Best public school in the Oxford area?

[Arianwen1]

I've recently been offered a job in reading which means that my DD (15) and DS (13) will have to change schools. We currently live in Australia and so I don't have any up to date knowledge about good schools in the area. We'd probably be living somewhere around Oxford (although this isn't definite, depending on schools we could go closer to Bristol or London) and I know both Charterhouse and Marlborough are in the area but those are the only two I know of (I'm also not sure about the distance to these two, might be too far to travel each day?)
Are there any other good independent schools or really good comprehensives/grammar schools in the area? We would also consider weekly boarding if it was too far to travel each day.

Thanks!

Magdelen College School, Oxford. None better.

Thanks,
we had a look at Magdalen College school and it looks really great. Definitely considering it for DS however as DD is only 15, she would be starting sixth form in September 2015 (I think??) which could be a problem because I think Magdalen college school is all boys until sixth form.

Hi OP - when is DD 16? Between 14-16 students study their GCSEs which are 2 year courses, and usually it's quite tricky to start part way through the two years. So you may actually need to place DD in the year below her actual year according to age in the UK. Obviously these are discussions to have with the schools, but I thought you should be aware.

What's the maximum commute you're willing to do? You've mentioned a very wide area, but if you're commuting to Reading itnwo

Sorry posted too soon!

If you're commuting to Reading it would be helpful to know what length of journey you're willing to do.

thanks, we didn't think about the GCSEs! DD is 16 in February next year. I don't think we could put her in the year below because she'd be too old and in Australia she's only six months away from starting sixth form (because the school year here starts in January) so would almost be repeating two years rather than one which wouldn't be fair on her.

It probably wouldn't be possible for me or DC to travel more than 45 - 60 minutes each morning. At the moment DC do an hour but it exhausts them, however weekly boarding is an option.

Magdalen College is any case very competitive to get into so you would need a backup. An alternative would be Bradfield College for both (nearer Reading), less academic , offers weekly type boarding and also does IB so your DD might be able to slot into that without GCSEs. Commuting around Oxford is very time consuming BTW

You can do weekly boarding in Leighton Park in Reading

The Reading : Oxford commute will take more than 45 mins by car, traffic can be horrendous, if you can get to the stations the train link is good, but your total journey time with getting to and from the stations at either end is still likely to be quite long, there are good schools in Oxford but if I were you I'ld look closer to Reading first. Also, have you looked at schools in Abingdon? There are good options there too and closer to Reading

The thing is with GCSEs, that if she joins in year 11 (the final GCSE exam year) she will have missed half the syllabus and more importantly some controlled assessments.

eg My DD is currently in year 10.

She has done 4 CAs for English, 2 for science, due to do 1 for History and 1 or 2 for languages by the end of term.

I think joining in y11 having not been following GCSE syllabus could be very hard. But I guess depending on her subjects maybe things wouldn't be too difficult. She could do a reduced timetable of GCSEs and be allowed to use the spare lessons to 'catch up' on missed syllabus and CAs.

Would / Could you consider leaving your DD behind in Australia to finish her Australian exams (or whatever) for the next 6 months? No idea whether that would be at all practical.
Then it still leaves the problem of transferring to UK system. ummmm.

I think you are thinking of the distances through an Australian lens. I'm pretty sure nobody here would really say Charterhouse or Malborough are in the Reading area.

Traffic is bad here, it is not straight, clear roads anywhere. Are you sure you want to live as far out as Oxford?

I agree that Bradfield would be a good choice. Maybe live in Theale or Pangbourne?

Or how about Wellington College and live in Wokingham or Crowthorne?

Thanks for all suggestions! We have decided that DD would do Australian online school for sixth months and then go into sixth form which would hopefully solve the GCSE problem. Australian children don't do any major GCSE type exams in year 11 (Australian year 10) so online school would probably work ok for her.

I know the schools I mentioned aren't super close to Reading, but we could possibly live half way between there and a good school, also I think they're both boarding schools anyway (although I'm not sure if they do weekly boarding).
Considering what everyone's saying about commute time from Oxford, we think we might go somewhere else nearby-ish, suggestions greatly appreciated!

Do you want city, town, village, rural?

Reading itself is a fun place to live with loads to do for teenagers. The nicest residential area is probably Caversham. A lot of people rate Wokingham. I'm not so keen but you do get more house for your money and it has some good shops and restaurants.

For town life my pick would be Henley or Windsor.

Village- Pangbourne.

Rural- anywhere in lovely West Berkshire.

You probably need to pick your school first though and work from there. Even if they do board I think it's better not to be TOO far away. Why waste your life unnecessarily sat in a car?

Charterhouse is a long long way from Oxford (I could drive it at a very very quiet time in about 1 hour, but 2 hours or more is more normal). It also takes very few day pupils, and only in Sixth form. It only takes girls in sixth form. Most boarders are weekly boarders.
Marlborough I don't know as well, but is still too far from Oxford.
England, especially the SE and surrounding ares, is a very crowded country. You really can't move far very fast.

