Prep school in around London, Cambridge or Oxford for academic shy non sporty DS

[Léopard123]

Hello all, seeking advice.
ds currently in y1 at pre-prep in sw London. Have been looking at prep schools. School tells me that he is a good candidate for St Paul’s/Westminster at 7+.

Due to divorce, I am looking at a cheaper lifestyle and may facilitate this by moving slightly out of London (I work in the City and need to be there 1-2 days per week). I am wondering what preps May suit my DS for year 3 entry. He is also very shy and takes time to adapt to new situations. The preps i knowif/have researched in the likes of Berks, Herts, Surrey etc seem quite ‘hale and hearty’ and not particularly academic.I don’t drive so need to live somewhere within walking distance of train station and shops I have no family nearby and ex h lives abroad, so am reliant upon after school care.

any suggestions for preps that may suit my ds? Reasonable fees would be a huge plus. Thanks!

CCCS has (free) prep sessions 1600-1800h used by many parents commuting back.
Non-sporty, but so small that everyone gets a chance at playing something for the school, whatever their level.
Walkable from anywhere within Oxford.
Last year, 40% of the year 8 group went to Magdalen afterwards.

@Mikimoto thank you! Unfortunately my ex has confirmed that he will not be paying fees last year 2 for ds so I’m now concentrating on finding cheaper preps on the outskirts of London. However I understand that ccc have a scholarship at year 3 but then the worry is will he get it and how do I fund senior school fees? Oxford dorsnt have many good state schools and no grammars.

Would you consider Marlow/High Wycombe or Maidenhead, so you're on the Elizabeth line into the City? You could do a school like St Piran's in Maidenhead till Y6 and then on to the grammars in Bucks.

@Xiaoxiong thsnk you. I am actively considering living in bucks/Sutton area for this reason, though I was thinking of marlow /Gerrards cross /Amersham. Also the Sutton area or around Twickenham for entry to tiffin/grammars or Cobham free/Orleans park

The train line from Marlow is not great, so would be harder than Oxford for getting into London and not sure about preps. Gerrards Cross and Amersham are good transport links, but housing costs to be near the station, even moving out of London are high or very small property.

It's probably the wrong area but Bancroft's in Woodford Green (north east London) might be a good fit.

@ItsWorkNotAParty Bancrofts is on my list too! Will be going for an assisted place though at 7+. Bit wary as I don’t know that side of London at all (have always lived west )

@Takeachance18 yes as lovely as Marlow is, I agree re travel into London.

Would second going to look around any schools you're interested in. I didn't particularly think much of CCCS when I looked round - the teaching was very dull, despite small class sizes, and the boys didn't seem particularly happy or engaged. It's also incredibly small, so limited social interactions, and the head didn't really have any good answers when I asked what happened if there was bullying.

Christ Church Cathedral School has been a considerable disappointment for us. There is a pronounced bias towards the choristers, and academic achievements appear largely attributable to extensive private tutoring outside of school—primarily within the dominant Chinese community.