About

Our Head - George May

George May joined Cothill as Head in September 2023 after 17 years at Radley College, Oxfordshire, where he was a senior Housemaster with a reputation for exceptional pastoral care, fuelled by buckets of energy and empathy. Having been schooled at another classic country prep school, Aysgarth, in North Yorkshire, George attended Eton and went on to gain a First Class degree in Architectural History at Edinburgh University.  This was followed by a two-year Post-Graduate Acting course at LAMDA. George’s 20s were spent writing, directing and performing a classical and modern repertoire in London, Europe and America, before joining Radley in 2006 with his wife, Emi-Lou, a writer and teacher.  They have four children, Katinka, Leila, Boaz & Raphaella and, as a family, have quickly and happily made a new home at Cothill.

A welcome from the Head

Family  Foundations  Future

These are exciting times for Cothill House. After 150 years as a dedicated and successful boys’ Prep boarding school, we have opened our doors to day and flexi boarding pupils.  Alongside this, we look forward to welcoming girls to join Cothill from September 2025. As such, we will be open to many more families, so if you are considering a full boarding, a bit of both or a day place for your sons and daughters, then I hope you will take time to enjoy browsing through our website. You are welcome to sign up to one of our exciting events, dedicated to giving you and your child an enjoyable introduction to Cothill life. 

As we make these important changes, I will continue to have a laser focus on the ever important academics, alongside music, drama and sport, without losing sight of what makes Cothill unique: a family home where children have space to be children, with outdoor adventures, pillow fights, playing conkers and general youthful exuberance the order of the day. The aim is to develop confidence and curiosity, equipping them for any challenges the future holds.

Cothill House is globally recognised as one of the UK’s leading prep schools, set in wonderful grounds just a short drive from central Oxford. Our pupils enjoy inspirational teaching and an amazing range of opportunities outside of the classroom – not to mention proven preparation for entry to the country’s top schools. They leave us as confident, happy young adults, who know, and embrace, the value of hard work, integrity, teamwork and decency – young people of whom we are always incredibly proud, and who we know will forge new paths and make a positive difference in the world.

The school provides a magical five years and a superb underpinning for all future education.

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