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Boarding school

Connect with fellow parents of boarding school students on our supportive forum. Share experiences, tips, and insights.

St Edward’s, Oxford for a boarder

6 replies

Cocodmackie · 28/03/2026 07:00

Hello
posting again as looking for advice from parents with children at St Edward’s, Teddies in Oxford. I have read what I can find on other posts. We have an offer from Sherborne boys and waitlisted for Marlborough (first choice) and our prep school said to have a look at Teddies as feedback from Marlborough was DS academically not as strong as those who received offers so worried if we did eventually get offered a place maybe Marlborough isn’t the right school although thought it was all rounders types but apparently super oversubscribed at the moment 🥹 my questions to those who know:

  • what is teddies like for those staying weekends? Is there many who stay or just the internationals?
  • is it a good school for sport beyond the A team?
  • I like the IB my son is smart but perhaps at 10 yrs of age doesn’t push himself or see it as imperative atm
  • is the traffic horrific for exeat collection on a Friday?
  • any recommendations for all girls senior schools within 40mins for daughter wanting to start year 7
thank you
OP posts:
CandyEnclosingInvisible · 28/03/2026 15:04

Malborough is oversubscribed at the moment because of the rumour mill that the Wales kids will be going there.

I know some people who loved Teddies in the 90s/00s but no recent info

Cornemuse · 30/03/2026 13:44

Cocodmackie · 28/03/2026 07:00

Hello
posting again as looking for advice from parents with children at St Edward’s, Teddies in Oxford. I have read what I can find on other posts. We have an offer from Sherborne boys and waitlisted for Marlborough (first choice) and our prep school said to have a look at Teddies as feedback from Marlborough was DS academically not as strong as those who received offers so worried if we did eventually get offered a place maybe Marlborough isn’t the right school although thought it was all rounders types but apparently super oversubscribed at the moment 🥹 my questions to those who know:

  • what is teddies like for those staying weekends? Is there many who stay or just the internationals?
  • is it a good school for sport beyond the A team?
  • I like the IB my son is smart but perhaps at 10 yrs of age doesn’t push himself or see it as imperative atm
  • is the traffic horrific for exeat collection on a Friday?
  • any recommendations for all girls senior schools within 40mins for daughter wanting to start year 7
thank you

My DC has offers from Teddies and Marlborough and I am struggling to pick between them. As a result, I have done a LOT of research on both. Also, Teddies is the most popular future school among students at my DC's current school.

Marlborough is oversubscribed at the moment but more bc it has a reputation as a happy, strong school with a wide variety of activities than anything to do with royals. Most of the potential future parents I have spoken to are hoping no royals attend since that will bring a lot more negatives (attention, security issues, media, etc)than positives (no doubt the royal offspring are very nice children, boost to the school's fame, etc)

Teddies does tend to clear out on the weekends but there is a strong, smallish core of mostly-overseas students who stay in so your child definitely wouldn't be alone. Another benefit is that it is located in the north end of Oxford, so student is not stuck out in the middle of nowhere but can (depending on school permission, of course) go into town for shopping, eating out, plays, concerts, museums, etc.

Yes, it is a strong school for sport at all levels, not just the A teams.

Teddies offers the IB as well as A levels. Some see this as a good thing but I do wonder if the school is spreading itself a bit thin - trying too hard to be all things to everyone.

The traffic in Oxford is rather awful but since Teddies is in the north end, it won't be as bad on Fridays at 1PM as if it were located right in the centre.

Oxford High or St. Helen & St. Katherine?

Iydrd · 04/04/2026 23:50

The Marlborough thing is definitely due to the Royals rumour mill. Don’t kid yourself!

Cocodmackie · 05/04/2026 06:20

Cornemuse · 30/03/2026 13:44

My DC has offers from Teddies and Marlborough and I am struggling to pick between them. As a result, I have done a LOT of research on both. Also, Teddies is the most popular future school among students at my DC's current school.

Marlborough is oversubscribed at the moment but more bc it has a reputation as a happy, strong school with a wide variety of activities than anything to do with royals. Most of the potential future parents I have spoken to are hoping no royals attend since that will bring a lot more negatives (attention, security issues, media, etc)than positives (no doubt the royal offspring are very nice children, boost to the school's fame, etc)

Teddies does tend to clear out on the weekends but there is a strong, smallish core of mostly-overseas students who stay in so your child definitely wouldn't be alone. Another benefit is that it is located in the north end of Oxford, so student is not stuck out in the middle of nowhere but can (depending on school permission, of course) go into town for shopping, eating out, plays, concerts, museums, etc.

Yes, it is a strong school for sport at all levels, not just the A teams.

Teddies offers the IB as well as A levels. Some see this as a good thing but I do wonder if the school is spreading itself a bit thin - trying too hard to be all things to everyone.

The traffic in Oxford is rather awful but since Teddies is in the north end, it won't be as bad on Fridays at 1PM as if it were located right in the centre.

Oxford High or St. Helen & St. Katherine?

Congratulations to your child, that is great!
I’m going to book in for a school tour to Teddies soon I think. I actually like the IB offering and heard it brings in a lot of European international students which is nice. So hard to make these decisions isn’t it. I guess they are both brilliant schools really. My friends with children at MC really love it there and I love the tradition and boarding house system which perhaps comes across as more collegiate than that at teddies but perhaps just how it comes across from the websites. I know nothing about teddies but liked the no phone policy in lower school, the lovely campus and seemingly forward thinking focus. Many thanks for your comments. I’d be interested in hearing which you selected for your DC.

OP posts:
RedPanda2022 · 22/04/2026 21:19

my ds is boarding at teddies

  • what is teddies like for those staying weekends? Is there many who stay or just the internationals? About 2/3 go home for Saturday night so not just international boarders, some stay as they have attractive Saturday night activities.
  • is it a good school for sport beyond the A team? Yes. Ds is not sporty and had a chance to be on teams for all sports except football, which he hates! He has had loads of matches in sports like badminton, tennis, table tennis as well as traditional team sports. I think he was on the ‘H’ team for hockey last year….
  • I like the IB my son is smart but perhaps at 10 yrs of age doesn’t push himself or see it as imperative atm - this sounds normal.
  • is the traffic horrific for exeat collection on a Friday? No, it can be busy but not that bad.
  • any recommendations for all girls senior schools within 40mins for daughter wanting to start year 7 - within 40mins of where? I’ve only got boys so less good on girls and will let others comment.
Cocodmackie · 23/04/2026 06:06

RedPanda2022 · 22/04/2026 21:19

my ds is boarding at teddies

  • what is teddies like for those staying weekends? Is there many who stay or just the internationals? About 2/3 go home for Saturday night so not just international boarders, some stay as they have attractive Saturday night activities.
  • is it a good school for sport beyond the A team? Yes. Ds is not sporty and had a chance to be on teams for all sports except football, which he hates! He has had loads of matches in sports like badminton, tennis, table tennis as well as traditional team sports. I think he was on the ‘H’ team for hockey last year….
  • I like the IB my son is smart but perhaps at 10 yrs of age doesn’t push himself or see it as imperative atm - this sounds normal.
  • is the traffic horrific for exeat collection on a Friday? No, it can be busy but not that bad.
  • any recommendations for all girls senior schools within 40mins for daughter wanting to start year 7 - within 40mins of where? I’ve only got boys so less good on girls and will let others comment.

Thank you for helpful comments. We have booked in to the open day. Sorry I meant 40mins of Teddies. We are south west.
many thanks

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