Cheltenham College and Bloxham?

[anotherfinemess1]

We are starting to think about senior schools for our DS, and our prep school head has suggested these two schools. There’s not a lot on here about either. Does anyone have any experience you’d be willing to share?

I did some cursory research on Bloxham because a friend sent her DS there and beyond “we liked it” I could not see what the key attraction was as I’d had never previously heard of the school

Nothing I found out online seemed to scream “excellence”

it just seems like a very pleasant, middling school with a cohort of kids mostly from within 1 hours drive

I was left wondering why she chose it TBH as there are better schools closer to where she lives

but ultimately school choice is all about fit and feel and for her/her DS it felt right.

caveat: she only looked at one other school, which was Berkhamstead, so she didn’t do a lot of research and she is also unbelievably scary/disorganized. Make of that what you will!

Friends children went to Bloxham recently and received perfectly good education for a mid-stream school - bedrooms apparently were cold/damp through winter as heating wasn’t on enough.

Thank you both. I’m going to have a proper look at the open morning. Bloxham is a lot cheaper than the other schools we’re looking at which does appeal, though it’s interesting we’re not getting any thrilled comments. Is there anyone who knows anything about Cheltenham?

Sorry, I don’t know anything about Cheltenham

why did your low suggest these two schools?

dod they give reasons?

if we know some reasons (and your rough location, if you want to share) we can suggest other schools!

I know a family with kids at Bloxham now.
It is academically not very selective which is an appeal for many and I assume is why your head suggested it. There is a fair bit of flexiboarding as most families are in the county. It feels accessible and friendly. There’s a little cafe near by that students can go to in their free time.

Cheltenham - don’t know it personally but like Bloxham it is often suggested for children in the area who aren’t over-academic. Quite a few military there, as it only charges them 10% fees.

Thank you!
What we’re looking for is a school with quite a wide academic level and with lots of extra curricular things going on, especially music. At the moment our DS is above national average but not glittering, though I was the same at his age and did really well at senior school so you never know, he might be the same. We don’t mind day or boarding but it needs to be fairly near Oxford - if he boards I don’t want to spend every weekend driving the length of the country. And I’m afraid we also need a school which has enough money for a bursary. Our head suggested St Edward’s, Cheltenham College or Bloxham. There’s lots on here about St Edward’s but it seemed strange that there was so little about the others. Thank you very much for your knowledge! I need to visit them all; we’ve got a year to decide where to apply.

As I was reading your post I was thinking Teddies, then you mentioned the school.

that would fit your criteria for sure

also consider Cokethorpe and Stowe

Abingdon is a very good school close by but might not be what you are after

Yep I would second Cokethorpe. They have a lot going on and as it is a 100% day school, all the kids are local and day pupils don’t miss out. Academic ability is wide. It sounds like your head is thinking of an ability-linked bursary/academic scholarship to a school keen to up their game in that area. If your kid is bright Cokethorpe might be keen.

Teddies might be tougher as it’s a lot more competitive to get in - the standard for an academic scholarship will be very high. Same for Abingdon. Abingdon does both 11+ entry and 13+ so has fewer places at 13+, plus has just (wrongly IMO) started taking girls so even fewer places than before.

Stowe - maybe, academically also wide. Totally different scene from any of the ones you’ve mentioned though - it’s an aristo party school, mostly boarding.

Bursary money is in short supply everywhere though at the moment - you may need to cast your net wide.

Stowe sounds like a good bet if you don't like the others. Also, dependent on where you are in the county of Oxfordshire they have a much larger day student population than when I was there (a friends brother mentioned recently who is still there) so that could be an option. It is not academically selective at all and, word from friends mouths who went "not a strong work ethic" but children have fun make friends. I dont think it is wildly aristo anymore compared to other places it seems to have a mix, my friends from it are nice and do like a party but the reality of the world has knocked any arrogance out of them (if there was anyway) in their 20s and they're all lovely people. Just another option for you.

