Girls Prep schools Oxford

[AisforApple1]

Hi! We are relocating and I'm looking for a prep school for my 3DDs, ages 5, 3 and 6mo. We absolutely love The Manor but we're determined to live in Oxford itself and I don't like the idea of driving so far, or of the DDs being right by the A34 all day. However it might still be the best.

We kind of think part of the education would be being cycled through Oxford every day, seeing people from all walks of life, and stopping off at museums/cafes/evensongs. Unfortunately Dragon is beyond our means.

So we looked at OHS prep. I don't like the fact that it's all girls or that the junior sites are split, so the DDs would barely overlap. Any idea whether the high pressure for which the senior school is famous is also a problem there? We were not necessarily thinking of sending them all the way through to 18. But they would be stimulated.

And then the 3rd option is St Barnabas Primary. The head seemed really caring and sensible and the teachers looked very capable. We could supplement the arts provision with out of school activities... It's mixed, central, and they could all be together. I'm tempted but I've no knowledge of the state sector and nervous that my expectations might be all wrong.

Any thoughts gratefully received!

Should have said. DD1 is good at English and creative stuff and very theatrical. No massive anxiety. Wants to have a good time. DD2 is very precise and calm, hates rushing or anything being done at speed. Less socially confident.

Thank you so much.

Headington?

The "problem" with Headington is that it's not much fun to cycle up the hill to get there if you want to live nearer the centre. But it's definitely a school worth looking at and considering where you might live if you liked it.

Is Christchurch nursery still co-ed? Doesn't help for school of course.

I think scholarships and bursaries open up access to the Dragon at least a little from perhaps year 3 or 4.

Another popular state school in what appears to be your target area would be Phil and Jim's (St Phillips and St James).

If attending evensongs is on your radar, you may like to be aware that there are now two girls' choirs - Frideswide voices at Christchurch, and Merton girls. It looks like Frideswide audition mainly in year 2 to start in year 3, and Merton in year 3 to start in year 4. Both choirs are aiming to give girls comparable opportunities to boy choristers but they continue to attend schools all over.

Good luck with the relocation!

Hi Pythonesque, thanks so much for your thoughts. I am the OP (didn't seem to manage to post under my own account) and also seemed to completely miss your response. So much for my mumsnet skills.

I had no idea about Merton girls choir so thanks very much for that.

We are thinking seriously about Headington now. It's nice to hear you think it's good. It's awfully hard to get past all these promo videos with their ghastly music.