Advice on senior Ind school in Berkshire-Oxfordshire

[Suej1234]

Looking for boarding for Y10. Overwhelmed by information and how you make choices. Want supportive, sporty and opportunity for high academic achievement without being pushy.
Any thoughts on The Oratory School, Pangbourne College, Leighton Park School, Stowe or (further afield) Rugby? Have read concerned comments about the Oratory School from a few years ago: have things changed now?

Hi OP, we're just going to move this over to Education for you.

Did you actually mean yr10?

Surely most of the information you have must be about applying for yr9?

Yes, year 10, even though an unusual time to join

Any reason you haven't mentioned Abingdon? Sounds like the obvious choice if they have a space.

No space

OP While there are probably several threads commenting on each of the school's you mention I suspect people are less confident about giving advice for entry in yr 10. (Particularly as you may not wish to give any more details about your child or your reasons for late entry.)

How much contact have you had with any of the school's beyond establishing whether they might have a space? I imagine a 14/15 year old will have some views on where they might feel happiest.

(Sorry - this is mere waffle to bump your thread.)

(Don't know why my phone is so keen on random apostrophes ...)

Stowe gets some bad press on here for academics and has the disadvantage of perhaps being a bit isolated for sixth formers. However as secondhand information my DS recently met some delightful sixth form boys from there who had achieved 10+ A* GCSEs. Evidence that high academic achievement can be facilitated- at least at that level. Plenty of sport as well of course.

Quite a few boys from DS1/2's prep went to Stowe frankly I never heard anything very positive about their experiences there. I met the head years ago and I thought he was a rather disingenuous.
If you'll consider Stowe what about St Edwards? Lots of sport and the bright seem to do well.
Or Bradfield?
Both have similar academic results s Stowe.St Edwards is full boarding Bradfield is weekly.

happygardening these boys seemed very happy. However I don't know whether they had tested the pastoral care system.

send I gather its very house dependent.

I think they were all from the same house so that would tally with what you say.

What schools have spaces? Just the ones on your list? Rugby or Stowe. I know young people at both and they are happy. Both have a big London contingent so school is not everything to them. Wellington may suit. Do they have a space?