Magdalen college school vs The Perse

[TigerPaPa]

Magdalen College School and The Perse, both are excellent schools. Any current parents out there could give me your valuable comments on these schools.

As parents, how do you feel about the academic, teacher quality, staff, pastoral care, music, drama, sport, extra-curriculum, student attitudes that could help your children in any way of development. Any thoughts are welcome, thanks in advance.

[williteverend99]

Interested to know why you are asking.

These are not really schools that parents would consider together as both are day and a long way apart. Perse is co-ed and MCS boys only until 6th form.

[1805]

depends where you live! are you going to chose a school and then move house?

[TigerPaPa]

williteverend99.. Thanks for your replied.
My DS had both schools entry exams recently. We have visited both Magdalen and Perse open day. We like both of them. We found they are high expectations in academic.
We like to know more information and experience from the current parents. We are much appreciated for any comments in any of these school.

1805.. Thanks for your replied. Yes, we lived in the middle between Oxford and Cambridge. We don't mind to move and settle for long term if we are lucky enough to get an offer. My DS is good at academic and he is a sporty kid. He would like to explore more in drama and music. Therefore, any comments on both school would be appreciated. Thanks.

[TigerPaPa]

It seems not many parents from MCS and Perse in the group?

[PerseParent]

I’m a Perse parent, but can’t tell you about MCS as have no experience of it. I can tell you that we are very happy with the school and our children have enjoyed their education.

Mine are more music and drama than sport and have found they had lots of opportunities. Mine are all competent musicians rather than junior department type level, although clearly there are children at this level. But they have still had plenty of opportunities for taking part in orchestras and other music groups. A new performing arts building opened last year.

But equally the sport is good - mine just haven’t been A team types - more in the B or C. The individuals in the top teams reach a very high level, and the teams make national finals regularly. Football isn’t offered until 6th form, if that’s your ds sport. Rowing is better at MCS. Perse has a shooting range. So I guess you need to think what sports your ds is interested in.

There are loads of extra curricular activities. Lots of students are involved in outdoor pursuits but there is also debating, coding, Lego. Basically if your son wants to do it it’s probably available.

I guess the main difference is that Perse is co ed and also I believe a bigger school. It’s also slightly further from the centre of Cambridge than MCS is from Oxford I think, but nearer the railway station. Lots of children commute in by train.

I’m not sure you will find many parents who can really compare both, as I doubt many have used both. I know the schools consider themselves equals academically (at least that seems to be the line in public - I’m sure secretly they both think they are the better school!)

I think if you get offers from both you will need to weigh up single sex v coeducational and where you want to live. I think the odds are your son would thrive at either.

[Somethingsmellsnice]

Another parent here too and DS is thriving at Perse. Joined in year 9 and hasn't looked back.

The teachers are really supportive, engaging and pastoral care is of a good quality. We can' t recommend it highly enough. Unable to comment on the other place

[MagicEye]

I expect given the geographical distance you will find few people who have experience of both

[TigerPaPa]

PerseParent.. Thank you very much. The rich information that you have provided were definitely useful. We have learnt a lot from it. Music and drama sounds amazing at Perse. Its good to know that your DS done really well in music and with lots of performance opportunities. I wish him all the best at Perse. Thanks for your infor once again.

SomethingSmellSince.. Thanks for your replied. Good to hear another Perse parent and kid with positive feedback.

MagicEye.. Thanks for your advice. Agreed that distance is a bit far apart between them. Hope that, there are more parents from Magdalen college school could kindly share their thoughts with me. Many thanks.

