13+ entry to selective private school in Oxfordshire

[CookieDoughKid]

Am considering having dc's go to (very) selective private schools in Oxfordshire. They will be coming from state school. Having no experience of indie sector, I wonder how much a jump is it from state to private when having to prepare for the 13+ exams? I have ds and dd so looking at Magdelen College/Abingdon Boys/Oxford High School for Girls. Thoughts? Thank you. I've had a thread on Abingdon Boys before but particularly would like to hear from parents that have made the jump from State to Indie at 13.

Do they require Common Entrance exam or do they have a separate exam for those who don't come from CE preparing prep schools like your DC's? You need to try and get past papers. If they do insist on CE (unlikely?) then this would be a huge hurdle as it is near GCSE standard and needs specialist preparation. Another thing to consider is whether they are up to scratch in a MFL as again this is likely to be more advanced in the independent school where the majority will have got up to CE standards. There's no substitute for talking to the school about how to prepare.

For Abingdon boys they offer the following two kind of exams for the 13+

Common Entrance: this examination, which is set externally by the Independent Schools' Examinations Board, is taken by boys attending independent prep schools in the June preceding the September of entry.

13+ examination: Abingdon’s own examination which is taken in the spring immediately preceding the September of entry by those attending maintained schools, some UK independent schools and schools overseas.

I'm not sure which is best for those coming from state school but I'll definitely talk to the school. Thanks for the tip. I didn't know the standard of exam at 13 was so high.

Cookiedough,

I cannot help regarding 13+ entry. I do know girls who went to Oxford High from very mediocre state primaries at 11. Although they were very bright, they had no specific preparation except for a little extra maths (this was pre-level 6 SATs being available so, especially in the type of rural primaries these girls were coming from, nothing much was taught above mid-level 5).

I do think that the 13+ entry is likely to be much harder from a state comprehensive than 11+ from a state primary - worth asking the schools about relative numbers of children from each type of school entering at each point. When I visited MCS, some years ago now, they were clear that 11+ was the main entry point for state school children, with 13+ only really for private schooled boys.

'Maintained school' = state school, by the way, so it is the 13+ you would be looking at.

Just checked the MCS website - they say the same, that there is a separate 13+ exam for boys who have been to 'maintained' - state - schools.

Hi OP, I know these schools quite well, as I have had children at both of them. My kids didn't transfer from state schools at 13, but earlier on. I have mixed feelings about both schools, and don't know if I can help at all with your specific situation, but if you would like to chat, PM me.

Oh thanks. I should didn't know maintained means state so that makes it much easier to navigate the entrance exam system! Clara have pm'd you. Thanks!

I spent lots of time researching oxford schools in the last eyar or two, inc state/private and speaking to as many folks as poss. My ds is at new college school which is a prep up to 13.
I would speak to all potential schools about your situation. Probably depends on current age of kids.
MCS seems pretty clear they have two entrance points as a general rule, 11 for state school incomers ( or those from private schools that end at 11) and 13 for preps that do CE. The prep boys at 13 take pretests in yr6/7 that sort of guarentee a place at 13 unless CE goes pretty wrong. You have much more chance of a place at 11 i would think. they are oversubscribed +++
Worth considering it is a very academic school; i would only send a very bright focussed boy there.
Abingdon more all round school, has same entrance system but is a bit more flexible and less competitive.
Girls schools all move junior to senior at 11 lcoally: you will only get a place later if one becomes available.
Have you considered headington girls? Great school and less competitive than the high. Nicer less pressured environment but excellent results.
Could also investigate st helens and st kats but that is also v competitive.
Good luck!

Dietcoke thanks for the info. I think I definitely need to speak to more families.

Abingdon and Headington seem slightly more rich / posh (my children didn't ever go there, so this is based on just looking around) and MCS / OHS seem a bit more academic and pleasantly messy overall.

MCS seems to me to suffer from feeling like it is the best school on the planet, because of the results it gets. It can be inflexible. The students and parents are an interesting mix of people, I think.

There is always some movement, so I don't think that it is unrealistic to think you can get a place in year 9. OHS definitely has new girls coming in at different points.

DS at Abingdon - do not get any sense of rich or posh, thought this might be due to him being in Y8 having entered in Y7 with a lot of kids from a wide variety of backgrounds. It probably looks a bit less tatty than MCS due to grotty location of latter! Abingdon can be a bit more forgiving of isolated idiosyncrasies or weakness as long as boys are strong in other areas. We have no regrets, esp due to flexibility of extra-curricular provision.

That sounds great roguedad; I did say I had no first hand experience of Abingdon. Forgiving and flexible are what we all want, and I certainly didn't love MCS.