Abingdon and The Manor Prep...and where to live!?

[Mac5]

Hi perhaps too many questions in one!!

• We are moving with our children (next Sept) from London and looking at villages for commute into Paddington / Didcot x3 days and ease to get to the two above schools so we are wondering about villages?

Blewbury was recommended? Wantage too but seems a bit far. I don't really want to go as far as Pangbourne etc as I am used to a 10 min walk to school and think may be a bridge too far!

• secondly, I know boys stay at Ab Prep until 13, but does anyone have experience of this - ie are we missing out vs. the boys who go to Ab at 11? And should I look at the Manor for the boys. Evidently the HUGE upside is not doing the 11+ .....but are we missing a trick?

Thanks in advance for any help/advice.
M

Hello, l have two friends who kids go to Abingdon prep. They both live in Abingdon, but there are no train station there. How about Radley (lower Radley) there is a train station there. I lived in Abingdon for eight years loved the area, we should be going back next year.

My son attends the senior school and started at 11 along with about 60 other boys. Maybe another 90-100 showed up for 3rd year including a bunch from the prep and other preps going to 13. I think both types of experience have their merits. Lower House in the senior dept is a lovely place but maybe it is better suited to boys who can cope at 11 with a 1000 other boys being around. My son loves the school but having started GCSE written papers today he is not quite in his usual buoyant mood. Have you visited both schools?

There is a massive network of buses and in fact you have a lot of freedom about where you live. Check out joint bus.co.uk

Jointbus.co.uk

Abingdon school very popular for children from Goring. There are school buses. Lovely village. Good trains to Paddington and Didcot.

However everyone I know enjoyed the benefits of walking to the village primary school and being part of the local community until 11 and then went to Abingdon for secondary. Not sure it would make so much sense if you were set on the prep schools and I don't know about transport for that age group.

Not us! Tried the village primary for those very reasons and were appalled. Evangelical governors, G&T coordinator whose job apparently was to coordinate the denial of resources to bright kids, a form teacher who complained that our son kept asking how to spell words, a head who could not see the problems let alone fix them. Out to a local
Indy prep at the price of a bus ride. I was gutted having been all through state ed. Was only really happy with level of academic focus once got our kid into Abingdon. Though there is the fantastic Other Half to provide balance.

Ah. Didn't realise you were in Goring, WhyAmIPayingFees.

Your identity has just been narrowed down quite a bit, if that bothers you.

In polar coordinates you are about right on R. Theta needs a bit of further reflection.

My brother went to Abingdon. He joined from a different prep at 13 and soon had a big group of friends. We lived in Appleford. Close to Abingdon (and he took the School bus). Teeny train station of its own and only a couple of miles from Didcot for commuting.

But where is the origin??

I think I misinterpreted your previous post as referring specifically to Goring village school as I had just mentioned it. I thought you were a bit harsh on it.

Son went to Abingdon School at 13 (not from Ab prep), as someone else mentioned, there is a very good bus route. For the prep school and good access to Didcot station, villages I would suggest looking at are; East Hendred, East and West Hanney, Steventon, Charney Bassett, Lyford, Garford. Hope that helps.
The boys from the 11/13 entries all mix up very well and our son had a great time at Abingdon, highly recommended!