Primary for boy in Oxford

[pugh]

Hi, weare relocating to Oxford in the next 12mo. My son will start recetin Sept 2016. However, some nurseries have said he is too old for them but schools are saing he isn't old enought for their intake.

We are planning a private education. Hoping his sister can go to headingto girls.

Which boys schools ca yo recommend? New college school 31 on waiting list. Really would like drop offs close together. Dragon school co ed but too expensive. Rue St. Anthony any good though we are not religious

An ideas? I need to go have a look at places asap!

Thank you!

Sorry: he will be 4 at the start of September 2015 and my understanding is that means Reception starts September 2016.

Any help/ advice appreciated!

We have been through the choosing process this year. Ds is starting reception at new college school in sept 2015. We are not religious and tryin to avoid the likely allocation of a very mediocre primary where we are or a large ok school where i think ds would probably get lost the middle and much about. That seems to be his preferred option at preschool!
Would recomend investigating all the following to get good idea of all options:
New college ( nb one of our friends was#28 on list last year and her son is there now, all parents registering for several schools) - small but friendly, excellent academics
Christ church cathedral school ( similar to ncs but less good outdoor space and more religious)
Dragon - to see what you get for so much extra money. Lots of peop,e we know go on about how fab it is, esp the facilities, but we couldnt afford it and i was afraid of ds getting lost in the middle of a huge school
Rye st anthony - only boys in preprep
Manor school - out towards abingdon - lovely school, boys preprep only
Chandlings - ou towards abingdon - bit costly and wrong location for us
Magdalen college - not til year 3 but worth knowing what they offer in case you want to put ds down for an assessment for then.
Abindon prep - way of at frilford but lovely lovely school. Logistically wouldnt work for us with job locations but otherwise i would have been very happy for ds to go there.
Good luck!!

Thank you so much. I rang NCS today and the Registrar was quite dismissive and effectively told me it provably isnt worth it putting him on the list! I was a bit surprised&disappointed but might ring back tomorrow. I honestly dont think we can commit to Dragons fees- especially as we will have to sell and depends on mortgage we commit to.

Is it worth looking for a nursery prior to reception?? We will need to fond a nanny anyway for school runs/ after school etc but he really enjoys nursery at the moment...on days I dont work we can go to playgroup(not my seen tho...)

Look at christ church cathedral school. As another poster says it's probably more religious than ncs but I don't see it as a huge factor overall. It's very good for music. It has a nursery too.

Abingdon prep is also nice. I have had mixed reviews of chandlings

Thanks everyone! Will have a look at Christ Church.

If we stay towards East eg Headington or Sandhills REALISTICALLY how long doesit take to do drop off/ get to Headington Girls then NCS/CCCS. Eg leaving at 8am.

I'm diverting but Sandhills might b more affordable.

I'd allow 45mins Sandhills -> Headington -> NSC/CCS

A40 from Sandhills to Headington roundabout is usually solid, likewise London Road to Headington. Headington to NCS/CCS is unpredictable.

But I would break the bank and try and live in Headington and cycle it.

Thanks everyone. Just trying to figure out the logistics. We assumed private school but it is nearly £1000/ mo more expensive than what we pay at the mo. So it would b impossible to (over)spend on a home.

Is there a buslane/ is public transport possible?

Big fan of Ab prep here. Worth the commute from Oxford imo.

Various people i know do two preps, 45mins probably good estimate. I am burying my head in the sand re school run and childcare with work issues!

Sandhills is further out than you think - if you don't mind driving everywhere it would be fine tho.! risinghurst is cheaper than headington proper but nearer. Also the area round the leys nature reserve ( off the slade) is cheaper but not quite as smart. Wevhave ended up staying in headington for ability to walk easily to shops/ parks etc. buses from headington into town great service, reasonable from sandhills/ risinghurst. Some ofmthe route has a bus lane.

Depends what your budget is but i think location is pretty important. Headington itself would all be walkable to headington girls from slightly older ages. I know three yr6-8 boys at new college / christchurch who go via bus from headington to the high street and then 5min walk indeoendently. Obviously a way off but worth considering!

Agree abingdon prep lovely. Basically we realised with us both working ( i work 3 days and am constantly shifted around hospitals in oxfordshire/ bucks/ berks every few mths as a junior doctor) the commute was impossible. DH starts work at 7.30 and finishes when theatre lists do so is hopeless for school runs. Only option would be a nanny to do both school runs and that is totally unaffordable for us. Or move out to abingdon, but you still have to get them to the minibus or frilford daily. Good for SAHMs who are able to do school run though or those working social hours near abingdon!

I would register at as many places as poss so you can decide
Later if needed.

Thank you so much to everyone for the posts. And can I please apologise for my terrible spelling and predictive texting in original post. CCS indeed charming and Headington girls amazing. Didn' t make it out to any other schools this time round.

Now to win the lottery and find a house in Headington. I got a full taste of the ring road when I hit it at peak evening traffic. Plus gridlock outside JR! I think inside it would make our lives so much easier...

Here' s hoping!

Hello, I know you posted your original post back in Feb but I've only just seen it & wanted to let you know that I have one child at CCCS & another at Headington. They both love their schools! As other posts have said CCCS is a fantastic school & since the new head arrived last year, he has introduced so many new things. The school now has a school mini bus that collects & drops off the children in the mornings & afternoons. Also the children walk over to Christ Church meadow to play at break times & they have even built a woodland school over at the meadow. Headington has recently had new headteachers, at the primary (about a year ago) & senior schools (3 years ago). The facilities at Headington are great & they have a huge amount of extra curricular activities on offer.