Stowe School
Stowe School
Stowe, Buckingham, England
The Stowe School is undoubtedly one of the most impressive schools in the UK, and its campus is spectacular: 750 hectares of sprawling parkland with classic English garden landscaping, nestled in the gentle Buckinghamshire countryside—just about an hour from London. Stowe embodies a holistic educational approach that allows room for personality, creativity, and individuality. Academically solid, the school is especially renowned for its excellent music, art, and drama departments. Creative talents find inspiring opportunities to flourish here. Sports are offered in a relaxed yet varied way: the school has its own stables, a modern indoor swimming pool with a 25-meter pool, a 9-hole golf course on the grounds, and a clay pigeon shooting range.
The Details
The Academics
Stowe is a selective school with a clear academic focus, and the results confirm this direction: In 2024, about half of the students achieved top grades in the upper range of their GCSEs, and a remarkable number of top grades were also awarded in the A-Levels. Besides the classic subjects, students can also study Latin and Ancient Greek. For those who prefer a more practical approach, BTECs are offered in areas such as hospitality, entrepreneurship, and agricultural management. It’s an exciting mix that opens up both academic and career-oriented paths.
Languages Taught
English as a Foreign Language, French, Spanish, German and Latin.
The Boarding
The boarding system is well thought out and very well organized. There are eight houses for boys and five for girls, one of which is exclusively for Sixth Form girls. Each house accommodates around 60 students and is run by dedicated houseparents. The communal areas are spacious and comfortable, and the rooms are well equipped — including Wi-Fi and USB ports.
In the Sixth Form, a lot of emphasis is placed on independence: students take care of their own laundry and gradually prepare themselves for life after school. Meals are served three times a day in an impressive 18th-century dining hall — a place that in style and atmosphere quite resembles Hogwarts. Those who wish can also help themselves in their own house kitchen between meals.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
Stowe is certainly one of the most visually stunning boarding schools in the UK. The beautiful manor house is surrounded by 750 acres of parkland, featuring pagodas, small lakes, sports fields, stables, and its own golf course. It doesn’t get more picturesque than this!
Stowe is renowned for its exceptionally strong support in the creative arts. Students here start their own record labels, release their first EPs, or receive personal mentorship from world-class artists. Music teachers include professionals from the Royal Academy of Music, and the annual Arts\@Stowe Festival—a vibrant mix of music, theatre, dance, comedy, and opera—sets new creative standards every year.
On a typical afternoon, more than 40 activities run concurrently—from fashion design and chess to lacrosse and robotics, and even the somewhat unconventional beagle hunting: Stowe actually has its own beagle kennel. Sports offerings are equally varied, including basketball, swimming, riding, and golf on the school’s own course.
Stowe offers a particularly dedicated form of leadership training through the Combined Cadet Force (CCF). The legendary CCF leader, Major Jan de Gale—famously sporting diamond earrings with her camouflage uniform—has increasingly encouraged girls to participate. Her expedition to a Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh is just one example of Stowe’s exceptional commitment. For those who prefer something a bit calmer yet equally challenging, the Duke of Edinburgh Award is available—a program that fosters responsibility, perseverance, and teamwork, preparing students perfectly for future challenges.
Weaknesses
Stowe is sometimes thought to attract a predominantly "upper class" crowd. However, this does not align with our personal experience: during our visits, we have consistently met open, friendly, and down-to-earth students.
Location
The Stowe School is impressively nestled in the gentle rolling hills of Buckinghamshire—right in the heart of England, about an hour northwest of London. The historic campus is located on the edge of the charming market town of Buckingham, not far from Oxford and Milton Keynes. Despite its rural setting, Stowe is well connected: the train stations at Bicester and Milton Keynes are both about 30 minutes away and offer direct services to London.
It’s a fantastic choice for pupils seeking a classic all-round boarding school with plenty of nature and an impressive campus.
Stowe regularly opens its doors to the public through the Stowe Presents program, hosting concerts, theatre performances, art exhibitions, and lectures. Many of these events are open to the public—definitely worth a visit!
Take a look at similar schools
Bloxham School
Bryanston School
Canford School
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