Abingdon School

[abittoofat]

What is the general opinion of Abingdon School please?

[maktaitai]

Bumping for you.

Very random but the people I have met from Abingdon School (poss 4), have seemed very posh, very friendly, very open to ideas and not at all up themselves.

[soda1234]

Great for academically able,sporty boys!

[DrSeuss]

DH and BIL both educated there. DH's godfather taught there till recently. Very academic, for those who value achievement but are not loaded. Neither DH or BIL could be described as that posh. Alumni include David Mitchell and Tom York. (Don't worry, the track "Bastard Headmaster" was written for the previous head!) DH generally liked it. They were also helpful with his dyslexia, if that's relevant.

[DrSeuss]

DH would like "helpful" corrected to "tolerant" and wishes to point out that he is 42, so it was a while ago. But godfather retired just 2 years ago.

[abittoofat]

Sounds ok then...
DS Sporty, and fairly able academically I think. Don't fancy Radley or St Edwards, even if we could afford them!
Thanks.

[abittoofat]

LOL DrSeuss!!

[DrSeuss]

The track really was for the head of Abingdon, you know, but he's long gone. Radley, AKA The Pink Scum, is for those with money but no brains, I am informed by DH. Has St Helen's not gone coed yet? SIL went there. Excellent for music.

[abittoofat]

Ab got a HeadMistress (from OHS) started this sept, so time will tell I suppose. I know schools have reputations, so I was wondering what Abingdons is. Think St K and H is still girls. Wondering if them and Ab will eventually merge.
Would DH send sons to Abingdon having been there?

[DrSeuss]

We live no where near Abingdon now, so it's not an option. I just asked him and he says that a)we couldn't afford it and b)we're committed to State (I went to Durham off the back of a state comp and now teach in one), unless the loal comp is truly awful. It isn't, it's rated outstanding as is DS's primary. We fully appreciate that this makes our decision somewhat hypocritical! But no more so than many middle class parents. Just to play the Devil's advocate for a moment,King Alfred's, Wantage is quite highly regarded. No good?

[abittoofat]

Our local comp IS truely awful!!! I am a peri teacher and visit it!!! We have chosen private as we love where we live (except for the schools!). Have been considering moving for about 3 years and have reached the conclusion that we really don't want to.
So......we have made the decision to spend our money on education. DH and myself both state educated and have done well, so not against state at all - just not our local hell-hole!
I think Abingdon will be ok for DS - not completely full of super-rich kids, and lots of sport.
x

[DrSeuss]

Am I allowed to ask which one is your local? In laws will know it as they are still in Wantage.

[abittoofat]

Have messaged you the answere!

[DrSeuss]

Had a look at the website, very impressive but then they always are. Results neither brilliant or awful. Extra curricular looks OK too but it's hard to tell when you are only looking at what they want you to see. What were your objections?

[abittoofat]

Behaviour in classes very poor. I was in 2 yr 8 classes this week and it appauled me. Teachers stood no chance really. So much answering back, no respect for teacher, ect ect.
Also, there was a fire practice in the annexe building where we were and it was frankly unnaceptable. No registers, part-time fire marshall who wasn't there (??!)no idea who was in or out of the building. Kids just wandering about. Eventually switched off and carried on. I thought it must have been a faulty alarm that had gone off about 6 times already, but no.
Ofsted have said in the past that kids enter the school above average, and leave below.
Overall, it shocks me.

[DrSeuss]

I've been that teacher! Behaviour in schools is very variable, though and it's entirely possible that a different class on a different day would have produced a different result. Not that poor behaviour is confined to the state sector. St Mary's School, Wantage,where the Countess of Wessex went was legendarily awful. The antics of the Y11
www.barbelith.com/topic/22890/from/140

And my SIL would fill you in about what the girls of St Helen's do to staff they don't like. Brains + Malice is a pretty vile combination!
But the value added thing that OFSTED flagged up is more worrying.

I'm sorry that you have to do this, it should not be necessary for you to undertake such a massive financial commitment. However, Abingdon is a good choice and I hope that you son will be very happy there.

[oneglassandpuzzled]

Abingdon Boys is increasingly academic. Great for bright boys, a struggle for the less bright. The workload is quite serious. I have a son in year nine.

St Helen's is even more academic. No chance of them merging: why would they? Both are over-subscribed. I have a daughter in year seven. She is bright and sporty and likes music and many of the girls are like this. It is very competitive. There is some bitching, but on the whole she likes it.

I wouldn't send my children to King Alfred's. It doesn't seem to stretch bright kids. Too many soft options at GCSE to get up the league table, IMHO.

[abittoofat]

I really don't know how classroom teachers do it day in day out. Big admiration to all teachers out there!
I only deal with 1-4 kids at a time.
I went to a rough secondary school, but I'm sure there was more respect for the teachers back then. I don't know.
The girl situation I don't have any obvious choices for yet.
We are lucky that we can aford a choice, and for that I am grateful, but it is sad that it has come to this.

[Edizant]

Hi, We are possibly moving to the Abingdon area and would really appreciate knowing which state secondary you referred to in the above thread. We are at the very early stages so haven't looked into schools very carefully as yet. Think that your concerns may drastically affect where we choose to live.
Many thanks

[cupofteainpeace]

Edizant - have messaged you.....

[ReadingMan]

Does anyone have any idea on difficulty on passing entrance exam at 11? My DS is currently at state primary but wonder if I should transfer to local prep school with links to Abingdon Boys to have better chance of being prepared for exam?
BTW, the state primary will not even think about any sort of help preparing of local grammar school entrance so goodness knows about private!!

[desertisland]

Would definitely highly recommend Abingdon School. My son went in there as an average acheiver but progressed hugely in academic terms and got top notch GCSE results. Possible Oxbridge candidate now. Many superb, inspirational teachers there, with one or two exceptions. Brilliant music making and also good for sporty boys. And very supportive house system if boys are having a tough time socially / emotionally. Head can appear remote and cool but knows her stuff, clear thinking and will not take any nonsense from boys or staff!

[Teabaglady]

I know this is an old thread but just wondered whether anyone agreed with the negative comments on this thread about King Alfred's in wantage or whether anyone had any more positive comments ?!