South Oxfordshire secondaries

[mzdemeanour]

Hi

I am likely to be moving to the South Oxfordshire area when my DTs finish primary school (currently in year 5).

While I would prefer state, I would consider independent if necessary. My son is fairly bright and likely to achieve level 5 comfortably in English and Maths if not level 6 while my daughter, though bright and articulate, has been struggling particularly with Maths.

At the moment, I am considering the Wallingford area and have looked at Wallingford School but where else is worth considering and has anyone got any recommendations/advice on schools that are worth thinking about? Or schools that are best avoided ...

I am really grateful for any help or advice you can offer.

MzD

Hi Roguedad rand thanks for the suggestion ...

My dd is into gymnastics, loom bands and cats .... Not sure if that helps. She's a keen swimmer and wants to learn to ride. Reads well although struggles/gets bored quickly with anything too hard, loves animals and thanks to reading too much Enid Blyton thinks she would like to go to boarding school.

Ds is an avid reader, not hugely sporty or at least not yet. Loves history, science, played for the chess team, good swimmer, wants me to learn to fence and is quite imaginative/likes writing stories. Huge Lego obsessive fan ... He is pretty bright ... I was advised to try him for QE Boys but as we're moving didn't bother ....

Any other suggestions? Would prefer them at same school a) as easier and b) they have a strange love hate thing going on but happy to consider separate ...

It seems to be a problem regarding boys' schools in this area. There is Shiplake and Pangbourne. Your DD could have a look at Pipers Corner in Great Kingshill. Both could look at St Edwards, Oxford but would need a prep first. Likewise Stowe if you are prepared for boarding.

Sounds like a school with a pool would be good. For your DS Abingdon has a fabulous pool, and their other half programme allows boys to largely pick what they want to do XC, and it includes chess and fencing as well as water polo, and writing for the school Mag (my son just happens to have signed up for those four). You can choose to do more hearty stuff now/later if you want to. Not so sure re your DD - Cokethorpe is very focused on traditional team sports and does not have a pool (but I'd still recommend a look round). They seem very different kids so I do not have a great idea that would suit both. The one thing they have in common is swimming, so maybe that's a constraint to think about.

How about Abingdon for your son and Our Lady's, Abingdon for your daughter. OLA is co-ed so they could both go there.

If we lived in Thame and my dc passed the 11+, they'd go to one of the Aylesbury grammars.

What about Leckford Place in Oxford?

I think Abingdon may be too much of a trek from Thame??

Thanks for all the suggestions and happy to have more.

@1805 ... Am hoping my Ds may have passed the Bucks 11+ but doubtful about my dd.

Re school in Oxford, am just a tad worried about the commute into Oxford at least in terms of congestion but will check it out ...

Any suggestions as to other preferences for the Oxfordshire application other than Lord Williams?

I bet you'd get in at Wheatley Park, but there's probably a reason for that……

I don't think you will have a lot of choice for state schools. I really would not look beyond Lord Williams for a Thame based child! However Icknield at Walkingford is good but will mean a commute. In fact everywhere else means a commute! Indepenendent or State! Thame is a great place so your children could walk to school and have local friends. What is wrong with that? Take an Aylesbury Grammar if your DS gets it. Lord Williams is big enough to suit all sorts of children, so unless you are desperate for independent, why travel?

Abingdon School bus already goes from Thame by the way. It is a trek but one others are doing. If you get a local Grammar I'd go for that though.

Have to say that I would be more than happy for them to go to Lord Williams and chose Thame because I liked the school but firstly has been suggested that it might be better for my DTs to go to different schools (obviously not a problem if one or both gets into grammar) ... And was interested to know what people do with their second or third choice as doesn't appear to be another state secondary nearby ... Or do you just put lord Williams and trust you will get it?

yeah, there's not a lot of point of 2nd and 3rd choices on the form. Unless you want to put Wheatley. But if you live in Thame, you'd get into LW.
Good luck.