St Edward's Oxford - is a proper boarding school, and even day pupils stay at school until 9pm.
I like Leighton Park, so would suggest you look at it, and there are nice places to live that side of Reading.

I love Oxford, but if you live there it is best to have a real reason, like a job there. To commute from it is a pain unless you do so by train. And getting around by car can be tricky.

I live just north of Reading and I totally agree with other posters about Oxford being too far a commute if your new job is in Reading. It takes me a good 40 mins to get to the outskirts of Oxford and then you hit major traffic congestion.
I would suggest you also consider which side of Reading your job is based; many of the major internationals are in either south or to the east of Reading so basing yourself west or north would mean you would have to travel through Reading which simply adds time for very little mileage. for example I used to travel across Reading north to east to get to the motorway, approx 6 miles - took at least 40 mins.

Reading has 2 excellent private girls schools and a very good girls state grammar; Queen Anne's - good but V expensive, the Abbey - excellent and half the price of QA (literally) and Kendrick girls grammar. All are competitive to get in to. QA is a boarding school with the other 2 are day schools. If your thinking of living north or Reading you could consider St Helen's & St Katherines in Abingdon - again a day school and competitive to get a place. There's also a convent in Abingdon and an excellent boys day school. There's also Downe House in Thatchem - girl's boarding school to the west of Reading.

For non boarding boys there are Bluecoats in Sonning and Reading Boys in central Reading - have friends with sons at each and they have good reports of the schools.
if you are really keen on boarding there is Leighton Park in Reading and Bradfield school and Pangbourne College both just to the west - all are co-ed and Wellington (I think boys only) to the south east. I've always thought it a bad move to be a day pupil at a boarding school - the school day is structured for boarders and you may find the school day doesn't finish until 7.3-8pm and there would also be Saturday lessons and other weekend commitments especially sport.

Others boys boarding near Reading are Shiplake College (especially good for keen rowers), Radley School and the Oratory.
All the schools have their USPs - from military style academies to quaker ethos to religious foundations, so that's worth bearing in mind as well.

Charterhouse is a a fair drive from Reading although Marlborough isn't as bad as you'd be heading west. I would personally not try to live half way between either of the schools and then commute to Reading - the commuting would just wear me down; it's not a metter of mileage here - you're not on a clear road with your foot on the accelerator, it's clutch-pumping all the way.

As well as geography you need to consider what your kids like to do outside curriculum (sports, music, drama etc.) as there is huge variation in emphasis. What schools are open to you depends on how bright for kids are - some of the schools mentioned above are very academically selective (Magdalen, Abingdon, SHSK for example). There are no grammar schools in Oxfordshire. If you commented on academic ability and extra-curricular interests you could probably get some more focused suggestions.

Thanks so much,

roguedad - DD and DS are both quite bright. Of course as their mother I'm biased but they both have scholarships to their school at the moment which is in the top 10 (and were offered scholarships at other schools too) and DD went to a grammar school in her first few years of high school until we moved.
Both are reasonably musical but not super bothered. DD plays flute + a little piano, DS plays piano + guitar. DD is arty but also likes sciences + maths and creative writing, DS is very into history. Both are sporty, DD more than DS (she swims + waterpolo + netball). DD does duke of Ed, DS will next year. DD also does debating, drama (improv) and various school clubs. DS is a little less academically motivated but then again he is younger than her and she seems to have become more motivated than she used to be.

We don't mind all too much if they go to separate schools but are not keen on all girls/boys schools schools (although for DD single sex with co-ed 6th form would be fine).

Given what everyone has said about commute time out of Oxford, we would probably want to live in a nice village-y place within easy reach of Reading + school (or further from school if it does weekly boarding).

Thank you again!

I think from what you've said Wellington College would be your best bet. DH used to work there so I can vouch for the education.

There are plenty of lovely villages around. Maybe Hartley Wintney? Crowthorne itself is not bad and it has a convenient train station.

I'd live in Henley on Thames and send your son to Wellington and your DD to The Abbey in Reading. The Abbey has its own coaches that go to Henley.

Your son could catch the train from Henley to Crowthorne. The journey is not direct and takes about 50 mins. Alternatively, he could be a weekly border.

You could also consider the state schools in Henley. Gillotts Academy for GCSE's and Henley College for A levels. Everywhere is walkable in Henley and there are lots of opportunities for extra curricular activities.

Have you considered IB schools.

Are you intending to stay in the Uk and for your DC to go to university here? If so, are you familiar with the rules relating to Uk University fees for overseas students. INFO HERE I haven't checked very recently but you used to need three years residency before being eligible for home fee status... (Very simplistic version). Anyway, it might be something for you to consider. It's about £20,000 a year for science subjects and up to nearly £150,000 for a 5 year degree in medicine

Could always look at living somewhere on the train line to Reading (ie the one that runs London Paddington, Reading, Oxford, Malvern) Living in Oxford, Or a village like Charlbury, Kingham etc would make a lot of schools accessible- state like Burford with boarding, Pates Grammar Cheltenham, Kingham Hill private, Malvern girls private etc....

What why only send DS to Wellington? OP has already said they don't prefer single sex.