advice re secondary schools please

[helprelocating]

I have posted this question on the general mumsnet site, but thought I should ask locally as well. DH is being relocated to Oxford and all my research on secondary schools in North London is now useless!. DD is in y5 and DS in y8. Both currently at prep school. DS loves Latin and so I would like a school that has a Classics dept. We were looking at grammars for DD. Any ideas/feedback on indies and state schools?
So far: MCS, Headington and Abingdon have all been suggested and I am sending off for prospectuses.
We haven't decided where to live, so can always try to get house near a good state school if necessary. Sorry for rambling it just seems such a big project to me>

MCS and Abingdon are certainly the best for classics. (It's probably too late to get your ds inot Radley if you wanted to.) My ds is at Abingdon and adores it; Latina dn greek are his passions. I'd look at st Helen and St Katharine at Abingdon rather than Headington if your dd is at all academically inclined; also Oxford High (tho it's a bit of a pressure cooker). If she isn't v. academic, then Headington, Our Lady's Wantage and Rye St Antony are good but less pressuring.

Hope this helps!

Thanks that is v useful -I liked the look of the Abingdon website - DS wants to learn Ancient Greek and is one of two children at Greek club at the prep and is looking forward to starting the lang properly in Y9.

Another question -do most children live relatively near the school? ATM we are half an hour from their prep and altho' children do come from all over N London, a sizebale minority live close to the school and I can see it makes life easier

We live in the area and are at least 20 minutes from Abingdon Prep (and will be going to Abingdon senior school in 2010), and will be 35 minutes from St H & St K, when my daughter starts in Sept. 09.

Hi Help

If you decide on a state school then Cherwell in North Oxford is very high up the league tables. Marlborough School in Woodstock - 5 miles north of Oxford - also has a very good reputation. I'll see if I can find out whether they do classics.

Just spent yesterday in Abingdon visiting estate agents to get a feel for prices. DH has decided to commute for a year to allow me to do a PGCE in London and to give DCs time to accept the move. Also it will be a big move for us and will mean leaving London for good so I want to make sure we pick the right house and schools. Abingdon sounds good for DS and DD can sit for the girls schools in Sept. The we can have lots of weekends exploring the local villages and bus services (so DCs can have some independence as they get older).
It feels like a lot to get right (DH on the other hand keeps saying "it will be fine" i a slightly patronising tone!)

It's a good spot--lots going on and near to Oxford. Though I sometimes wish I lived nearer to Abingdon now both children are/will be at school there, I love our pretty village and the countryside.