic curriculum and extensive co-curricular opportunities, OSH encourages students to ‘discover who they can be’.
Modern sports facilities accompany an ambitious programme so that many teams hold regional or national titles. Our 1st XV rugby team are John Fisher State School Festival champions, and we are featured in The Cricketer Schools Guide as a top performing school for cricket. We have recently opened a new state-of-the-art gym and our Athlete Development Programme launches in September. With more than 45 co-curricular clubs and ten music ensembles; excellent STEM facilities and new design and technology spaces; kitchen classroom and two climbing walls; and new art, drama and dance studios, there’s plenty to get involved with.
There’s opportunity at OSH with Tailored Boarding. Boarding is at the heart of the community. The impact on the young people at OSH is threefold: Boarders develop great resilience, independence and genuine confidence; they show humility alongside aspiration; and they grow lifelong friendships.
Designed with busy families in mind, Tailored Boarding allows the flexibility to fit school and your son or daughter’s extra-curricular activities around your working patterns and family lifestyle in a safe, shared community where your child will grow in independence and confidence. Tailored Boarding allows boarders to stay over whenever they like. You and your child have the opportunity to choose when and how often you access boarding facilities and associated co-curricular activities. You have the freedom to decide whether your child stays over, or comes and goes before and after the school day to fit with their busy club and social schedules both in and out of school, integrated with your home life. Plus, all meals are included in the fees and our expert boarding teams will ensure that homework is done.
We invite you to see for yourselves what a distinctive community OSH is. Come to our Open Morning on Saturday 13 September, we look forward to welcoming you. For further information contact admissions@oshsch.com or 01384 817325.
