Frequently Asked Questions

How will Emmanuel stretch and challenge my child?

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.

At Emmanuel we know that the greatest gift a child can receive through education is not just knowledge and understanding but wisdom: a humble understanding of the world they live in and the ability to live in it well. To do this we have a broad and deep curriculum which exposes children to a much more diverse range of topics than a mainstream curriculum. We also ensure that, while using some metrics to evaluate children’s progress, we always see the child as a whole person, focusing not only on the development of their mind but their heart, soul and strength as well. In this way, children at Emmanuel are truly stretched so that they can flourish rather than be squeezed into a mould.

(How) do you incorporate technology into your curriculum?
We use a lot of technology at Emmanuel in the traditional sense. We love to see children work with their hands, to be creative and thoughtful in the way they use materials. Our ‘Take it Apart’ club is one of our most popular clubs where children explore the inner workings of different machines to explore how they work.

In our approach to digital technology we pursue a strategy of ‘competency but not dependency’. We enable children to develop the core skills needed to use digital technology with confidence and we have a number of skills we develop through a child’s time in KS1 and KS2, including touch typing and voice to type technology. At every stage in the child’s learning at ECS, we prioritise their social development, their reading and numeracy, as their ability to use digital technology well depends on these skills being strong.

By the end of KS2, children can use technology to code, do research and present written work in a way which supports their learning through the curriculum.

Where do children go after Emmanuel? How do they cope?

Children at Emmanuel go on to a whole variety of schools. Some attend Kings Witney, a secondary school similar to Emmanuel with a strong Christian foundation. Some attend a range of state schools including The Swan, Cheney, Didcot Girls, Wheatley Park and Cherwell. Others attend some of Oxfordshire’s private schools including Magdalen College School, Headington School, Oxford High School, Rye St Anthony, Abingdon and Kingham Hill.

Children leaving Emmanuel since July 2023 have attended the Swan School, St Helen and St Katherine School, Oxford Montessori School and home learning. 

Children transition well from the small setting of Emmanuel to larger ones and we are convinced this is because Emmanuel gives children space to discover who they are, confident that they are valued as unique individuals. Children who leave Emmanuel love learning and many schools comment on how impressed they are by the tenacity and focus of our children. Children from Emmanuel have gone on to have leadership roles in their secondary schools, rooted in a sense of responsibility instilled through their learning here and at home.

(How) does a small school provide a rich range of sporting opportunities?
At Emmanuel, all children engage in PE at a high level and consequently, despite our size, we are able to participate competitively in a number of tournaments including football, hockey and athletics. Children have PE lessons twice a week which include gymnastics, tennis, hockey, cricket, netball, football and swimming. We host after school clubs twice a week and hold a sports camp at school four times a year. Our playground has a positive sports culture, where all children, regardless of ability, are able to engage in the skills and games which are being practised.
Why are the fees so low?
Emmanuel’s fees are around one third of many Oxfordshire independent schools because our goal is to be as accessible as possible to as many families who share our vision. In order to do this, many people give generously of time, money and energy, to ensure the school flourishes. We are blessed with very gifted staff who have made financial sacrifices to work at Emmanuel and do so with a sense of vocation. A generous trust bought the site for our use over 25 years ago and continue to support the work here. Some families are able to afford higher fees and give generously to the school to support bursaries for other children. Many people, both families in the school and individuals beyond, give time and gifts which enrich the school. In this sense, Emmanuel is much more than a business, it is a community which works willingly together for the good of all.
Are there bursaries?
Despite the level of the fees, we understand that for some families, they are a significant proportion of their household budget. The board allocate 10% of the school’s income towards means tested bursaries. The highest bursary which can be awarded is 50%. As explained above, much of the support for bursaries comes from current and past families so we ask those applying for support to approach the bursary scheme with a mindset of partnership, considering what their contribution to the community might be.
Do I need to belong to a church community to attend Emmanuel Christian School?

Emmanuel Christian School seeks to be Christian in all that we do and the Christian faith is the basis for our nurture of the children and the learning they receive. Families attend Emmanuel from around 20 churches in Oxford and some of our families do not belong to a church community but they come understanding and valuing the vital role that Christian faith has in shaping our community and our learning. All children are taught Biblical principles in a way that encourages faith but we do not assume that children come with any prior faith commitment.