Oxford High School

[depo]

Anyone with recent experience of the school prepared to give an idea of strengths and weaknesses? Am considering OHS for DD, bright and hard-working but no genius. Have read some iffy refs to lack of pastoral care and unsupportive atmosphere - how true is it?

I used to commute from Oxford to London, do NOT think of it, the morning traffic is awful, She'd be late all the time. I also know many parents at OHS and they are very happy with the school, any girls' school will have the odd eating disorder

the Oxford Tube is good, and runs 24hrs a day. But it can't avoid the traffic, so peak hour buses are slow, just like the cars. Once you hit near Oxford you will crawl along just like everyone else. And I don't think it would be much good for OHS anyway. Headington yes, but I still wouldn't consider London into Oxford a viable commute. Mad.

Toughasoldboots - where did you move you dd to?

Rye St Antony, complete other end of the spectrum. We moved to another part of the country before Sec school but probably would have moved her for that.

Name changed after ten years

That makes sense. Different offering. I thought you might say Headington which has a rep for better pastoral care but appears to be losing it. Particularly the prep school.

I didn't feel that we were Headington types, it just didn't feel right for dd1.

This was all under Felicity Lusk though so things might be very different now. I really did not have the same values as her.

PworriedmumCheck the bus routes the school has already as there may be a stop outside oxford she can pick up the bus from. The Oxford tube between London/Oxford is another option with a pick up just off the m40 watlington. I believe a few girls use that service to OHS and Headington. Good luck, it's a great school.

I have to agree with OHSSurvivor. Please think about the environment you'll be sending your daughter into, it is not a very nurturing or supportive place at all.

That's not our experience. We've got two girls there and through family bereavement and one or two other ups and downs the school have been very supportive indeed and sensitive to our daughters' needs at difficult times. Our girls have made strong friendships, too.

Of course some people will have great experiences of a school. I know plenty of parents at OHS, and ALL of the parents I know have a litany of complaints about the school (hardly any related to actual teaching of subjects) which vary from a lack of after-school provision (girls have to sit studying quietly in the library until 5pm when they are summarily ejected from the building), a lack of discipline in the school as regards dealing with a few problem girls which affect the many, and a consistent approach to feedback from parents. Ignore, ignore, ignore. Most parents I know would move if there were suitable alternatives.

I know plenty of parents at OHS too, and ALL of the parents I know have daughters who have had the most fantastic experience at this wonderful school. Dutifuldad, it is a shame that your daughter did not enjoy her time at OHS but she is one of few, I expect.

There are loads of options for after school provision, such as sports clubs, drama rehearsals etc and to be honest many would not expect a day school to provide free provision after 5pm!

I think it sounds as if you have a personal gripe against OHS dutifuldad.. I'm a mum of two girls there and they have always been happy. No school is perfect but you sound as if perhaps it wasn't the right place for your daughter. Oxford seems to have so many different schools, perhaps it just isn't the one that makes you and her happy?

Hi Flo234, thanks for your comment. I'm glad that both you and Alice have had no issues, given the problems we've had with the school culture that's a real blessing, and I wish you both well.
To be clear, this wasn't just an issue with our Daughter's time at the school, but how they treated and responded to us as parents.
I wasn't suggesting free after school care, it's just that the provision was poor.

You all sound like reasonable people (I would welcome the opportunity to discuss the issues in person), but given the potential for psychological damage to girls at that school, if this had been your experience, what would you do? I can't believe that any reasonable person would not try to warn others of the danger. I appreciate and respect your perspectives, but I feel duty bound to share our experiences.

psychological damage and dangerous are pretty strong words

They are, and not used without reason.

I am another happy parent at OHS. When I go to events at the school and meet other parents, people seem really positive about the school and their daughters' happiness. I have also recently met people at social events / weekend sports clubs with daughters lower down the school (Y7 and Y8) who have been full of praise for the school and stories of how relaxed and happy their daughters are. I appreciate that parents (including me!) tend to sing the praises of their children's' school in order to validate their own choices, and also that no school is perfect for everyone (I have heard of a girl starting OHS in Y9 after prep school and transferring after a term as she didn't enjoy it). However, I don't think it's fair on the school for dutifuldad's comment "I know plenty of parents at OHS, and ALL of the parents I know have a litany of complaints about the school" to stand without me reporting my experience.

Totally agree, CaramelJane. We went as a family to West Side Story last night (even though it finished a but late for my Yr 8 daughter!) The production was great and the girls were all having a ball (in spite of the weepie ending!) Some of the younger girls were even helping with the tech (lighting etc). The 'minority' sports also seem to be blossoming, especially lower down the school (U13 footballers through to cup semi-final the other day) and my daughters and their friends love going there . I'm afraid dutifuldad really doesn't speak for many (any?) others: I hear the sound of an axe being ground in every post of his.

As I've said, I'm glad that you have had positive experiences (I genuinely mean that), I hope that none of you find yourselves in the position we did.
But again, if you did, what would you do? Keep quiet and let others potentially suffer.
I wish you all well, and I am hopeful that a change in the head will help address the issues we faced. You've rightly pointed out that many people feel unable to come to these forums, or speak openly about poor experiences for fear of reprisals and being personally berated for doing so. I provide my comments in good faith and welcome an open dialogue. Trying to intimate that I am in some way isolated and inadequate speaks volumes about the bullying culture that we experienced at the school. It seems that although I am reporting our experience (and I think accepting that you have had positive experiences), you seem determined to undermine my reports and dismiss them rather than accept that our experiences differ from yours.

I think dutifuldad that all people are trying to do is to balance out the views. Nobody wants a parent to be unhappy with their school and I'm sorry if you had a less than spectacular experience compared to others. That hasn't been our experience with OHS and I certainly didn't get the impression from other parents' posts recently that they were looking to isolate you or make you feel inadequate. They're simply being honest about having had (or 'having' present tense) a great school experience for their daughters.

Thanks Flo, I certainly got that impression from you, i wish you all the best.