Magdalen College School, Oxford

[kowloonmum]

Are there any current MCS parents out there willing to share their opinions about how this school? I'm trying to decide if we should enter our son for their 7+ next year. My hubby went to MCS and raves about it. He left 15 years ago, so I'm sure much has changed. My son does not have any SEN's. The school website says they have provision for learning support. Are they the kind of school to kick out boys if they don't make the grade?

If a boy is really struggling then the point of exit would be 11+ or 13+ but this would be the same at any highly selective school. To get in at 7+ a boy has to be super bright so if he gets in then it is because the school feel he would do well.

We thought about sending DC there. It is a great school and great value for money. It's main competitor is Abingdon which is equally good. Of course if you want to keep your options open and have more space then I would try the Dragon and Summerfields and you could then transfer at 11 or 13.

You have not described your child or how close you live to school. Lot of kids have SEN there but its a school for children who can attain A grades up upward and enjoy the intellectual competition. No point in sending a child if he would have to work his hardest all the time to be bottom of the class. Lots of schools so really I would say its very personal -I agree with the idea of another school if you are not sure as they probably can then guide you what secondary school is best suited to your child.

My boy went at 8 from local state primary and now in 2nd year of the senior ('Big') school.He had very variable experience at the JS - it all felt very pressured - I am convinced many homeworks were done by parents. Also he was ferociously bullied and it took a long time and extraordinary pressure from me before they took it seriously. OTOH, they did act decisively in the end.
Now he is settled in the senior school and absolutely loves it. This is an amazing school and the teaching is nearly always very good and often brilliant. Have faith in the entrance procedure - if they think he will manage then he almost certainly will (they have very long experience). If he can get in I'd say go for it. My son does have SEN and the school has been extremely helpful.
At MCS they work really hard, standards are very high - they are a really clever bunch of boys and teachers. They also have a huge amount of fun - there seems to be a very special atmosphere there.

Depo, would they take a boy with mild ADHD but who was very clever and musical? Or do they not see it as SEN?

Thanks depo for your honest opinions & thoughts. Really helpful.

FloreatEtonia, we've registered our interest with Dragon. Just have to see if his name comes up or not as I know their waiting list is huge.

Debliz, we live in Hong Kong and planning to relocate to Oxford in the summer that my eldest son would be entering primary 3. Hoping to get school places sorted, then rent somewhere within walking distance to the said school. My son's P1 teacher says he's in the top three, of a class of thirty. But the majority of the other children are bi or tri-lingual (Cantonese, English & Mandarin). There are 5 who have SEN's. He's neither sporty or musical and shows absolutely no interest in either.

We are planning to arrange an assessment with the school to see if it's worth entering him for the 7+

kowloonmum - I'm not yet a current parent but I've got lots of friends with DS's there, and I've just been through the process with DS, age 6, who has got a place starting in September '11.

After visiting all the schools locally, we thought it was the right one for him (as did his current pre-prep) but we had a back up place at the Dragon in case MCS didn't agree!

The tests were pretty gruelling - he was there for 5 hours, and did 3 1 hour written exam papers during that time. He enjoyed them, and all the boys that I knew who got in, like my son, found these tests quite a fun way to spend a Saturday . Then back a few days later for class based activities and interviews.

The assessments being so exhaustive is a large part of what makes them expert at picking the boys who are best suited to the education they offer. I don't know anyone whose been kicked out, but there are occasional boys who don't make it from junior school to senior school.

You're unlikely to get the Dragon if applying now. We applied in 2007 for 2011 entry and only just scraped a place (which we're about to decline, oops.)

You might want to look at New College School as a good "back-up" in case assessment day doesn't go to plan (it obviously partly depends on who else applies that year, as at least double the number apply that they have space for).

To get in at 7+ a boy has to be bright, no weaknesses in area and also well socialised. I am told the school look very carefully at behaviour and ability to concentrate in class.

Several people we know failed to get in at 7+ but suceeded at 9+.

Summerfield is a wonderful school by the way and just as good if not better than Dragon but smaller.

FloreatEtonia
DS knows two boys with ADHD and "one with autism" just in his circle, so it obviously wouldn't rule him out. Also the school is intensely musical - choirs, ensembles, orchestras and musical events galore. Many teachers and also parents involved in the musical life which has continued since original foundation as a chorister's school. So your boy's musical talent would be a definite plus at MCS. Music lessons are very good but unbelievably expensive. My experience with the SEN dept has been very positive. Very knowledgeable and experienced.

Thanks for all the feedback on MCS. My son has been offered a place in J1.

Then keep a close eye on things. The teaching in JS is variable at best, and it is now failing to get an increasing number of boys into the Senior School. The atmosphere is one of deliberate intense competition, making a number of the boys unhappy. Competition and self-motivation are relied on , rather than thorough and consistent teaching.

Hi everyone, I just fount this link and signed up. I don’t know whether I would still be able to get some advice from you. Thanks.