[NellyBarney]

I know a couple of parents who have used both, as quite a few academics move between the two universities/ hospitals. They were happy with both, what is probably not helpful to you. We are looking at MCS as option for DS, and after having lived in Cambridge and Oxford, I personally prefer the feel and set up of MCS. But then I clearly prefer Oxford in general ( shame dh is a Cambridge man :-)). My personal reasons for preferring MCS over Perse is that Perse is an academic school in Cambridge, while MCS is actually linked with the university, which I think is a great asset and creates great opportunities not least for research projects in 6 form. It also makes boys feel quite grown up when they use the college and university facilities across Oxford (Oxford playhouse and Sheldonian theatre for drama and music, university pool and athletics track, college and university sportfields) rather than just staying on their school campus, but then again, the Perse has better facilities of their own. Although MCS is also rumoured to be totally rebuilt over the next years, following their new 6form centre. The only downside with Oxford is traffic. It's much easier driving to the Perse in the morning for school drop off, and while MCS has school buses, boys can spent 3 to 4 hours on those per day! Both great schools, so if you can choose between them you are very lucky. Just go with your gut feeling, I'd say.

[Somethingsmellsnice]

NellyBarney - not sure how recent your Perse experience has been but they have a few links with Cambridge uni colleges too.

[NellyBarney]

Oh really Something? That's great! MCS does what they call the Waynflete studies. In lower six, every pupil can choose their own research topic, and they have mini tutorials (aka supervisions in Cambridge) with a member of an Oxford college in the area of the field they have chosen. It's a great preparation for university. Like all other schools in Oxford, MCS then have college tutors visiting for the typical enrichment lectures, preparation for university and medical school applications, and I assume the Perse has the same. I also assume the the Perse does some kind of extended project? I personally think the Waynflete research project at MCS is brilliant, but it comes without any UCAS points during the busy time of A levels (unlike the extended project that some schools do as part of pre-Us and I wonder wather the Perse might do the extended project under Pre-U) so not sure it's something that appeals to everyone.

[TigerPaPa]

Nelly Barney.. Thank you very much for your replies with full detail of information. Its really useful. I didn't know that MCS is allowed for using many Oxford Uni facilities.

Bad traffic is a problem for school run. Do you know where are the most MCS family lived/ location near by? It helps me for house hunting :)

Your experience is valuable and once again thanks for your kind sharing.

[Somethingsmellsnice]

Yes Nelly similar set up but at The Perse they are called Rouse Research Projects there. No UCAS points so some still opt for epq but Rouse is outcome driven whereas epq is process driven.

[NellyBarney]

Children come to MCS from s far as Reading and Newbury, so spend up to 4 hours/day on school run. If you are free to move just try and move as close as possible to the school so that ds can walk/ cycle ( although I shudder at the dangers of biking in Oxford/Cambridge). MCS is easiest accessible from East Central Oxford, so anywhere off Iffley Road/ St Clements or South Headington would be great for school run. The most aspiring/family friendly parts to live in Oxford are the nothern parts of Park Town and Summertown. Still doable by bike/bus from there but pretty pricey. If you have a limited budget, looking East might be better than looking North as a very rough guide. Once you move out of Oxford, it doesn't really matter where, as traffic from a 15 new radius on every direction moves at about 10 to 20 miles/ hour speed in the morning. I come from South of Abingdon, and from Abingdon junction on A34 ( roughly 8 miles from MCS) to MCS takes about 35 to 40 minutes in rushour traffic.

[NellyBarney]

MCS has it's bus network on the website, or you can ask registrar for it. You can see stops/times on it.

[NellyBarney]

And add 5 to 10 min to arrival/ departure times, and the odd 45min extra

[TigerPaPa]

Nelly Barney.. Thank you very much. After reading your advice, I felt a bit more confident. Now I have a basic map in my mind, and have some ideas to start with.

Somethingsmellsnice.. Thanks for your detail. I will do more home work on this topic (Rouse Research Projects). Although it does not count UCAS point, but I think it must be a good challenge for the kids.

My family like to get involved in school events.. such as music concert, sport competition, marathon fund raising etc. I wish MCS/Perse would have the same or even more chances :)

[Somethingsmellsnice]

The Perse does have a lot of sports at all levels and a new Performing Arts Centre and a big music department.

[salchow27]

I am looking to apply for Stephen Perse Foundation, and King's College School in Cambridge area, Any current parents who got children in these school could give me your valuable comments on these schools?

As parents, how do you feel about the academic, teacher quality, staff, pastoral care, music, drama, sport, extra-curriculum, student attitudes that could help your children in any way of development. Any thoughts are welcome, thanks in advance.