New College vs Christ Church prep

[gingerbread01]

I am applying to Year 3 at New College Prep, CCCS, and Magdalen College Prep for my 6-year-old son. He loves playing the piano and singing, so I believe joining the school choir would be of great interest to him. Do you have any advice on this?
We are currently applying from overseas and will miss all the January exams. Is there any information or advice regarding attending the exams at a later date, perhaps in April? The earliest we can make a trip to Oxford is at that time.
Additionally, do you have any advice on choosing among the three schools and how competitive they are?
Thank you for your help.

By joining the school choir, do you mean the choir which sings service in chapel with the senior (adult) choir? That goes by audition, you don’t just join if you fancy it.

Yes, as part of the exam, we will have vocal test.

@gingerbread01 The exams run to a timetable and so do offers of a place. I’d be amazed if they agreed to delay until April. You have to be available for exams and interview. Yes. They will be competitive.

State education has a national offers day in March. Most independent schools will offer before this so parents can choose what they want to do. This can really matter at secondary. Not so much for primary/prep. However I’d be surprised if they would leave exams until April because anyone leaving another prep would normally give notice at the end of the spring term. So before your proposed exam date. I think you need a rethink on strategy.

It sounds as though you are talking about auditioning to become a chorister. This is separate to the entrance exam which is based on their academic ability. You can be a student at the school without being musical.
The choristers get a good reduction on fees but it is a huge commitment. The boys are singing in the choir 5/6 nights a week. It's not something I'd want for my DC but the reduction in fees would be nice!

Becoming a chorister is very competitive. Entrance to the schools without this, less so.
Although MCS is more academic and the exam will be more challenging. You really need to visit the schools and see which you like best as they are all different