Moulsford Prep

[Lenks1]

Hi, we are thinking of sending DS to Moulsford Pre- Prep and are very impressed with the school, facilities, etc.
I have however heard that it is very academic... is this correct? I don't want him to be in a hot-house environment.

I know two families there, and I would call them both very pushy parents.
What did you like about it? Did you particulary like the boarding opportunities?
Others I guess to look at would be Abingdon Prep, or St Hugh's.

We are not looking at boarding. We have a very lively active little boy and I like that the school seems geared up for boys, good sporting focus and facilities. Abingdon and St Hugh's are too far for us right now. as DS is only 4 we don't know what he wil be interested in/goood at, so want him to be in a good all-round school that isn't just academically focussed.

As a current parent I wouldn’t say that it’s an academic hot house at all although it can and does stretch those kids that will benefit. I also wouldn’t agree that all the parents are pushy at all; like all schools it has all sorts of people.
I would say that it suits active, outdoorsy kids (games, forest school etc are in all weathers) and I wouldn’t say it’s as nurturing as Cranford House over the road. Generally i do think it’s a school where it helps to be good at something, but you’ll get just as much kudos for being good at music as for being good at games or academics.

Also meant to say that they do really fantastic twitter feeds which are very accurate representations of life at the school. If you subscribe to a few (there are lots) you’ll get a really good feel for the culture.

No personal experience of children at Moulsford but did visit several times as a visiting parent watching my DS play matches there. It came across as a thoroughly decent school in a lovely setting, ideal for an active child. If that happened to be my local prep school I'd use it.

Moulsford. Yes, academic. Although they advertise a G&T coordinator that (according to linkedin) left the job a year ago

Abingdon: Area has gone downhill. (Look at news stories).

St Hugh's. Opposite of Moulsford. No G&T provision for younger years.

Read the inspection reports OP and then put area into Google News...

Whats happened in Frilford? I can't find anything on news? My ds went through Abingdon Prep so I'd be interested to hear whats happened to the area. (yes I'm nosey!)

I'd appreciate any insights people have for Abingdon/moulsford/st Hugh's/st Andrew’s.

My impression was Abingdon had the most liberal parents. I suppose perhaps attracted by the ethos of calling their teachers by their first names?

St. Hugh's not academically selective and seemed to perhaps not expect enough of their kids? But a much better scholarship list than St. Andrews.

St. Andrews seemed quite nurturing but bottom of the heap academically.

Moulsford I haven't been to yet but would love to know what people think.

IMO St Hugh’s gets its results from the intake of middle class children, not from the school pushing them. It’s a solid day to day place but no bright spark is ever going to come from there. If you have an average child with a good work ethic, they’ll do well. There seems no room for individuality. I once heard someone describe the children as “Stepford children”!

Moulsford is altogether zingier and someone from there could well set the world on fire. They do look for individual strengths although, like St Hugh’s, latest inspections found that G&T provision was lacking. It’s a much easier commute to London if that matters. The boys are well turned out and have impeccable manners even when no member of staff is looking!

Abingdon had a drugs problem. Of course, this could happen anywhere but the proximity to the town, a town that is living on a past reputation because it is a bit rough these days, can’t help.

With the fad of forest school on the wane (some preps are saying some children coming up from the “outside classrooms” prepreps can’t sit still and don’t know how to sit inside and study when it really matters) then a townie prep like Abingdon might prepare for later academic life in a better way.

To be clear Abingdon Prep is not in Abingdon, not close to Abingdon, not even in a town and is full of bright eyed and healthy looking boys who look as if they have stepped out of a set of The Waltons on their way to forest school via the rugby field. It is also clear that oxforddon has never been there and can't read very well (ironically) as it is Abingdon Prep that is being discussed (that goes from 4-13).

All the boys we know from Moulsford are sports mad and outstanding at sport. St Hugh's feels more like an old style prep school although not quite as swishy as The Dragon, but there again Dragon is in Oxford that both "lives on past reputation" and is definitely "a bit rough" down the Cowley road so ...!!

Sorry, yes, distracted. Was talking about the prep.

Abingdon senior school is in the town of Abingdon. The prep, formerly known as Joscas, is in Frilford which comprises of about three roads. Is it really that rough in the garden centre? Am I missing something?

I think the morris dancers in Abingdon town centre can get very aggressive when they bang their sticks and of course, there was the teenage bell ringer the other day that got tangled up in the bell ringing ropes and had to be rescued from the top of the belfry at the local church...and of course there is the new cinema housed in the medieval abbey building...so yes, watch your back

OK, ok, my bad!

Yes, senior. Sorry.

Current moulsford parent. Couldn’t be happier. Ds was doing fine but not excelling in his last school (summer baby, some fine motor delay). At moulsford they have absolutley got the best out of him, while ensuing he meets high behavioural standards. He is sporty, outgoing, friendly and imaginative which seems to stand him in good stead with his contemporaries. I agree with the previous poster who said it helps to be good at something but it doesn’t matter what that is - music, academics, rugby etc. - all are celebrated. According to other parents it was previously more narrowly sporty but the new head is making sure more diverse talents are recognised. We were particularly impressed by the statement that came round with the extra curricular sign up material, that emphasised boys should be allowed to choose activities that interested them, without reference to “narrow gender stereotyping.”

Very happy Choice for us, as with many schools you need to decide what fits your ds.

Thank you!! Our son is a summer baby and also struggling with his writing/fine motor skills. I’m so pleased to hear your son is doing so well at the school. We are meeting the new Head of Pre-Prep next week, but are pretty convinced this is going to be the right school for him.