Ludgrove or Summer Fields? Would love to hear your feedback!

[anonymousmum100]

Hi all, I am considering either Ludgrove or Summer Fields for my child to start in Y7. He is academically inclined and also sporty.

Wondering if any parents would have any feedback on these schools - academics, pastoral (including how management deals with bullying), sports and any other information that would be useful for me to make my decision.

We are an international family, so would also be looking at boarding numbers, etc.

Thank you so much for any feedback!

@anonymousmum100, you need to ask MN to move this to the Boarding school section or the private school section. You also need to state what secondary school you are considering because the places for year 9 are often offered by year 7.

Hi there OP, welcome to the site!
As hockeyfun said to you, we think this might be better on Boarding Schools so we have moved the thread now and hope that you find the support you need.

I don't know Ludgrove. I do know Summerfields a little bit. My DS tried for a spot, there, and was rejected; had he been accepted, I would absolutely have sent him there. Fantastic grounds, good academics.

However, some concern from current British parents bc of the huge number of Asian families. (Understandably, I suppose), the Summerfield Asian parents have their own, Mandarin-language whatsapp groups, they stand together and speak Mandarin at school matches, and some parents feel that this detracts from the school community feel. shrug This is simply second-hand chit-chat from Summerfield parents, so take it as you will.

As a local, I can agree. Yes it’s true that SF is today a very Asian school.

To the point where some non-SF parents locally have a very disparaging and offensive name for the school which I won’t repeat here,

but ignoring that unkindness from some sniping non SF parents, what can be said is that SF has a good reputation and is a very highly performing and extremely well regarded school. Perhaps the academics are so strong in part because they have so many smart kids from Asia.

But it does rather impact thier sporting depth as B teams and below in all sports are frankly rubbish. The Asian boys I understand are keen on racket sports and chess rather than traditional English sports such as cricket and rugby.

however SF send a lot of boys to Eton and Harrow each year and produce many scholarships. You can find that out on their website.

so in summary it’s great for highly academic kids. If they are good at team sports too, they will fit in with the A team.

If they aren’t it doesn’t matter because there’s B,C,D and E teams where there is zero pressure to perform.

Ludgrove in year 7 might be a big ask unless your child has already done pre test in year 6 and already has an offer of a place at a school at 13. These days the Common Entrance exams in year 8 are the confirmatory stage of getting a place in a Year 9 entry school.

Thank you for sharing, everyone!
I also understand that SF has a new head and a new team managing the school? Has there been any positive talk about the new management?

The local chat is overwhelmingly positive about the new HM

caveat: it’s early days and he has only been in place 2 months

would not be surprised if he’s still figuring it all out so wouldn’t expect any major changes anytime soon

outgoing head was epitome of old school

some friends did wonder what if anything he actually did. He wasn’t a teacher. A former MP who was More of a spokesperson who mixed in the right circles but that’s not what’s needed in the current climate

I just found a handwritten letter we received from the Ludgrove head (still there now) when we were looking at boarding preps six and a half years ago. If It hadn’t been for COVID happening, I think we might well have gone there. It’s still a proper boarding school, whereas SF (being in central Oxford) is more of a day establishment.

Ludgrove is a proper boarding school in that the boys come home every second weekend. There is no day option and no flexi option. All the other boys’ prep schools have some degree flexi and/or daily buses to London. Whether or not you want that will be the threshold issue. If that is what you want then Ludgrove is a great option. There is a working assumption from many people that Ludgrove is all about getting boys into Eton but in reality many send their boys to Harrow and Radley.

Unsurprising that the boys only boarding prep schools send majority of kids to the only 3 boys only full boarding senior schools left in the country