Abingdon vs Reading Blue Coat

[Edelweiss78]

Hello, would really appreciate your advice as I am not sure which school to choose. Basically my DS2 has got a place in Abingdon and very likely would get a place in Reading Blue Coat School. My DS1 is already at Reading Blue Coat and I live just a couple of minutes away from the school. So those factors are in favour of the latter. However, I have read so many good reviews about Abingdon and academically it is much stronger than Blue Coat , so I am getting inclined towards Abingdon. And I was thinking about moving my DS1 there , I have already asked Abingdon about 13+ exam for him. But at the same time the perspective of them spending 2+ hours every day on a school bus really puts me off. I am really struggling and constantly changing my mind , whether to leave them locally at Blue Coat and for A levels apply somewhere else or move them now to Abingdon.Would really appreciate any advise re school choice. Many thanks in advance.

Hello - I know this is an old post-but just wondering what decision you made, was it the right one, was the travel difficult if you chose AS. I am having a similar dilemma! Bluecoats is nearer but I think Abingdon is more likely to be the right school. Thanks!

I see this has come back to life. We remain very happy with our choice of Abingdon. The buses are still working fine and we are at the end of a route (though not Reading). Transport has been reliable and the drivers great. I'd only add a small caveat that if your son is around the middle or lower end of the pile academically within Abingdon you might find that some support is needed, especially if they are used to being top dog at junior school. There are some staggeringly able lads here so noses can be out of joint even when the nose is on a bright head. As another poster said, it helps to find a passion within the school, preferably one that engages socially. Our DS has been involved with both music and rowing and that has really added to his enjoyment. He probably, or rather definitely, needs to keep a lid on the Other Half stuff with GCSEs looming in a few months. The diversity of both curriculum and extra-curricular provision is outstanding. Highly recommended.