Rugby School or Oundle?

[ponzo]

My DD has a place at both Rugby and Oundle School in Sept 2018. She is fairly academic but her passion is drama. We live abroad and so we are looking for a school which has wonderful pastorial care and where the other children are kind and supportive. Can anyone tell me the pros and cons of both these schools?

The drama at Oundle is very good, with regular performances in their own theatre and lots of visiting performances for the drama students to see too. Oundle has a really nice community feel (I'm sure Rugby does too) but the children do all support each other and as there are a fair few from overseas then there is plenty of support from other children. The small market town of Oundle is gorgeous and I always feel that they are very safe in Oundle, the school is very central to the town and so the children are never very far from anywhere whether it is a boarding house or classrooms.
Access to the airports is very straightforward - just an hour from London Stansted.
Rugby School is also close to Birmingham International airport so overseas travel for either should be ok. Have only ever heard good things about Rugby too so I think that you really need to go with your gut instinct.
We were in a similar situation but chose Oundle for logistics ie closer to London and we fell in love with the lovely town too.
Both schools are excellent and you won't go wrong really with either of them.

We considered moving to oundle and sending our children to the school there. The town is lovely and I would be 100% comfortable with my children spending time out and about there from boarding age. The school from what we have been told is best for all rounders with a lot of sports (although maybe the sports are less of a thing for the girls), apparently they also have a good reputation for getting children into American universities. Tatler also rates it well (if you care about that kind of thing). Rugby is more well known but I don't really know much about it tbh. Never heard anything bad though.

DD was a drama scholar at Rugby, she loved it. Excellent productions, workshops with West End casts and the RSC and the opportunity to take a production to Edinburgh. She was very very happy there and has the uni place she wanted ( but applying for drama schools too- more in hope than expectation.)
Having said that we have friends that went to Oundle and I'm sure they'd say exactly the same!!
Feel free to pm me if you want to know anything

They're both great schools and so just go with your gut.

Does she have a drama scholarship for one of them?

Is she taking the academic papers or CE?

And despite it only being a couple of years ago for me, I can't remember the cut off date for deposits but seem to remember it was spring? When do you have to decide by? Maybe go see both of their productions in the meantime?

DC is doing drama at Oundle and loving it. Pastoral care has been fantastic, we have (unfortunately) had to test it to the limit in a short space of time with 3 incidents (1 x health & 2 x out with school) the staff from the in-school ‘hospital’ to the Chaplain have all been amazing and nothing has been too much trouble.
We also had to choose between Rugby & Oundle, we loved them both but DC ‘chose’ Oundle so that was that. Very happy.
Not sure re the commment “more for allrounders” that is not the Oundle I know. Academically driven and it is ‘cool’ to work hard!
DC is thriving.

Maybe post house options? My teen's decision was based on the house primarily.

Not sure re the commment “more for allrounders” that is not the Oundle I know. Academically driven and it is ‘cool’ to work hard!

I had always had the impression that Oundle was more academic and selective than Rugby. However a MNetter who had a DC at Oundle pointed out that the exam results of both schools are equivalent. In fact Rugby slightly outperforms Oundle for A levels this last year. It would therefore seem that both schools deliver the whole package.

I would encourage your DD to visit again considering the potential house mistress and team at either school plus perhaps have a chat with the heads of drama.

Which school did she chose? My daughter is starting at Rugby in September (and we also live abroad). It was her choice (between Oundle and Rugby as well).

Hi! I visited both schools in May 2018 and my DD has got offers from both for Sept 2019. She will be a full border as we are leaving overseas. I read that Oundle has very good pastoral care. At the same time the fact that at YE9 they have to share a room with 5 other girls scares me (comparing to Rugby - three in a room). Please, share what is your view on that and may be someone had an experience. And may be its not an issue?

Def not an issue, the girls will experience meeting others from every walk of life and the extra company is good as they are all diverse and have different strengths. They find their own space for study and soon learn who can help who. As mums we worry far too much but they have it all sorted. Tough; I know, but it is good for the future. Oundle has been fantastic and I can't recommend it highly enough in every way xxx

My DS shared a room with up to 6 other up to and including yr 11. He has boarded since yr 2 so was used to it but he would say it waters down those who you find more trying there’s always going to be one. They had a separate study area initially a room where all did prep but his own individual space within that room and in yr 11 his own individual smallish room to study in.
It wouldn’t bother me