St Edward or Marlborough

[ThatSassyAmberHam]

Hi I’m a parent from Asia. My son get an offer from both Marlborough college and St Edward Oxford. At Teddies he got a music scholarship and academic scholarship while non at Marlborough. I was having a very hard decision. Could you help think which offer should we take.

Marlborough is not very multi cultural.
Teddy's is a funnel for Oxford.
Your son will get a chance to go to the college concerts.

I went to Oxford but lived in Marlborough for twenty years.

Personally Marlborough is the stronger education but the above poster is right, Oxford is more cosmopolitan. He might suit it more.

main point to underline is teddies is very weekly boarding. Marlborough is full. Marlborough much better set up for international students, more engaging 7 day a week experience.

Firstly congratulations and well done to you and your son. Both schools would offer your son a good and rounded education, but they will feel a bit different.

As previous posters have said, Teddies is in Oxford - a small but global city - there is a lot for your son to do at the weekends (just Sundays really as both schools have Saturday lessons and games). Marlborough is a very nice place but there isn’t much to do Sundays. But it is also true that a higher proportion go home at the weekends at Teddies, so your son would have more people around at Marlborough on Sundays.

I would also add that Marlborough is larger than Teddies (just over 1000 students v just over 800 at Teddies). Having personally experienced that size difference at other schools you and your son will notice it. He may find it easier to get into things like sports teams, music and drama events, etc. Especially so if he is a music scholar at Teddies but not at Marlborough.

I am a current parent at Teddies and know other current/recent families at Marlborough.