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Senior school

Wycombe Abbey

Wycombe Abbey is a leading independent girls' boarding and day school for ages 11-18, renowned for academic excellence and a broad co-curricular programme.

BuckinghamshireSeniorGirlsAges 11–18Both600 pupils
Day fees
£46,800
How competitive entry is
Iseb Pretest + School ExamCompetitive entry
Pupils
600
Founded
1896
Next deadline
Assessment: 1 Oct 2026
Verified 1 month agosource
Houseroom Index 2026
82.5/100· ranked #16 of UK independents
78% data confidence·v2026.4.0
How is this calculated? →
Pillar breakdown
Academic outcomes85
Destinations & outcomes93
Future-readiness55
Pastoral & wellbeing82
Pupil flourishing65
Value-add77
Access & breadth90
Parent sentiment70
External consensus95

Get your personalised Fit Score — tell us about your child to see how well this school matches your priorities.

Our take

Independent girls senior school in Buckinghamshire for ages 11–18. Selective entry, Anglican ethos, top-tier London fees.

Best for
Who thrives here
  • Families seeking a senior school for ages 11–18, with thinking already on 11+ or 13+ entry.
  • Parents who want a single-sex environment for their daughter.
  • Families who value a Anglican ethos in school life.
  • Children who can demonstrate strong academics at entry assessment — this is a selective school.
  • Families comfortable with top-tier London independent fees in exchange for the level of provision.
Watch-outs
Know before applying
  • Fees sit at the top of the London market. Factor in extras (uniform, trips, lunches, music tuition) before committing.
  • Selective entry — assume some form of assessment at the relevant entry point. Plan tutoring or familiarisation early if needed.
  • The Anglican ethos shapes assemblies, holidays and pastoral life. Comfortable for committed families; worth thinking about for those of other or no faith.
  • SEND provision isn't documented in our profile. If your child has an EHCP or specific learning needs, ask admissions about case-by-case capacity before applying.
AI-generated guidance

About the head

In Fide Vade

Jo Duncan became Headmistress of Wycombe Abbey in 2019, having previously held senior leadership roles at leading girls schools.

A place where academic excellence, empathy and integrity thrive; educating young women to lead with kindness and conviction.

academic excellenceempathyintegrityleadershipcommunity

Distinctive features

Top-three UK girls school

170-acre parkland campus

Strong full-boarding ethos

Wycombe Abbey global network

Latest exam results

Outcomes

GCSE and A-level results consistently among the top three UK girls schools; very high Oxbridge and Ivy League progression.

80%
A-level A*–A
85%
GCSE 9–7
23%
Oxbridge offer rate
48%
Russell Group rate

Data from 2025 results

Where leavers go

23%
to Oxbridge (2026)
20262025202420232022
Cohort9595777777
Oxbridge2221181820
Russell Group4621
US Ivy13
Medicine98
Top universities (2026)
University of Oxford14
University of Cambridge6
Durham University23
University College London22
King's College London19
University of Exeter18
University of Edinburgh17
University of Bath10

Recent coverage

2025 GCSE and A-level results again placed Wycombe Abbey among the very top UK girls schools by Sunday Times Parent Power.

The Sunday Times Parent Power 2026
Tatler Schools Guide 2025
Good Schools Guide
Spear's 500

Notable alumni

Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss (judge)Penelope Fitzgerald (novelist)India Knight (writer and journalist)
Recommended next step

Open-day dates not yet published

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Fit for your child

How well does Wycombe Abbey match?

Tell us your child's age, location, needs and entry point. We'll score commute, academics, support, budget and culture against schools in Buckinghamshire.

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Application timeline

3 of 6 admissions stages have confirmed dates. Save this school to be notified when dates are published.

Open dayNot published
Not published
Registration opensPassed
1 Sept 2025
Registration closesPassed
1 Jun 2026
Bursary deadlineNot published
Not published
AssessmentConfirmed
1 Nov 2026
InterviewNot published
Not published
OffersConfirmed
Tue, 15 Dec 202611+ Offers Made
Acceptance deadlineConfirmed
1 Mar 2027
Registration windows
YearOpensClosesReply byStatus
2027-281 Sept 20251 Jun 20261 Mar 2027Closed

