St. Clare’s, Oxford was founded by Anne Dreydel OBE and Pamela Morris in 1953 and grew out of a scheme to establish links between British and European students after the Second World War. The original name was The Oxford English Centre for Foreign Students, which later became St. Clare’s Hall, and then St. Clare’s, Oxford. The College grew quickly to encompass a wide range of nationalities and programs, both at university and pre-university level and in the English Language. In the mid-50s, students came mostly from around a dozen Western European countries, as well as the UK. Nowadays there are 50 nationalities represented on the IB program alone.
As well as longer courses of study, shorter summer courses also became a central feature of the College in the early days. Links with universities in the USA date back to the 1960s and formal agreements by which American university students could gain credit towards their US degrees by studying abroad at St. Clare’s started up in the 1970s, and gradually replaced the University of London external degrees that had previously been taught.
In 1977 the College introduced the International Baccalaureate Diploma for pre-university students, only the 41st school in the world to do so. There are only 13 other institutions in the world that have taught the IB longer than us. A-Levels were gradually phased out as the IB became established and we are now the longest established IB World School in England. St Clare’s, Oxford remains faithful to its original mission which is to advance international education and understanding.
St Clare’s welcomes students and staff of all nationalities and cultures who will benefit from, and contribute to, our learning community. Living and studying together, we learn from one another. We are enriched and challenged by a diversity of views and ideas. The College aims to provide an environment where our students and our staff:
- Develop their intellects, their imagination, and independence of mind
- Engage in creative, aesthetic, and physical activities
- Learn from, and contribute to, our local community
- Develop a sense of environmental awareness and responsibility to the international community
- Value honesty, compassion, and intercultural understanding
- Take personal responsibility for work and conduct
Our shared experience is challenging, rigorous, and stimulating, and is supported by student-staff relations based on mutual respect and high expectations. We are committed to extending this experience to students from a wide range of backgrounds.
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