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Original poster

Headington Girls School

89 replies

princesspeahead · 12/10/2008 17:59

We are grappling with girls day schools in the Oxford area. Went to see Headington on an open day - need to go back solo as it was a bit of a zoo - but wondered if anyone had any up-to-date or local views on it. Also wondering what the views on the headmistress were - I found her rather a cold fish, but then she said a few things that were interesting and made me wonder if there was more there than I previously thought.

Anyway all views, however short, v much appreciated please!

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toobusytothink · 13/11/2008 13:23

sorry but which one is DH?? Just jumping in for good info here ..

abraid · 13/11/2008 09:54

That is good about the head. So important: that inspiration.

Original poster
princesspeahead · 13/11/2008 09:00

DH is a bit glam london which doesn't appeal to me particularly, but the Head is FANTASTIC, such an excellent woman, and it is a very supportive school that really sends girls out confident that they can do anything. Which is what I want.
The fees are beyond horrendous though, I'll grant you that .

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abraid · 13/11/2008 08:57

I'd like to keep my girl at home too. If she went to Headington we'd have to do an occasional flexi-board. So we'll probably go for StH.

My daughter's aunts and grandmother all went to DH and it did cross my mind but I'm not sure we can really afford it. Also, my daughter is a bit of a street urchin (literally plays in the gutter outside the house, etc). DH looks beautiful but quite smart.

Original poster
princesspeahead · 13/11/2008 08:53

I'm also near Abingdon, but more Frilford/Marcham way, so buses probably more feasible than where you are (I can guess!). There are Headington buses from Wootton and also Oxford Brookes buses from their Botley campus to their Headington campus which could work for us. Still means a 7.30 start.
Otherwise she'll have to board, probably at DH, which I think is an excellent school but I'd rather keep her at home...

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abraid · 13/11/2008 08:43

That is interesting. I must admit that if we were nearer to Oxford I'd be looking at Headington because of what I've heard about it, but we're almost into Wiltshire/Berkshire and it just starts to become too long a day, even with buses.

That IS odd about the StH head! Her speech was OK but slightly lacking in humour/personality. That might be a female head thing. I don't know why male heads or head of boys' schools feel more relaxed about injecting an occasional joke into their addresses but the women don't.

Original poster
princesspeahead · 12/11/2008 23:15

yes the local feeling is that St H and St K is more academic, and they certainly select higher, but if you look at the results they are nigh on identical, which is interesting. Which makes me wonder if perhaps Headington hasn't got better value-add? Anyway overwhelmingly academically pushy isn't what would suit young peahead so maybe Headington is just what we are looking for.
Interesting about the head abraid. You were probably at the same parents day as us, but we had to leave before the head's speech. We looked around StH on an individual tour in the first couple of weeks of term, but the new head said she didn't want to meet parents yet as she was too new, which struck me as a little odd..
Thanks again everyone.

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abraid · 12/11/2008 20:58

I also met a maths teacher and she is very nice.

I got the feeling that it was slightly less academically forward than St Helen's (which I'm looking at for my daughter, who is very keen on music). My husband isn't so enamored of the new head, but that may be unfair as we met her at parents' day, when she'd only been on board for a few weeks.

abraid · 12/11/2008 20:56

It's well thought of in our area (we live near Abingdon). I have met several mothers of girls who go there and they think it is good, but not overwhelmingly academically pushy.

StickLadyLove · 12/11/2008 20:52

Yes, very happy. She's been there many years now.
Good luck with whatever you decide - I've got a few years yet as my DC are only 3 and 19 months - but I'm already thinking about it all!!

Original poster
princesspeahead · 12/11/2008 18:45

Oh thank you very much everybody. Joyful - St H&K has a brand new HM hasn't it? As of this term. So that is a bit of an unknown quantity. I suppose it is too early for even your parents to have formed a judgement about her!
Thanks v much Oxcat and Sticklady - all good to hear. Esp that Sticklady's friend is an excellent teacher! So generally she is happy with how the school is run and going?

Thank you all v much.

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StickLadyLove · 11/11/2008 19:24

Hello,
I don't know if PPH is still reading this, but a good friend of mine teaches at Headington. She is excellent and from what I've seen when I've visited her (she used to live in) it's a well-organised and supportive school. I'm a teacher too so I know a bit about it all!

joyfuleyes · 10/11/2008 18:57

My parents considered Headington for my sister (2 years ago) but preferred St Helen & St Katherine (in Abingdon not central Oxford though), they felt it was a better all round, very creative art/music/drama etc, they were very impressed with the headmistress. I've also heard that Headington is less academic than OHS, which has a reputation as a bit of an exam factory. (not sure if that is at all helpful, I don't know anyone who's actually there so it's all hearsay)

oxcat1 · 09/11/2008 13:08

I went to Headington, but then given I turned 30 earlier this month, but knowledge isn't likely to be the most up to date!

I had a lovely time. I found it a very supportive school, with good facilities and real respect for each and every pupil. When I was there, I think perhaps the quality of the teaching in the sciences and maths wasn't all it should have been, but I very much get the impression that has changed now.

My parents (both academics) looked at both OHS and Headington, but decided that the focus at OHS seemed to be solely on academic achievement, with other things dismissed as less important. They chose Headington for me, and I don't think I was held back academically - went to Oxbridge and currently completing a PhD.

Anyway, likely to be very out of date knowledge, but I have only been impressed when I've been back since.

Hope that helps.

mamaspanx · 09/11/2008 12:57

have heard that headington is less academic than ohs if that helps!

Original poster
princesspeahead · 14/10/2008 23:19

oooh thank you

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IdrisTheDragon · 14/10/2008 23:18

She probably knows people there I should think. Will ask her and find out

Original poster
princesspeahead · 14/10/2008 23:17

no, but it was kind of you to share

does she have any (repeatable) views on headington or the hm thereof?

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IdrisTheDragon · 14/10/2008 23:14

My SIL goes to a different girls' school in Oxford (I realise that doesn't help either really).

Original poster
princesspeahead · 14/10/2008 23:12

but I don't live in bristol ilovemydog!

hmmm 70 miles north.... god my geog is crap - birmingham? not really north is it (or is it?)

thanks vc.

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ilovemydog · 14/10/2008 00:06

Badminton in Bristol would be my choice.

VictorianSqualorSquelchNSquirm · 14/10/2008 00:05

Sorry PPH, I have no idea, but I'll keep bumping for you. I do know a friend at CLC says they aren't as good at lacrosse

CaptainNancy · 13/10/2008 23:07

I'm afraid I'm too far away to know about Oxford schools, though I could tell you almost anything you care to know about ones in a city 70 miles north

CaptainNancy · 13/10/2008 23:04

Ooh- no- it was deepinlaundry talking about Headington... I am not she, sorry if I gave that impression... though she seems to have namechanged or disappeared, yes!

Original poster
princesspeahead · 13/10/2008 22:51

CaptainNancy is a MUCH more swashbuckling name than deepinlaundry - good change

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