Advice for a faith based secondary school in Oxfordshire

[SunnyRhi]

Hi there,

I am looking for a strict faith based secondary school in Oxfordshire. Any recommendations?

[sleepismysuperpower1]

if you have a daughter and are looking for a fee paying school then try here. they go to the chapel once a week as a whole school, and there are prayer groups that meet during the week. there is also a chapel attached to the school.

[SunnyRhi]

Thanks for your response, I should probably have stated that I have a son. 🙈 trying to find a really good state school but not opposed to looking at private if I have to.

[houselikeashed]

Radley? They have Chapel every day I think.
But £££££ and full boarding.

[WhyAmIPayingFees]

Which faith were you thinking of?

[stucknoue]

Which faith and where, state school is determined by location

[meditrina]

Which faith (and if Christian, which denomination) and what do you mean by strict?

If you are interested in a state school, are you prepared to move house in time for applications deadline? If so, any no-nomareas youndo not wish to live in?

[thebabysmellsofpooagain]

Depends where In Oxfordshire you are looking, and for which faith. There are a few about.

I'm from the area so may be able to help, DM me if you like x

[SunnyRhi]

We actually just emmigrated from overseas and live in Witney, signed a lease for a year til next April. It's a tricky one timing wise as I have to apply for secondary this September. I also looking at Moving close to Oxford Parkway Station or potentially Didcot as closer stations in to London for work. So may move anywhere close to there. Still researching. Don't even have to stay IN Oxfordshire we can move anywhere within an hour preferably 45 min commute in to London. I would change area to get more options for better secondaries.
We are Christian. I'm not even specifically after the faith based school to be honest, Im just really searching for a good school, nice friendly environment or at least where bullying is not tolerated. Swearing and disrespectful behaviour not tolerated. Just decent. Am I living in dream land to expect to find these things 🙈 I know that no where is perfect.

[crosspelican]

Strict + state don't really go together in this country, and the high achieving Catholic schools tend to be in London IME. What age is your son? The new Swan school is opening in Oxford in September and will be excellent. Their website has the catchment map which would suit you for North Oxford/Godstow and Oxford Parkway. If you can afford to live on the doorstep, the Cherwell is excellent - really great reputation.

For private the Magdalen school is very high achieving, which definitely requires a strict outlook! Fee-paying but potentially cheaper than living in Catchment for the Cherwell if you add it up - £18k a year, so £1500 a month, which could easily be the premium you would pay on top of normal rent to live in the Cherwell area!

[Persimmonn]

The only faith based secondary I can think of is Gregory’s and that’s a school in special measures with a horrendous reputation. Why faith based though? You teach your child respect and good manners at home don’t you?

My recommendations would be Cherwell in Oxford, Bartholomew School in Eynsham, Lord Williams in Thame. The new Swan School is going to be strict and highly academic, opening this September, but they will only be taking year 7’s and filling the school yearly.

[BubblesBuddy]

Move to Bucks for the grammar schools then. Some have a Christian ethos.

[SunnyRhi]

Thank you everyone and Crosspelican that's brilliant advice.
Yes my son is 10 very well mannered and respectful I don't feel I can't solely take the credit for it, he's always been a sweet good natured boy perhaps it's part luck, all his teachers have loved him, where we are from there is zero tolerance for disrespect to teachers and You can be expelled from school after 3 written warnings, so it's just a big change here where it seems kids get away with it more. Im not overly concerned it seems to be largely a stage they go though and they turn in to lovely adults as is my experience with young adults and adults here have all been lovely and so polite and friendly. I suppose I just was told that faith based schools are stricter. Just trying to protect him and find a good secondary in a good area closer than Hanborough station in to London. My husband likes oxford parkway. Thanks everyone. It's all been quite an adjustment. Feel like you start from scratch in a new country.

[SunnyRhi]

Also lastly I must point out my son is very average academically as the curriculum is ahead here so I don't think an overly academically competitive school would be a good fit.

[Persimmonn]

Tbh, Oxford doesn’t have the best secondary education. For an educational capital of the world, our state schools are crap. Private is probably better but don’t be fooled they’re stricter. I’ve seen tik tok videos of girls from Headington School filmed in class during physics lessons dancing infront of the teacher. I was shocked that a private school would allow mobiles out like that during a lesson.

Good luck with your school hunt.

[crosspelican]

If he's 10, is he currently year 5? So he should be fine for the Swan then. We're just about in catchment for it & it's top of my list.

Lots of kids from our school are going to Bartholomew's (I have never typed that word before! Such a strange name!) and it's supposed to be nice if you live in that direction.

[SunnyRhi]

Thanks Persimmonn and crosspelican
That's super advice.. so appreciate it. I will look in to Bartholomew and the swan.
My husband still keen on looking at stars in Surrey as an option as it's closer to family. As well as Reading. This has helped a lot.

[SunnyRhi]

Sorry not stars. *areas and schools

[sleepismysuperpower1]

if you are looking outside of oxfordshire i would try here. its located in hitchin, which is a 30 minute train ride from Hitchin station to London. you would get more for your money house wise in Hitchin as opposed to london too x

[SunnyRhi]

Ooooh fantastic thanks sleepismysuperpower1 mum. That's great help. x cool username 😁

[ksb76]

My kids are at Kingham Hill in Kingham, OX. It has a pretty strong Christian ethos with chapel 4/5 days a week for day and at weekends for the boarders, and they have a strong Christian Union. Very happy with the all round attitude rather than a stressful academic hothouse, so maybe worth considering if you can afford private as an option.

[Cresci12]

For private near where you are I'd look at Abingdon (C of E) We have friends that happy at the Oratory (Catholic) closer to Reading. I don't really think you'll find what you're after in a State school but the only way to tell is to go start seeing them on tours.

[HPFA]

Move to Bucks for the grammar schools then

Which her son has a 1 in 4/5 chance of getting into.

If you're thinking of Didcot St Bririnus school seems to be in a good place at the moment. Results are excellent (0.25 Progress 8 is very impressive from an all boys school considering that boys get lower GCSE scores generally) and has a Good rating from Ofsted.

[SunnyRhi]

Thanks ladies. Agreed on the grammar school, if my son was super advanced academically I'd be trying my best to get in to one but don't think it's an option.
xx

[pointythings]

Nice sweeping statement about state schools there, persimmon

[WhyAmIPayingFees]

Cresci12 the OP said her son is average academically so Abingdon would not be suitable as with a grammar school. While it has far too much religion for my taste Kingham might indeed be worth a look.