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Original poster

South Oxon/Berks independents advice - girls or mixed

30 replies

Mountainscalling · 10/09/2018 10:53

Does anyone have any experience/opinion of the following schools (aside from Co-Ed vs Single sex, Fees and travel, we've looked at those factors already)

The Abbey in Reading
St Joseph’s in Reading
Cranford House in Moulsford
St Helen and St Katharine’s in Abingdon

We’re considering them for DD who is bright but not super bright (so SHSK may be out of the question). She needs to be stretched academically otherwise she gets bored but can also be lazy if not given encouragement, she’s not especially self motivated unless something really grabs her attention!

The most important factor to DD is to be somewhere where she will 'get some attention' which has been a constant battle at her current primary where she feels she is always overlooked.

Any opinions (good or bad) welcome!

OP posts:
Original poster
Mountainscalling · 10/09/2018 12:51

Thanks Nelly. Unfortunately Oxford is just to far (we're closer to Reading) and DD wouldn't even contemplate boarding!!

OP posts:
NellyBarney · 10/09/2018 12:00

If travel is a problem Wychwood offers weekly boarding at a reasonably fee. Your daughter sounds like she may actually fit well into a boarding school, even as a day boarder, as pastoral care is on average more comprehensive at a boarding school and a 'giving everything a go' attitude is what these schools are looking for first of all.

NellyBarney · 10/09/2018 11:55

How about Wychwood School in Oxford? Very small but the intimate size would mean your daughter would not feel overlooked. It has a wider intake than SHSK and the Abbey but is able to support an academically able child.

Original poster
Mountainscalling · 10/09/2018 11:47

Thanks HPFA, that's helpful. We will look at SHSK but she certainly wouldn't be happy struggling at the bottom so we will be considering that.

DD doesn't really have any area where she'd particularly shine, academically I suspect she'll end up maths/science oriented but at the moment is a good all rounder and prolific reader! Not especially talented at any sport but likes to give anything a go. Plays an instrument but again, not going to shine necessarily, is just 'good' and likes it!

We did look at OLA but don't think the travel side will work (we know SHSK is manageable by bus as others do it from where we are).

Thanks!

OP posts:
HPFA · 10/09/2018 11:23

I know someone with a daughter at Cranford - she said it was very nurturing but small so depends on your DD's personality whether she finds that cosy or claustrophobic!

The couple of girls I know at SHSK don't really fit the neurotic/genius stereotype so might be worth at least having a look, although personally I've always thought struggling at the bottom in a very academic school must be a miserable experience -is there a particular subject where your DD would get a chance to shine?

You could look at OLA in Abingdon - mixed and a wider academic intake. The children I know there seem happy and certainly don't conform to a particular "type" so might suit an independent-minded child?

I live in Abingdon so no knowledge of the Reading schools, I'm afraid.

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