Why join for free?
Already have an account? Log In
United Kingdom, Oxford
Let the school know you're thinking of applying — they can share their prerequisites and help you through the process.
It's best to ask — circumstances can change at any time.
St Clare's offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) and a Preparatory IB course. The IB Diploma is a two-year program for ages 16–18 with six subjects (three Higher Level and three Standard Level) plus Core Elements: Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay, and Creativity, Activity and Service. The average class size is nine students, with 30 hours of classroom lessons per week, and the start date is 3 September 2026. The college is the oldest IB World School in England and emphasises independent learning, personalised support, and extensive university guidance, with around 90% of students scoring above the world average and many achieving the maximum 45 points.
The school offers a broad range of Creative Arts pathways, including Drama, Fashion & Textiles, Art Foundation, Visual Arts, Music, Creative Writing & Journalism, Film & Media Production, Animation, and Interior & Furniture Design. Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) is integrated into Pre-IB and IB, providing creative experiences such as studio art and theatre. The University Destinations page highlights these Creative Arts options as part of its subject areas. CAS offers over 50 experiences per week, with students able to select up to three per term, supporting creativity and personal growth.
Group 1 languages include English, German, and Italian. Group 2 languages include Dutch, English, French, Spanish, Chinese (for beginners) and German, with some languages offered for beginners. The school describes itself as international and inclusive, with a diverse student body of over 45 nationalities. This combination of language options and intercultural emphasis supports multilingual learning and intercultural dialogue.
The study programme offers an extensive range of extracurricular activities in sport and culture. Students can try windsurfing, surfing in Cornwall, go-karting, studio art, punting, and treasure hunts in Oxford. For IB students, a full range of sports and activities is included as part of their CAS experiences. The school also runs weekend trips and visits to places like Stratford-upon-Avon, Bath, London, and other destinations.
Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) is an integral part of the Pre-IB and IB programme, offering more than 50 CAS experiences a week. The CAS program encourages initiative, problem-solving, teamwork, and open-mindedness, with reflection on experiences and alignment with the IB learner profile. CAS supports cross-cultural engagement, collaboration, and community service, including opportunities to improve life conditions in communities. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is also included as part of Pre-IB and IB experiences.
The Leadership Programme is integrated into student life as part of the IB World School experience. The University Destinations and Careers and Higher Education support provide unlimited one-to-one guidance and a rigorous careers programme to help students secure places at top universities and competitive programs. The college embeds Careers & Higher Education into the learning experience, hosting career events, university visits, and tasters to support informed choices.
St Clare's emphasises holistic wellbeing with a safe, supportive pastoral system. For sport and culture, IB students have access to sport facilities and clubs in the city, with staff-supervised activities. The school provides a wide range of sports and activities as part of CAS and beyond, including theatre and cultural experiences such as trips to London and other destinations.
St Clare’s, Oxford, founded in 1953, operates as a co-educational day and boarding college in North Oxford. It is the longest-established International Baccalaureate (IB) World School in England. The curriculum focuses on the IB Diploma Programme for students aged 16 to 19, alongside a Pre-IB pathway and Middle School options for younger students. The campus consists of 25 Victorian and Edwardian buildings integrated into the residential Summertown area, featuring specialized science laboratories, an art studio, and a dedicated library with over 35,000 volumes. Students benefit from the "Oxford as a Classroom" initiative, which utilizes the city’s university museums and academic resources for field trips and research. Residential life is organized across several houses, where boarders from over 45 nations live in a supervised environment. The college is known for its history as a center for international cooperation and its focus on preparing students for university entry through a non-denominational, multicultural lens.
