Stowe Feeders or Godstowe - help desperately needed

[RachelGreensFlair]

Growing up I’d never imagine asking this question, as Independant schools were just a different universe. But since getting a big promotion at work I’m considering my options for DD who is currently 15 months old.

We live in Bucks, and Stowe is our goal (it’s local which helps too), we were initially looking at Ashfold School, but when looking at the good schools guide we then moved our attention to Godstowe.

However after reading a bit from past MN posts about the school I am concerned they usually feed other girls schools in the High Wycombe area, and since they are non selective it might not be the best move if Stowe is the end goal.

Which has then led to us now looking at Swanbourne House or Winchester House (although Winchester is further away) as they feed Stowe.

But this is an absolute minefield, I have no family or friends who have gone this route so I wanted to ask here - has anyone got any advice, should I go with one of the Stowe feeder schools, is Godstowe excellent and worth it even if DD doesn’t then go onto Stowe. I am ambitious and want the same for her, so I feel a bit uneasy with Godstowe being a bit ‘for all’ in terms of her being pushed to her full potential.

I am also not sure how this process works, do I need to register DD now, even though I’d not like her to start until pre prep, are wait lists long etc.

thanks in advance - I really appreciate any guidance in this area

These replies are interesting as we too had been looking into Stowe (very far off as our little one is young), the reviews online don’t seem to tally with what people are writing here though which is a bit concerning

I think it’s changed/ changing.
it’s know for its thick rich kids! Sorry

Its most recent A level results confirm it is still not regarded as an Academic school.

Register her for a handful of independent schools and re think nearer the time when you have to commit to a contract do not rule out good or outstanding state primary schools - do you have a village school ? and grammar schools if 11+ exists in your area .

I mean this in the nicest possible way but I think it’s far too early to be deciding which school your DD will go to at 13. Yes, Stowe is close by but a lot can change in 11 years. I would be amazed if the Head is still there by then as he’s done almost 21 years there already!!!!

We were there for a recent sixth form event. My DD is predicted all grades 8 and 9s in her GCSEs and they were literally falling over themselves to get her to join. There was also a huge imbalance in the sexes in the subjects she wants to study - weighted towards the boys. In some classes she could well be the only girl. Whilst not “gifted” she is extremely bright and I just don’t think academically it is the right place for her. You can’t possibly know what will be the right environment for your DD until a couple of years prior.

Lots to love about the school though and their results are great considering they aren’t selective. They also offer several BTECs which shows you how academic it is(n’t). However, they absolutely do NOT have a great Oxbridge record so would question the integrity of the consultant you are using. The great majority head to Oxford Brookes.

It’s easy to be swayed by the location, buildings, facilities etc. I also think that very bright children would do well there though so long as they were prepared to be in a minority. Oh, and you’re minted. It’s a VERY monied school.

Totally bizarre thread. If your daughter is academic, send her to one if the Bucks grammars obviously! Much better education and much more chance of a good university than Stowe!

If she is not academic, then Stowe could be a fall-back option. Local village junior school is I am sure fine. Needing a prep school for Stowe is just bonkers.

Swanbourne House. Sounds like it’s your closest. Mine went there and it was tears all round when they left. Absolutely loved it. Caters for all abilities in a non hot house way. Scholarship form for high flyers. Sport provision is good, excellent for music/arts. Kids very happy and have extremely good relationships with teachers. Wrap around care and very flexible. Boarding very flexible too. Leavers destinations good. Usually a couple to Eton/Harrow and places like rugby/uppingham/oundle and lots locally either Bloxham or Stowe (very easy to get into and not that academic). In partnership with Stowe so sometimes use their facilities etc but in all honesty the facilities at SHS are excellent. IMO it’s a no brainer but you’ve got ages until you need to start worrying about that. They also have a nursery from 3 yrs.

To add, we lived about 25 mins away from SHS which was fine, now one of mine goes to school 40 minds away (on a good day) and IMO it’s too far. Takes it out of all of us. I though lt 15 mins extra would be fine but it really does make a difference.

SHS is the obvious if you want Stowe, and they are equally good at getting children into other schools too. Its a lovely school.

She’s 15 months old. What on earth are you wasting your money on educational consultants for.

90 minutes to and from school is far too far for school for a prep aged child. And three hours for you!

Stowe was never on my radar as DC would have to board but even I know it’s not academic.

Stowe do get some good results, but it’s not at all selective and do take a broad range which isn’t a bad thing. Local grammar schools do a LOT better if you are looking at academics.

Echo what others have said about traffic around Godstowe. Stowe isn't an academically selective school in my experience of children who go there. I believe the school is trying to change that reputation though and up its grade achievements.

I would not recommend S, especially for a bright child. A lot of changes taking place right now and Head will retire in a couple of years, wait and see what happens then choose wisely.

It's not at the moment. Might change when labour get in.

OP seriously just calm down a bit. She's 15 months old and is doing well. That does not make her gifted - academically or otherwise.

You sound very overinvested in Stowe (you visit regularly and have already checked out its uni destinations???) when you have no idea what kind of child she is going to become.

Take a deep breath and keep doing what you're doing. Seriously there is no way at 15 months you can tell what she will need at 5 let alone 11/13.....

and completely missed the bit about educational consultants! Seriously calm down......

