Welcome
Mrs Jane Evans – Head
The Wychwood spirit is tangible throughout the school, but hard to put into words. So we’ve put together an interactive guide of some of the things that we think encapsulate our shared outlook…
To truly understand Wychwood you need to hear from the girls, teachers, parents and old girls who make up our family.
Our location, in the heart of Oxford, is fundamental to the school’s unique approach and character. The spaces, facilities and inspirational things that surround us are part of everyday school life. Use this interactive map to explore some of them.
Our sports fields and courts are used all year round for PE lessons and fixtures in netball, hockey, tennis, athletics and rounders. The fields also host tournaments we hold and the annual sports day.
Offering an escape from the hustle and bustle of the City, but conveniently located right at its heart, is the green oasis offered by University Parks – with something to please everyone. It boasts a choice of walks, a large collection of trees and plants and space for informal games and picnics with the river Cherwell bordering to the north. Wychwood girls come together for their fun runs here and individually love the freedom the uni parks offers.
The Pitt Rivers Museum displays archaeological and ethnographic objects from all parts of the world and all time periods. It is truly a global museum. The museum is also a teaching and research institution and the curators are also university lecturers in either cultural anthropology or prehistoric archaeology. The shrunken heads are an annual and enjoyably spine-tingling attraction for Wychwood girls.
Founded in 1860 the Museum holds the University’s internationally significant collections of geological and zoological specimens. Housed in a stunning example of neo-Gothic architecture, among its most famous features are the Oxfordshire dinosaurs, the Dodo, and the swifts in the tower. The MNH visit is a regular item in Wychwood’s calendar.
MHS houses an unrivalled collection of early scientific instruments in the world’s oldest surviving purpose-built museum building, the Old Ashmolean. As well as the permanent displays, visitors enjoy special exhibitions highlighting areas of the collection and Wychwood visitors always enjoy their trips.
The Bodleian Library is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library with over 12 million printed items. First opened to scholars in 1602, it is one of six legal deposit libraries for works published in the United Kingdom. It is a truly unparalleled resource especially for the Wychwood EPQ students.
The Ashmolean is the University of Oxford’s museum of art and archaeology, founded in 1683. Our world famous collections range from Egyptian mummies to contemporary art, telling human stories across cultures and across time. It forms an invaluable resource for many Wychwood departments, especially the creative arts.
Oxford Playhouse
Oxford Playhouse is a theatre for everyone,presenting, producing and creating a wide range of live performance. It also produces and tours its own shows, hosts Artists in Residence and presents Playhouse Plays Out. Wychwood is a regular patron.
The New Theatre is the main commercial theatre in Oxford. It puts on a wide variety of shows, from musical theatre, to stand-up comedy and concerts. Visits are fun and uplifting.
Oxford Castle
Oxford Castle is 1000 years old and provides a taste of Oxford’s fascinating history. Guided tours take you back in time to explore Saxon towers, the 900 year old crypt and the 18th century prison. Oxford Castle also forms the backbone of the history department’s coursework.
Radcliffe Camera
The Radcliffe Camera is one of Oxford’s most striking buildings. It was built in 1737-1749 and was designed to be the location of the Radcliffe Science Library. It is the first example of a circular library in England. It is another superlative architectural resource for the Wychwood art historians.
Bridge of Sighs
The Bridge of Sighs (Hertford Bridge) joins two parts of Hertford College over New College Lane. Its distinctive design makes it a city landmark. The bridge is often referred to as the Bridge of Sighs because of its similarity to the famous Bridge of Sighs in Venice even though it was never intended to be a replica. Our photographers, artists and art historians all regularly feature the Bridge of Sighs in their work.
I greatly enjoyed my 2 years at Wychwood – I was taught to think for myself.
Old Girl
Wychwood has played a large part in making my girls the wonderful people they are today.
Current Parent