Open events

Exam
Mon, 12 Oct 2026
10:00 am
16+ Sixth Form Entrance Exams and Interview
Assessment
Thu, 19 Nov 2026
9:00 am
11+ Assessment Day
Offer Day
Tue, 1 Dec 2026
9:00 am
16+ Offers Made
Offer Day
Tue, 15 Dec 2026
9:00 am
11+ Offers Made
Assessment
Thu, 14 Jan 2027
9:00 am
13+ Assessment Day
Scholarship Exam
Thu, 28 Jan 2027
9:00 am
11+ Scholarship Examinations
Offer Day
Sun, 31 Jan 2027
9:00 am
13+ Offers and Scholarships
Dates to be confirmed
Open MorningOpen Mornings are held in the Autumn and Summer terms
Dates TBC
Coffee MorningCoffee Mornings held each term for approximately 30 families
Dates TBC
11+ Scholarship Examination (by invitation)February following December offers
Dates TBC
13+ Assessment Day at Wycombe AbbeyJanuary of Year 8
Dates TBC
11+ Assessment Day at Wycombe AbbeyNovember prior to year of entry (when daughter is in Year 6)
Dates TBC
16+ Sixth Form Entrance ExaminationsNovember prior to year of entry
Dates TBC

Private tours and additional visits available by arrangement — contact admissions to arrange.

Fees

£46,800per year · Day · 2026-27
VAT-inclusive estimate £46,800VAT status TBCYear 7-13 projection £369,640
vs London avg (£24,000)95% above
Also budget for · Registration fee, deposit, uniform, lunches, trips, music tuition, exam fees. These vary by school — check with admissions for the full cost breakdown.

Bursaries & Scholarships

Max award
100%
Recipients
10(2025)
Means-tested
Yes
Scholarships
4
high confidence data
Scholarships by category & award sizeView full bursary & scholarship guide

Excerpts

Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline

Outstanding pastoral care isn’t the first thing you think of, and not every parent we spoke to sang its praises, but for those with daughters who had genuinely needed intervention during their time here (with eg mental health problems, eating Mobile phone policy A clear mobile...

House system

CloisterPittAirlieWendoverShelburneRubens

Wellbeing

Full boarding pastoral structure across boarding houses with Housemistresses and resident tutors.

Inspection

Isi 4 Mar 2025

One inspection report on file. Worth reading before booking a visit — covers safeguarding, leadership and overall standard.

met
Read full ISI report →

Term dates 2025-26

autumn1 Sept 202510 Dec 2025Half-term 17 Oct 2025–2 Nov 2025
spring6 Jan 202626 Mar 2026Half-term 13 Feb 2026–22 Feb 2026
summer21 Apr 202626 Jun 2026Half-term 22 May 2026–31 May 2026
autumn7 Sept 202611 Dec 2026Half-term 16 Oct 2026–1 Nov 2026
spring5 Jan 202724 Mar 2027Half-term 12 Feb 2027–21 Feb 2027
summer20 Apr 20272 Jul 2027Half-term 28 May 2027–6 Jun 2027

Feeder schools

Schools like Wycombe Abbey

Ranked by semantic similarity across curriculum, ethos, intake and admissions style. Most parents shortlist 4–6 schools before applying.

64%

Buckingham Preparatory School

Harrow · Prep · Ages 2–11
£10,155 – £16,215
62%

Guildford High School

Guildford · All Through · Ages 4–18
£16,203 – £25,989
61%

Stowe School

Buckinghamshire · Senior · Ages 13–18
£28,464 – £35,700
60%

Winchester College

Winchester · Senior · Ages 11–18
£44,400 – £45,954
60%

Abingdon School

Vale of White Horse · Senior · Ages 11–18
£28,500
59%

Woldingham School

Tandridge · Senior · Ages 11–18
£24,990 – £35,178

Questions parents ask

Common questions about Wycombe Abbey, answered from this school’s structured profile data. Always confirm specifics with admissions before applying.

What kind of child is Wycombe Abbey best for?+

Independent girls senior school in Buckinghamshire for ages 11–18. Selective entry, Anglican ethos, top-tier London fees.

How does admissions work?+

Admissions are selective — expect an entrance assessment at the relevant entry point. Plan tutoring or familiarisation early. See the admissions timeline above for confirmed dates.

Are fees published?+

Yes — see the Fees table further down the page. Add extras (uniform, trips, lunches, music tuition, registration fees) on top of the base figure before budgeting.

Does the school support SEND?+

SEND provision isn't documented in our profile. If your child has identified needs, contact admissions early to discuss capacity.

Are there open days?+

2 upcoming open days or tours — see the admissions timeline. Booking is usually required.

How do I contact admissions?+

email at enquiries@wycombeabbey.com or phone on +44 (0)1494 624200. Reference your child's age and intended entry year in the first message.

What similar schools should I compare?+

We've ranked 6 schools by semantic similarity to Wycombe Abbey — see the "Schools like Wycombe Abbey" grid below. Most parents shortlist 4–6 schools before applying.

Enrichment last updated 26 May 2026. Sources include the school’s official site, Wikipedia, Good Schools Guide, Tatler, and Sunday Times Parent Power.

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