Private day schools west / south Oxfordshire

[GoingRoundInOvals]

Hello everyone,

we are starting to look at schools for our DD, and trying to decide on an all through such as Cokethorpe, or possibly a prep such as Manor Prep then (hopefully if DD has a decent brain!) onto St Helens and St Katharines.

just wondered if anyone currently has children at these schools and can give an insider up to date view? We've looked round some of them, others waiting for open days.

My current thinking (having not viewed Manor Prep yet) is that we loved the warm cosy atmosphere of Cokethorpe for primary, but didn't feel it would stretch DD enough for secondary if she turns out to be academically minded. So would then put her into StH and K for secondary.

But - then most people starting at CT would stay all the way through to 18.

Manor Prep seems lovely online, but would appreciate any insights to how your DC like it there

getting in a muddle as you can see!

many thanks in advance

When is your DD due to start school? What is important to you in a school? How important are the early years vs needing continuity from Reception through the A levels?

Due to start next year.

Important things (for primary especially): nurturing, happy, "safe" feeling atmosphere, with lots of experiences available (clubs, languages, sports).

Obviously want a decent level of education but not necessarily a hot house... unless it turns out she does have the aptitude and then we need to really focus to get into SH&K...

I'm not too worried about continuity, I think moving to a different school at 11 or 13 is completely fine, but feel if we're paying £££ for secondary especially I want it to be one that does stretch and aim higher than average which I don't think cokethorpe does...

I think for primary we're narrowed down to Chandlings (need to go to their open day later this month), manor prep which seems great, but need to visit next month, and cokethope which we got all the warm and fuzzy's from when visiting but seems a bit redundant if she's going to need extra tuition to then get her into SH&K (which I think if I'm honest is the goal for secondary)

So I guess I'm asking, does anyone currently have DC at Chandlings, Cokethorpe or Manor, and are there any up to date feelings about any of these schools?

Have you also considered St Hugh’s and the Dragon?

St Hugh’s provides a lot of opportunities for developing different talents and has a beautiful setting with plenty of outdoor space for children to roam in, especially helpful in pre-prep. It is an experienced feeder for a wide range of senior schools inc SHSK, Headington and Downe House as the local selective girl senior schools, as well as Marlborough College (the best performing co-ed senior school locally). Abingdon School will be co-ed from 2025 too. And, they feed Teddies (St Edward’s Oxford), also co-ed and though not yet as well perfuming in terms of academic results, they are quickly climbing the rankings under the current Warden.
Although not selective, St Hugh’s regularly produces academic scholars (as well as music, drama, art, sport) - which could be an indicator that a child could thrive whatever their talents turn out to be. It’s perhaps good at finessing and showcasing existing talents and less good at seeking out lurking talents and building them up - but that’s probably true of most good schools.

I don’t have first-hand knowledge of the Manor but a friend pulled out her daughters in Y1 or Y2 as they were getting stressed there. They went to St Hugh’s and then onto Cokethorpe.

I also know that the Dragon has a reputation for academic excellence and solid preparation for leading senior schools in the country.

There is also Pinewood which seems to have a bit more emphasis on sport and is a feeder for Marlborough College.

Re Cokethorpe, we have friends with children there with the full range of academic ability and they all seem very happy. It has a reputation for great ‘value add’ (helping children achieve higher than their predicted grades). It also has apparently become more selective, so in a few years’ time this should translate into higher rankings in the league tables too.

I’d definitely advise visiting all the schools you’re interested in. With luck, when you see the right one for your DD and you as a family, you’ll just know!

Thank you @BlueGrace that's a lot of very helpful food for thought! We'd considered StH, but in all honesty, I think the fees would just stretch us that bit toooo much. We're prepared for VAT and future fee rises of courses, but they just start that extra bit higher and I think that's a wallop we can't do.

Yes, forgot Abingdon was on our list too, though I didn't realise Teddies was co-Ed?? For some reason I've always thought it was boys only. Will have a Google.

Dragon was discounted (along with most of the Oxford central ones) for simply being an absolute pain to get to - we're the wrong side of the outside of the ring road and I really don't fancy an hour each way of traffic 4x a day!

thank you for your insights

If you think SHSK will be the right senior school (though not sure how anyone can be while their DD is so young) - then Manor might make most sense as prep school. Also, SHSK start from Y5: much smaller intake than their main one in Y7; and the easiest point to get into it - Y7 gets harder and Y9 is hardest as fewest places and the exams get harder too. So you might be looking for a prep just for reception to Y4

I wd also recommend looking at the accounts of anywhere you are considering, along with getting clear info on student numbers per year group and whether rolls are falling per year group. Some of those minor independents that promote 'small nurturing' etc, are struggling for numbers and may be at risk of closure.

Yes, we've been looking 'behind the scenes' as it were at their various accounts and numbers, definitely conversations to be had with management!

This is partly the issue - we don't know that sh&k is right for her. I'd like it to be, but it's about 7 years too early to tell.

But we sort of need to have a vague idea of the secondary direction in order to choose the primary / prep - as you say, either pick a traditional feeder such as Manor, or put her in an all through and just hope they get stronger academically..

We did consider Cokethorpe for our DD and it fit appeal as you could go all the way through but decided to go with a school that felt nicer for the little ones - focusing on one thing at a time.
There is a LOT of effort and pressure in moving from a prep to a senior school - the process is horrendous as exams are staggered through Y6, 7 and 8 for the different schools; many end up applying for multiple as you can’t be sure if your top choice will give you an offer, you may end up sinking money in non refundable deposits for offers you feel you have to accept just in case you don’t get your ideal offer… so there is a lot to be said for schools where you stay all the way through and avoid all this hassle and cost.

Just one more thought - slightly random and I don’t know if it would work geographically but - have you thought of state primary (e.g. Buckland has a good reputation) and then either grammar (Pate’s in Cheltenham is by far the most academic school fairly locally, 4th in the country last year), or any suitable private school.
For example, most of SHSK’s Y7 intake is from local state schools, so it’s a well trodden path

State primary near us is decent but I think we're just borderline catchment - the next one is dire. I didn't think you could (or it was even worth trying!) to put down for a state primary that's nowhere near your catchment (ie, a state private into sh&k) but hmm, will do some research, thank you.

As far as I know, in Oxfordshire they consider all applications but give places in order of proximity to the school as measured via public road (or something like that).
I meant more - go to a school local to you. SHSK take a lot of girls from state schools generally (and clearly local enough for it to work as a day option!)

Good luck with your search!