Cokethorpe School has celebrated the achievements of its most academically ambitious pupils through its Scholars’ Programme, marked by a special dinner held on 30 April.
The programme recognises and supports the top 10 per cent of pupils in the senior school who demonstrate intellectual curiosity, ambition, resilience and a strong love of learning, alongside excellence in both academic and co-curricular pursuits.
Scholars benefit from a broad enrichment offer, including workshops, lectures and debates designed to challenge thinking and encourage deeper academic engagement.
Led by Joint Heads of Scholars Iago Elkin-Jones and Ally Hutchinson, the initiative places a strong emphasis on independent research. Pupils undertake individual projects on topics of personal interest, which are first presented at the school’s Exhibition Evening before being developed into academic articles for publication in the annual Scholars’ Journal.
This year’s journal showcases a wide range of interests, with contributions spanning 19 topics across the arts, STEM and humanities. Subjects include everything from the history of comics to the role of artificial intelligence in aviation, reflecting both originality and academic depth.
Iago Elkin-Jones said the 2026 edition demonstrates “deep learning in action”, highlighting the independent nature of the work undertaken by pupils.
He said: “Pupils have developed their own titles, gathered sources, planned their responses and written in an academic style, complete with Harvard referencing.
“For some, it represents a shift in how they approach their work. Curiosity leads us to enquire; it thrives when we are rigorous. Whether reading or contributing, we would always urge pupils to ‘dare to be curious’.”
Ally Hutchinson added that the programme encourages pupils to engage with complex ideas from an early stage.
She said: “We often speak about young people as the next generation, as if responsibility always belongs somewhere just over the horizon. But I have learned that the future is shaped not by age, but by mindset.
“By people who believe they can make an impact, who are willing to ask difficult questions, to sit with complexity and to challenge easy answers. The research that our scholars undertake so early in their careers is tremendously inspiring.”
The Scholars’ Journal was formally launched at the Scholars’ Dinner on 30 April, attended by nearly 100 guests including Cokethorpe Head Dr Sarah Squire, scholars and their parents, staff, and guest speaker Dr Bo Kelestyn, Associate Professor at the University of Warwick Business School.
Dr Kelestyn praised the programme, saying: “It was a pleasure to be part of such an enriching evening. The conversations with the scholars, the senior leadership team and parents were truly uplifting.
“This programme is hugely important not just for the school and for those individual students, but for the greater good of this country and the world. Because if we don’t have education, we don’t have hope, and if we don’t have hope, what do we have?”
The evening marked both a celebration of academic achievement and a recognition of the commitment, resilience and curiosity shown by Cokethorpe School’s 2026 Scholars.
Cokethorpe School is an independent co-educational day school for pupils aged four to 18, set within a 150-acre parkland estate near Witney in Oxfordshire.
