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Original poster

Oundle or Oakham School

36 replies

MalbecMummy · 20/09/2017 10:53

We have shortlisted the two schools for our DS and was wondering if anyone had any specific comments on either of these two please? DS is an all rounder so I think would fit in academically with both schools. Thank you.

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Original poster
MalbecMummy · 08/11/2017 00:13

So after all that we’ve finally decided on Christ’s Hospital in Sussex. A bit further than we’d anticipated of going but we were blown away by the school! Thank you for all your feedback!

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Androidsdreamofelectricsheep · 04/10/2017 07:42

I have a friend whose granddaughter went to Cambridge from Oundle and she never says a bad word about the school.

truthteller2017 · 03/10/2017 15:09

Niece goes to Oakham. Some bitchiness and bullying in the boarding houses. Girls flirt and drink with the guys here. Teachers aren't really helpful, and even though they say they're easy to talk to, they're not. Very judgemental school. She is not happy there at all. Avoid!!

Original poster
MalbecMummy · 01/10/2017 17:44

Thank you for that Ttbb - that's interesting to hear.

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Ttbb · 01/10/2017 17:30

Hi. I was talking to a friend with a child at Oundle (senior school) today and I remembered this thread. They said that the school wasn't very good at supporting academically talented students. It seems to be more geared towards all rounders. Or so they said.

Original poster
MalbecMummy · 30/09/2017 11:27

GinGarden - by the way, I think you have misunderstood - I am not talking about full boarding, I am talking about the Witham flexi-boarding where they can stay over for one or two nights. I completely understand boarding as I was a boarder myself.

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Original poster
MalbecMummy · 29/09/2017 18:23

GinGarden - if you read my post I agree with you, but there are a few (as per my second post) that I'm afraid that is what I think. Sorry - I'm not trying to be harsh or rude, it's just my impressions. I know at least 20 families at Witham and I can honestly say the majority are all well balanced kids - but there are some that are spoilt and pretentious. Sorry - just my opinion!

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Ttbb · 29/09/2017 17:03

When you say new money do you actually mean new money in the traditional sense? I was under the impression that there wasn't really any old money in the area anyway. We're not local and not very sociable so we really don't know many people in the area. I really can't stand the Joules brigade and don't want them to pick up bad habits from their playmates. I don't mind standoffishness though-I want to get in and out and be done, no desire to socialise at the school gate. We're looking for something that will deliver the academic results for top public schools if either/both decide to board later on. But we also want them to be well rounded. Lots of sports, wide variety of cultural experiences, good music and drama activities, that kind of thing. We don't want anything purely academic or overly swottty.

GinGarden · 29/09/2017 15:14

MalbecMummy that is a bit harsh! All the kids I know from Whitham and their families are lovely, completely not pretentious or spoilt, in fact IME totally the opposite.
Making a sweeping statement such as " Mummy and Daddy put them into board as they're a bit of inconvenience at home!" is not great, there are many different reasons why children board or parents choose for their children to board and it is not for you to judge!
If you don't like the boarding ethos in a school then I suggest you look at a day school and forget Oakham or Oundle, with that attitude you won't be very welcome anyway!

Original poster
MalbecMummy · 29/09/2017 13:22

Ttbb - I meant to say although most of the kids are generally well balanced, a lot of them are spoilt little brats! Mummy and Daddy put them into board as they're a bit of inconvenience at home!

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Original poster
MalbecMummy · 29/09/2017 11:54

Ttbb - Witham used to have a reputation of only having kids from rich farming families who were less academic than other schools, but now it has a reputation of "new money". If you want to impress you go to Witham and the parents have a reputation of being very snotty and stand offish. It is highly competitive and they are all striving for their little johnnies to be more gifted and talented than their mates. That said, I know that their results are good and the children seem to be well balanced. It's the only local independent that goes up to 13 (excluding Laxton) so the kids tend to go onto Oundle or Uppingham.

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Ttbb · 29/09/2017 09:08

Yes, it's a bit far but we noticed that it came highly reccomended. What are the witham parents like? What is your impression of their children? Have you heard any complaints or particular points of praise?

Original poster
MalbecMummy · 29/09/2017 00:46

Ttbb - no but I do know a LOT of Witham parents and children. Is that a school you're looking at? All the parents seem very happy there.

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Ttbb · 28/09/2017 23:39

Please don't feel freaked out but we are currently looking for schools in that area-is you son going to Witham by any chance?

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MalbecMummy · 28/09/2017 00:44

Laxton! Predictive text - grrr!

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Original poster
MalbecMummy · 28/09/2017 00:43

Ttbb - his prep school is not a feeder for Oundle although we do have a few that go. A lot more of them go to Oakham. He's quite a happy little man so I have no
Problems with him being the only one. But I note your point about Lawton as I hear a huge percentage obviously go on up to Oundle.

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Ttbb · 27/09/2017 12:28

Just going to stick my oar in here but have any of you sent children to the oundle junior school? What percentage of the senior school are students that have come from the junior? OP where has you son done prep/junior school-does he know anyone else going to either school?

Androidsdreamofelectricsheep · 27/09/2017 12:17

Gingarden I think it is just standard teenage behaviour. To be fair some of them do use the zebra crossing and thank people for waiting for them.

Logans · 27/09/2017 11:09

I vaguely recall reading about issues with pastoral care not being too hot at Oundle, however you should probably advance search MN OP as that may be out of date now.

Oakham - I've heard as above supposed to be a great all round supportive school.

GinGarden · 27/09/2017 10:34

...plus my DC had never seen a zebra crossing before they went to Oundle so apologies if they are the ones that forgot to use it Flowers

GinGarden · 27/09/2017 10:31

Androids we actually had the same experience with the local Oundle school yesterday too Wink. Oundle School pupils are allowed into the town at morning break which lasts 15 mins, so yes there is a large influx for all of 10 mins whilst they nip into town and get their 'goodies' but they have to adhere to strict rules of conduct whilst in the town - no eating, no mobile phone use etc and there are staff & prefects ready to pounce if they step out of line.
At lunchtime they have to report to house and eat 'in-house'.
I think the town does quite well out of the school so I'm sure they don't grumble too much..Wink!!

Androidsdreamofelectricsheep · 27/09/2017 09:50

(Not criticising)

Androidsdreamofelectricsheep · 27/09/2017 09:46

Gingarden where are they all going then? I used to supply teach in a State school in Oundle and many's the time I have battled through hoards of them going along the road, or nearly run them over because some of them don't seem to want to use a zebra crossing!

Original poster
MalbecMummy · 26/09/2017 23:11

GinGarden - thank you for this. Very helpful indeed. I need to go soon as we've already registered him and I'd like to see it before the Jan entrance exams! I hear they are building a new sports complex and pool - do you know when this is due to be completed please? You have really reassured me. I heard that the (fairly) new Head is doing well pastorally.

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GinGarden · 26/09/2017 22:03

Two very happy DCs at Oundle. Pastoral care has been fabulous, facilities and quality of teaching and extra curricular has been very good. I hear that the music dept is superb although i dont have musicians but sport and drama has been very good. Recently had a leave out w/e and other parents all seem equally happy.
Did consider Oakham but wanted /needed a more fully inclusive boarding school, although day children are very well catered for in their own 'house' and fully involved in all aspects of school life & it has been nice for our DCs to have 'local friends' too. Highly recommend.