is abingdon academic?

[PerkyExpert]

hi guys,

my son is applying to abingdon just want to ask, if possible, to know from parents who has sent their child their, is it academic? and is the entrance test competitve or hard

thanks

This is a tricky question because academic selection is always a spectrum, so the question is always "compared to where?". I don't know Abingdon but looking at their GCSE/A-level results for 2023, they are comparable to my DC's school which is academically selective but not super-selective. My DC's peers will have average ISEB scores in the mid to high teens. A few will be in the 20's, but it's not a Winchester/Wycombe Abbey.

Yes but not a super selective.
The results of a school tell you a lot - a school getting such strong results could never be described as not academic
https://www.abingdon.org.uk/academic/gcse-a-level-results/

It’s fairly strong but with Radley & MCS in close quarters it doesn’t get the super bright, academic boys.

@Beachcomber74 you must be crazy DC is in the school currently and many many of his classmates had offers at MCS and other schools but they all decided that Abingdon was the much better option. While Radley vs Abingdon is different story, ones a full boarding experience while the other is a day school... Even with that it's common knowledge and agreed by most parents that Abingdon is superior to Radley in terms of academics results from GCSES and Alevels. Abingdon has consistently and historically done better with exams though I must add Radley has a much nicer campus with incredible facilities. I would like to add normally the oxfordshire kids whos are more quirky and nerdy tended to go to MCS while the more outdoor going boys who enjoyed their traditional sports like Rugby, Rowing, Cricket etc, musics, arts while also being very smart typically chose Abingdon for day and Radley for boarding.