Kate Middleton and Prince William 'took a look' at £47,000-a-year 'Teddies' for Prince George: St Edward's School in Oxford prioritises 'children's happiness' and offers sustainability course

The Prince and Princess of Wales are currently pondering the difficult question of where to send Prince George to high school.

And it looks like there's a new institution in the running after The Daily Mail revealed Kate, 42, and Prince William, 41, were set to take a look at £47,000-a-year 'Teddies', as St Edward's School in Oxford is known stands. .

The princess underwent a 'successful' planned abdominal surgery just over three weeks ago and is currently resting at her Windsor home, Adelaide Cottage, so it's unclear exactly when the royal couple toured.

“They came to watch,” said a Teddies grandfather.

The coeducational institution, founded in 1863 by the Reverend Thomas Chamberlain, has a gifted headmaster, Alastair Chirnside.

As an Oxford student he gained a Congratulatory First – awarded perhaps only once in a decade for exceptional brilliance – in Classics and French, and also won a Half-Blue for rowing in the Oxford lightweight crew.

The school's impressive alumni include Dambusters leader Guy Gibson and fellow RAF legend Douglas Bader, as well as actor Laurence Olivier and Oppenheimer star Florence Pugh.

Up websitethe headteacher emphasizes the school's 'spirit of inclusion' and 'ethos of collaboration'.

He adds: “Everyone should have the opportunity to participate and everyone should have the opportunity to excel. Children's happiness and their ability to recognize what makes them happy are more important than anything else.”

Speaking about the school's philosophy, Mr Chirnside said: 'Education is a deeply personal endeavour, based on good relationships and most successful when teachers and students can set their course.

'That philosophy has defined St Edward's recent success and will form the basis for the school's future.'

The educational institution has 100 'glorious' hectares in the north of Oxford, including a golf course and a boathouse.

In terms of curriculum, the school's website explains that students are encouraged to look beyond exam results and focus on long-term life goals.

In this way the school encourages children to take 'Pathways and Perspective' courses in addition to their GCSEs.

The courses have been designed by the school together with 'leading educational experts' and are accredited to Buckingham University, with several courses having links with university departments.

The courses complement GCSE options and cover areas such as sustainability, design, sports science and the classical world.

The Sustainability course is likely to appeal to the Prince of Wales, who is known for his green-focused vision.

Students also take seven to eleven GCSEs, which require English Language, World Literature, Maths and Science (double or triple distinction) and one modern foreign language.

The school charges extra fees for extracurricular activities including drama, golf and sailing lessons.

One of the main objectives of 'Teddies' is to teach a range of life skills. Therefore, students must join the Combined Cadet Force. Students can choose between the Army, Navy and Air Force sections.

Established in 1948 as a youth organization of the Ministry of Defense, the objectives of the course are 'to provide a disciplined organization in a school so that students can develop leadership skills through training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self-reliance and resourcefulness' . , endurance and perseverance'.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are also known to champion young people's mental health – another philosophy that 'Teddies' prioritises.

Last year the school supported Oxfordshire Youth to improve the mental health of children at school and in the wider community.

St Edward's also hosts an annual Youth in Mind conference in partnership with Oxfordshire Mind.

The conference is open to social and health professionals from across the UK and provides an opportunity to hear from speakers and develop skills to improve the mental health of children and young people.

Although Prince William and Prince Harry both were studied at Eton College, just a short distance from Windsor CastleIt has not yet been confirmed whether Prince George will follow in his father and uncle's footsteps.

He has also been linked to his mother Kate's former school, Marlborough College, where Pippa and James Middleton were also educated.

The Mail on Sunday reported that George has already been given a 'home' in a secure location and a caretaker at the school when he does eventually go to school.

But it is said there are concerns that Marlborough has become 'too flashy' after a rise in popularity with ultra-wealthy families due to its association with the Middletons.

“The 2024 version of Marlborough could be very different from how Kate remembers it,” says a source.

'It's become a bit more jet-setting. Many parents have villas in Ibiza, chalets in Verbier or a private jet, which is not Kate's style. She prefers understated wealth.”

They added: 'Kate wants a school that suits all her children and keeps them grounded.'

Last week the Mail on Sunday reported that Kate and William had also put the prestigious Oundle School among their top choices for their eldest son, who leaves primary school this summer.

Oundle School in north Northamptonshire claims it can help shape its pupils into 'decent', 'open-minded' and 'ambitious' adults – but never 'arrogant'.

Founded in 1556, the institution prides itself on students, known as Oudelians, 'sharing the town of Oundle' with residents, as the buildings are spread across the area on an open campus with a chapel and cricket pitch.

The headteacher, Sarah Kerr-Dineen, who studied at both Oxford and Cambridge, describes the pupils at the school as 'intellectually curious, energetic and resourceful'.