The City of Oxford High School for Boys was founded in 1881 in a Victorian stone building designed by Sir Thomas Jackson in Oxford, England. It still stands at the corner of George Street and New Inn Hall Street (now the Sociology Department of Oxford University), bearing the arms of both the City and University. Here the school remained until 1966, when it moved to form a Grammar school (the present Oxford Community School) by combining with what was then Southfield School in Glanville Road off the Cowley Road.

The school motto "Labor Vincit Omnia" ('tis work that conquers all) was carved above the prefects' door, and became the basis for the school song that every boy knew by heart:

In tranquil days of long ago

Under good Victoria's rule

Their faith in Oxford's youth to show

Our grandsires built a school.

"Labor Vincit Omnia"

Tis work that conquers all.

This gem of ancient Roman lore

Was carved above the prefects' door.

"Nemo Repente Sapit", too,

Was there beside it in full view,

Reminding those of slower pace

That perseverance wins the race.

Labor Vincit Omnia

Labor Vincit Omnia

During the late 1940s, the headmaster was F.C. Lay; he was succeeded by Mr Bodey in the sixties. Other teachers included a Mr Rowland, Mr Vaughn, Mr E.J.Wright, Mr Ronnie Rook, Mr Busby and Mr Atkinson. Additional classrooms were added in the playground, a space that was contained on the south side by an extensive length of the city's mediaeval wall. The boy's blazers were dark brown, as were the caps. The striped tie was brown with red and blue diagonal piping. The school's playing fields were in North Oxford, along and beside Marston Ferry Road and which later housed the Old Boy's Rugby Club.

The former pupils of the City of Oxford High School now have their own Old Boys Association, called the City of Oxford School Association (COSA) and their own website: www.cosa-oxford.co.uk. Direct contact can be made with Mike Chew, who is the webmaster on chewmike@aol.com.

Still based at the same site, Oxford Community School has now gained Business and Enterprise Status. Current members of staff include Mr Tony Drake, Mr Fasal Raza and Mr Emmanuel Botwe.

Famous alumni of OHS include Thomas Edward Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia. Lawrence gave his name to one of the four houses, the others being Joliffe, Kerry and Salter.

1881 establishments | 1966 disestablishments | Educational institutions established in the 1880s | Schools in Oxford | History of Oxford