Further afield (though not too far!) have a look at Haileybury

https://www.haileybury.com

I know Haileybury just had an old second master from Oundle who transformed it! He even named their science centre after Oundle's... it has definitely become more successful academically, not sure if it is due to selectivity or a transformed work ethic (I do think a lot of parents over simplify good grades and league table standing as simply an indication of selectivity on here when unless youve been through the schools and know others from them recently like I have, you don't appreciate there is a lot more depth to the reason for being academically successful, or just general being successful; due to work ethic, culture etc) I would bear that in mind given what you said about not being intellectually inspired then doing well when looking at these schools and thinking if that could apply to your DC. Some do hide behind the bushel of "not being selective" to justify grades and outcomes that probably, in many instances, could have been better.

Interesting about Haileybury.

I know someone who sent their boy there and they were super happy.

Oundle doesn’t require ISEB exam, just school report. Would indicate “easy to get into”‘ but the exam results are amazing

clearly a LOT of value add at Oundle

Truly find it hard to fault Oundle. The value add, style, rhythm, setting, output, interestingness of students, and scale make for a truly phenomenal experience. I think most people from Oundle or who know it agree what goes in and what goes out is quite a change. Interesting, we only had 55% CE to get in when I was applying. Has that been done away with or is that now ISEB?

Anyway good luck OP - you've got a good selection of schools and vibes so hopefully one might work. :-)

Oundle makes no sense if you live in Oxford. It’s a good five hour round trip and OP has made it clear she doesn’t want to spend weekends sitting in the car.

agreed

im not suggesting it for OP (even though it’s a brilliant school IMO)

I only mentioned it because another poster did and s/he wasn’t suggesting it for OP either!

Yes neither.

Also Im not sure how you're getting to Oundle from Oxford in a 5 hour round trip... horse and cart? Its 1.5 hrs to Oxford from Oundle in a car

Depends where in/or near Oxford you start from. Have done this trip maybe ten times before and it’s never taken less than two hours one way and sometimes three, due to traffic, lane closures, diversions, sections of single lane. Add faffing/turnaround once you are there, and that’s half a day wasted. The public transport route is even worse.

If you have Teddies, Radley, Abingdon, D’Overbroecks, Cokethorpe, Bloxham on your doorstep, why would you?

Eeek, that's annoying for you; I didn't realise you knew Oundle so well and had been. Ive never had any issue with Oxford besides if there are A43 roadworks but 3 hours given how some people comment on the Oxford traffic nowadays doesn't sound far off!

Besides maybe Radley, I wouldn't choose the others over Oundle lol even if I lived 30 mins from Oxford.

I have to go to that town for other reasons but that trip fills me with dread everytime and was the number one reason why it was a hard no for school.
It will be even worse now because of new congestion charge forcing people onto the Oxford ring road.
Maybe when the much mooted Oxford-Cambridge rail link happens in the year 2082 it will be more practical…

I heard about this congestion charge... glad you don't have to take that route to Oundle every weekend then.

Haha that rail-link... let's see if the UK has any money to do it... currently 2082 is, in my mind, optimistic.

a friend who lives in Oxford has specifically ruled out Oundle due to the journey , despite it being an amazing school

but Oundle is in a hard to get to place, very much middle of nowhere TBH

BUT fantastic when you are there!

Back on topic:

this old thread about Bloxham and Stowe was just resurrected on another sub

it may be useful to the OP

overall message seems to be:

bloxham is very local and underwhelming

Stowe is big and brash but there are concerns about some behaviour

what a choice!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/4191777-Bloxham-school-v-Stowe-school?page=1

I know Bloxham and Cheltenham. I visited Bloxham last year and wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did. It is known for being not terribly selective but the young boy who showed us around was clearly very, very bright and absolutely loved the school. It felt cosy, warm, caring. I know 3 families whose children are either attending now or going to attend after they leave our current school (next year) and they are all exceptionally nice people, so that made me like the school even more.
Cheltenham College is a decent school and has a strong reputation for pastoral care and sport. It has a mix of weekly boarding, day students and full boarding.