Our Vision

St Birinus is unique as the only state boys’ secondary school in Oxfordshire.

We were eighty years old in 2016 and value our history and place in Didcot and the surrounding villages but are also committed to innovation, new technology and an education fit for the 21st century for all our students.

Our vision is one of “Inspiring Excellence” through which each and every student can succeed and fulfil his potential. We recognise the uniqueness of each student and the talents which every young person has; we strive for every St Birinus student to excel and achieve through giving their very best in the classroom and beyond.

Our House system with its four historic Houses – Athenian, Corinthian, Spartan and Trojan – lies at the heart of this vision. It rests on a sense of identity, a willingness to participate and a desire to always do one’s best.

Our Values

The values of “Care, Courtesy and Commitment” lie at the heart of our school ethos.

We believe them to be particularly important and relevant for boys as they develop in to the young men who leave us of whom we are very proud.

Care: Boys are caring and should never be afraid to show this side of their personalities; they care for each other, their families, the wider community and beyond – this is admirable and something we appreciate, embrace and celebrate.  

Courtesy: The importance of manners, graciousness and engagement cannot be overstated; these are lifelong attributes which will serve our students well and which they will bring to society as adults.

Commitment: This is about doing one’s best, participating and contributing, being resilient and recognising that failure is an integral part of being successful; we celebrate commitment across the whole of school life and reward it regularly.