My ds was similar to your dd but as he was home with me he wasn't on any pathway and the last thing I wanted him doing was anything structured or preschool like. Row Row Row your Boat and other rhymes are actual hugely important, but you probably know that. At his 2y check he was deemed to be at a 4y old's cognitive ability. He is now midway through primary as it absolutely flying along but he is completely normal and not exceptional etc. He's bright as a button, sporty and happy. Personally, I'd wait and take a breath before all these plans!

Also, well done on your own promotion.

Both swanbourne and Winchester are both good feeder schools to stowe, with Swanbourne being more sporty perhaps.
But I would agree that the grammar schools are the way to go with more academic children.
Although it is crazy to be thinking of senior school when they are toddlers- they change so much and your circumstances may be different by then.

I would hold off on the planning at this age.

DD had full sentences at a year, could count, knew colours etc. I used to be stopped in museums by people asking her age at 18 months because she was having full-on arguments with me over what we were looking at.

DH and I were both very academic and we assumed DD was following our path. School in YR and Y1 just said she was obviously clever and would fly when she got with the programme.

Turned out she is extremely dyslexic and ADHD. While she was verbally massively ahead, she didn't learn to read until Y3 and it's still a struggle. She's exceptionally gifted in music, but normal academics are never going to be on the cards - not because she's not clever, but because she has zero interest, and the dyslexia and ND cause significant difficulties.

Pick a school that offers a wide range of opportunities for everything - friendships, arts, music, sport, and academics. Then see where her strengths, weaknesses and interests lie at a later date. Fitting square pegs into round holes is not a good idea for anyone.

Regarding Stowe, I know and work with a lot of Stoics. They're all very nice and polished but it was definitely a school that took the 'not very bright but wealthy' - stunning grounds, and I believe they are slightly more academic these days, but it would not be the school of choice for the vast majority of parents looking to spend that kind of money on a private secondary who have academic kids.

Their grades are still significantly worse than DD's comp.

Second this, Stowe has a changing reputation but I absolutely wouldn’t call it academic.

I would the posters suggesting you focus on the next school rather than the future pathway. Your daughter is very young, you don’t yet know her interests, social skills, academics, music, sport etc.

I would focus on finding a local school with an ethos that suits your parenting style, that sends children to a range of schools and has generally a good future schools track record.

Then wait a few years and see where her abilities develop and then look at senior schools.

As someone doing a daily long school run I would also agree with the drudgery of a long school run. 35 mins each way is just about doable, more becomes unworkable when you add in other siblings or late stays, going back in later for concerts, meetings, 8am choir, 7.50am swim club, play dates and parties on the weekend. Then factor in getting there early for parking as I’m yet to know a school with enough parking for pulling up at 3.55pm. You’ll maybe be leaving home at 7am, breakfast in the car etc. If deciding between two similar schools always pick the closer one.

You are a bit tetchy in your reply’s @RachelGreensFlair

As people have pointed out a 50minute drive is more likely an hour by the time you’ve parked, got out & dropped them in / collected them so you are actually talking about 4hrs school commute time per day. Plus the school day would be longer than your current working hours so would make it later for dinner etc for a young child/ren.

If you do go on to have another child imagine 4hrs in a car with a baby daily. Sounds completely batshit to me.

I don’t think the nursery have done you, or especially your dd, any favours with their ‘gifted’ talk. I’m sure she’s bright, & maybe hitting milestones early but honestly it’s too early to tell really what will be the best option for her down the line. I’m sure the last thing you would want is for her to feel she has disappointed you but that could well happen if you set your expectations of her too high. Of course support her but don’t try and live out your own dreams through her.

The grammars do have great results (as they should given the selective cohort) but they don’t offer horse riding at school like Stowe. Stowe would also offer more international connections with its boarding community. It provides a more cosseted experience than the state schools. I know a family who use it as day pupils who have been very happy with it.

Reiterating that this is all moot as it’s too hard to say what would suit the OPs daughter until she’s older & the schools will differ by then anyway.

So true.

@RachelGreensFlair

There is some very uninformed opinion on this thread. Stowe is academic enough for most but isn’t Wycombe Abbey. In 2023, 50% got GCSE grades at 7-9. Royal Latin School grammar in Buckingham is 66% - so not a huge difference. Stowe is definitely not full of rich thick dc. It just suits some posters to say so. A level results and uni destinations are not shabby.

The best feeders are Winchester House or Swanbourne locally. Any other prep would be fine. Ashfold might suit you.

I know Godstowe. Dd went there. Apart from the grammar girls, most DC will board after Godstowe. In our day Wycombe Abbey and CLC were strong favourites but parents change! It famously doesn’t select but has a first class reputation for scholarships and top destination schools that are way more selective than Stowe. Godstowe then Stowe boarding is ok. Not ok as say. We found Stowe too remote and I’m from that area originally. However its facilities beat any grammar. Lots of dc from London and local day pupils. If you choose Godstowe you will find its top set is academic. Yes, Higb Wycombe has traffic! What town doesn’t?

Of course you can think about schools for your toddler. Nursery won’t be far away. Godstowe is the premier girls prep in Bucks and WA is the top girls’ school. If you really want Stowe as a day pupil, move to North Bucks. Ashfold would be ok too. Then you get a choice of RLS or Stowe. Or if money doesn’t permit and dc less bright - think again!

Your daughter is 15 months old OP, a few years away from starting school, during which time her development will change.

Wasting money on prep schools, when there are several very good state primaries nearer to where you live, would be inadvisable. You are better of sending her to a good state school, and saving your money for an independent secondary, if she is still academically inclined in a decade.

Save your money, and start looking into your local mainstream schools.