Oundle School Boarding Houses

[CoastalMummy]

Good Morning Mummies,

Wondering if there are any mums of boys at Oundle School who could give me some advice on boarding houses please?

My son is due to start in 2025 and we would like to select a boarding house now that our offer for a place has come through.

Looking for some information on which houses typically suit certain types of boys, any information on what the housemasters are like, etc.

TIA

A little bump of this post as no responses :-(

I have some insight into this and have sent you a PM. To anyone else reading, the school work hard not to pigeon hole the houses so it is quite difficult to elaborate on their differences. A lot comes down to your rapport with the housemaster and if you feel like they will gel with your son. a couple of houses eat out but most are in house dining. Some are better located for lessons at the expense of the sports fields but it’s really not that far to walk (compared to some schools).

I’ve currently got boys there in two different boarding houses. I’ll pm you later to give you my personal views.
As the poster above mentioned, Oundle School tries not to select “types” of children for particular boarding houses, so you will find that there are musical, sporty, arty, academic scholars and international children in all the houses.
You really need to visit a few boarding houses and get a feel for how they are run. At the end of the day, your son’s peer group will make his stay there good or not so good. That is something which you have little control over.
Some boarding houses are more popular and tend to fill up more quickly, so I would recommend visiting soon.

Went to Oundle. Although it is obviously random there is definitely a difference in houses but get a feel for housemaster and speak to people with children there.

When I was there 10 years ago there was definite vibe to houses so please PM me and I can give you the run down.

My favourite house was always school house, my friends in there were such a mix it definitely wasn't a fixed type and people were supportive.

Sidney is also lovely.

The only ones that eat "out" are Fisher, Crosby and Bramston. But they only eat out as the dining room isn't in the house physically you need to walk to it like 30 seconds (bramston maybe 1 minute). But every house sits down and eats as a house.

Might be helpful to meet the housemasters in person. We considered Oundle briefly for eldest and we were advised to meet them prior to application. They were super helpful but it was after talking to them that we realised the school wouldn’t be suitable for DD at all. I think we had a romantic view of Oundle and the housemasters definitely pulled us down to earth lol

I think it’s worth noting that hsms often have a huge impact on setting the tone for a house but they change. In the time my children have been there the boys’ housemaster changed and the house improved dramatically. (In our family’s opinion)

Hsms stay for a fixed tenure of 10 years with option of asked to stay for a further 5 years. Do you know when changes are coming. My dc have excellent hsm but it’s very personal who you do and don’t click with. Personal tutors are also house based.

Hello. Wondering if you received any good information on the boys boarding school
choice. We are also looking into houses for 2025. If you have anything to share we wouod
lovw to know.

Sorry. Didn’t meant to post publicly. Don’t know how to take it down. But if anyone has any info they would like to pm I can check here too.

Report your post and they will redact parts

For 2025 entry, you will need to speak to the registrar and see where there are places left. They try and spread children across the houses so every house has a mixture of pupils. I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Where they eat their food is a main differentiating point to consider. Some in house and some shared dining ….

The boy’s houses vary so much and I do think it’s important that you get one that you and your son likes.
The discipline, the house cohesion, weekend activities and the overall management and communication are very different between the housemasters. I have boys in two different houses and only one would I recommend.
My favourites are School House and Bramston, although my boys rate St Anthony’s and Sidney. One of the houses has a new female house mistress who was a fabulous deputy and should make a wonderful house mistress in the boy’s house-can’t remember which one though.

You might find that some houses have already booked up as some are very popular.

Totally agree on boys houses varying a lot and again, @Barnabyted also recommends school house (it is the one where there isn't really a type, you can be what you are the most). Def get advice from mums there atm cos they can change, but in my time there they really didn't and speaking to people 10 yrs older than me they were the same vibe when they were there so don't think much will have changed since I left.

IME

Laddish, sporty - St A, Fisher, Grafton, Bramston

Academic/musical - Crosby, Sidney

Anything - School, Laundimer (scottish too), also Bramston.

Hope helps - know people still there so can still give an idea. But it is an amazing education and the changes (at least the social vibe of the place) since I left have been positive and I think they did need to change a bit. Has become much more focussed not just on the individual on a pastoral level from teachers, but the children there are so much more accepting of different profiles and interests so you can really like and do what you want (which in an English boarding school is quite hard haha) without as much judgment.

Current parent here.

to use format above and I feel several houses tick several boxes however and the most important factor is the relationship with the Hsm …

Laddish : St A

Sport: historically Fisher but new intakes have been much more varied so this is less so. They don’t win house sport like they used to .still sporty though.
School .
St A

Scottish: Laundimer

Academic/Music/Quieter/Gentle (?) - not laddish - Crosby, Sidney, Grafton, Bramston

the New female Hsm is at Sidney. She is well liked and respected amongst all the boys.

Hello thank you for all the feedback. We are from Canada. Sorry for the ignorance but I’m not families with the term laddish and Scottish as descriptors for boarding house. Might anyone shed some light?

Laddish …. Confident /alpha types

scottish …. Hail from
Scotland!

We are going to view 3 houses in Nov to make our final choice. I’m definitely leaning towards SH based on everything written above. Really appreciate that feedback.

Interestingly, admissions were really pushing Laundimer and Sidney to us. Neither of which were of interest - but they kept pushing nevertheless. Are these less popular houses?

I’ve just spoken to my son and he’s said both houses are good. If he had the choice out of the two, he would opt for Sidney. His decision is based on a popular, but effective housemistress and good pastoral tutors. He thinks out of the “field” houses, this is the best building and location. I’m not sure why he mentioned location, as all the field houses are close together.
Laundimer has always been booked solid when we looked at Oundle for our boys.

Sidney and Laundimer are both popular houses. They school do try hard to spread boys around the houses to ensure an even mix and houses do not get pigeon holed. If your son has a particular strength, maybe they feel he would benefit S or L ?
Houses can get booked up from 3 years pre entry.
mayhe the school want L to be less Scottish so will be trying to balance demographics a bit. I don’t know. Just an idea.
meet the housemasters and see what you think of them. That’s your best guide.

Good morning mommies 👋
Have read feedbacks and suggestions on houses in Oundle dated 2023. Wonder if there's any new updates / big change in the past year? My boy is joining Oundle for Yr 9 this year 2025. I have no idea about his house yet, not sure if the timeline is different for international route. School asked us to indicate our preferences, or it will be assigned by the school. We don't foresee a chance to visit the houses before school starts. Would appreciate to know more about the houses and the rapport of housemasters/mistress. My son is a gentle boy, loves music but not a sporty one. Thanks to give me some guidance.

Hi Angelinalau, I’m still very happy with School House and would wholly recommend it for your son. The housemaster runs a tight ship, is fair and is very personable.
i would also recommend Bramston, which is popular and tends to book up quickly.

The school has a strong music department, so your child doesn’t necessarily need to be in a house full of musical students.