“He went on to ask what the distinctive character of the School and its training is. As one Old Boy, Hugh Sidgwick, observed, “unlike almost any other private school one has ever heard of, the OPS has its distinctive spirit and ethos, such that it makes an appeal and evokes a loyalty similar in kind to those of the best public schools.”Ī contemporary, Walter Moberly, recalled a speech made by Hugh Sidgwick at an Old Boys’ Dinner on the nature of the school and the people it produced: That his ‘Old Boys’ should have such fond memories and display such loyalty both to him and the school, was very unusual, to say the least. The Skipper’s contribution to the education of generations of ‘Dragons’ was immense. His reputation lives on to today – as asserted by Rory Stewart, who was at the school in the 1980s. He became one of the leading headmasters of his generation and was revered by all the staff who served under him and the boys (and later, girls) who attended the school. “I hate to be called ‘Sir’ every half-minute I prefer to be called ‘Skipper’.” And so he was. “I confess to not attaching much importance to outward politeness,” he said. Not only was he the skipper of his boat, ‘Blue Dragon’, but he also became the Skipper of the OPS. Four years later the Headmaster, Rev AE Clarke, died suddenly and Charles took over the school.Ĭharles had a great liking for the sea and invited friends (including some staff), to sail with him. They also offer discounts on full boarding fees to children of employees of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the UN, and of those serving in the armed forces.Charles Lynam was an undergraduate at Hertford College in Oxford, before joining the staff of the Oxford Preparatory School (OPS) in 1882. The school looks at both financial criteria and the onward trajectory of any potential recipient, and the bursary committee will make awards to those most likely to benefit from the opportunities on offer. The school aims to award up to five bursary places to pupils entering Year 4 each year. There are currently 26 bursary recipients in the school, and the award remains in place throughout the child’s time at the Dragon, with the level of fee reduction based on the particular circumstances of each applicant.

Dragon school oxford staff