Question about primary and secondary schools in Oxford

[OneBlueDog]

Hello -- We are moving to Oxford from abroad next year. Do you have any advice about schools in Oxford? We are interested in both state schools and independent day schools, ideally in North Oxford but also in a broader area if needed. We have one daughter who will start primary school and one older daughter who will go to secondary school next year, she is quite academic and interested in science. Thank you so much for any input, it's massively appreciated.

For an academic day school in north Oxford look at Oxford High School. It here are others, D’overbroeks, Headington, all independent. Cherwell is an excellent state secondary in Summertown North Oxford

Thanks a lot, this is very useful. Do you have any info about primary schools?

All three of the independents I’ve mentioned have their own primary’s. I’m sorry I don’t know about state primary schools in the area

Ok, thank you so much, that's very helpful. :)

D’Overbroecks is mixed, it is a really good school, very well regarded and broad in its approach. Oxford High School is girls only, highly academic. Headington is girls secondary and a mixed primary ( I think, but that’s new, as they’re merging with another girls school from next year) so things will be new there.
There is some movement between the schools for secondary as inevitably some children’s needs and wants change.

For state secondaries Cherwell has v good results but is very oversubscribed. You need an address to apply. Have you got a house yet?
It's state feeders include lovely Wolvercote - must live in the village to get in - St Phil and St James, known as Phil n Jim's in North Oxford or there are some nice primaries in Marston village which is lovely.
There's also The Swan secondary, near to Cherwell, which is a bit of a marmite school - silent corridors, v high expectations on listening in lessons, communal 'family' lunches - great for those who choose it/like that style of teaching.
Same primary feeders.

Not an exact address yet, but it will be inJericho or North Oxford. Thanks all that is really useful. I wonder if anyone knows anything about the state primaries St Aloysious or St Nicholas. Thanks again for the advice!

How do you know this information regarding Headington? A rumour that is to be confirmed…..?

It was announced in September and they have had a joint open day, so the merger is happening

Are you talking about Rye St Anthony?

I read your post that the Secondary years are merging. They aren’t merging with Rye. The Prep is.

The public information suggests it is all merging over the next 2 years, headington prep and rye prep - mixed to 11 and on the current rye site, Seniors girls only 11-18. Current rye seniors will be merged and taught to year 11, but new entrants to meet headington entrance requirements.

Oh wow. I knew about the Prep but Caroline Jordan always said it was just the Prep and nothing connected to Senior. I may have missed some of her words somewhere along the line.
Thanks for replying 😊

@Loungwear it may depend on your year group, current year 10 and year 12 will stay in their groups - so no issue of teaching the exam courses in different order or set books etc,.

Sorry @Loungwear I’ve only just seen your question, but @Takeachance18 has answered it well!

Hi @OneBlueDog I don't know any more than PPs have said about specific schools, but are you aware of how an in-year transfer works in England? If you are outside the usual application round you tend to have to take a place where you are offered one. This is unlikely to be a popular school - just so you area aware and don't get too hopeful about specific schools.

Obviously it is different in the private sector though even there is depends on there being a space. How old are your DC? If it were me I would prioritise being near a good secondary so you can at least be top of a wait list.

I would also make you aware that the current Year 8 was the top birth year across the city so there is a lot of pressure on school places in that year group. This may also extend into private, I don't know.

Girls already at Rye are moving across. Year 7 admissions were run jointly this year.

Yes that would make sense. My eldest is 13, the other daughter is 3 and a half. North Oxford would be a good choice given Cherwell; I was also thinking of Oxford High School for my eldest. Will mull over a bit more. Thanks everyone for the info, if anyone knows anything more specific about state school in North Oxford I'd love to know. :) Thanks!

If your older DD is 13 now, when does she turn 14? I ask bc if her birthday is before Aug 31, she would normally be going into year 10 in September, which is usually the first year of the GCSE course. It's a tough year to start in the middle of tbh (which you would be if you moved next year). You might struggle to find a state school because few parents want to move their DC after they have started their GCSE work.

Private school would probably be easier and more flexible. If she is 14 later than Aug this year then she would be going into yr 9 which is not so problematic.