New College or Dragon?

[Monica261]

Hi mums,

I need your help and experience. I never went to school in Britain, this whole experience is new to me, which is why I'm turning to you.
My son got an offer for pre-prep for New College and Dragon. We like both schools, each has their upsides and downsides.
I think our son will be more of a creative type but makes friends very easily and is an easy-going child overall.

Now we need to decide which offer to accept - what are main considerations I need to look into? Any personal experiences? E.g. you have a daughter in Dragon and son at New College?

Thank you!

Just bumping this for you, OP.

Good luck!

I have two dc at new college. It is a wonderful, friendly, nuturing school with incredibly broad curriculum and lots of music. My dc are not musical and still fine there. ds1 has mild asd, dyslexia and dyspraxia and new college are nothing but supportive. Would highly recommend. Leavers destinations - about 2/3 to magdalen and abingon, rest to other assorted boarding and day schools.

Dragon - no personal experience but know lots of people with dc there. Coed. Incredibly expensive. Flashy facilities. academically similar to Majority go to public boarding schools.
As far as I can see the main differences between the two schools are

• cost
• size (huge vs small)
• dragon has more sports facilities in house
• wealth. Most at dragon are very well off. Vast majority at new are professionals who can just about afford private school (academics, doctors). Virtually no mums who don't work. Parents I know at dragon are mainly on bursaries/scholarships and i believe school assumes deep pockets from parents. New has usual expensive uniform, but virtually no other added costs.
• dragon has boarding option
• new has choristers (this has had no negative impact on ds1 and the music is amazing , wish my boys were vaguely musical)
• think dragon has saturday lessons

So it depends on the vibe/community you are after.