The Oratory, Reading or Stowe

[cheechaboo]

Anyone have recent experience of either school? Son is average student who likes sport. Have seen both and liked both so any advice much appreciated!
Thanks

Reading is excellent but quite academic.

Definitely Stowe. It’s a bit remote but sport is great.

Second vote for Stowe. Fabulous!

You should go and have a look. The three schools are such different schools. The Oratory is more religious too. Check also other Mumsnet threads on Stowe, not so rosy as depicted here and it would be bottom of that list for me.

Ah, I realise now that you did not mean Reading Grammar! Anyways what I said still applies

Old threads on Stowe are inevitably not up to date. They are a micro snap shot of a school at a moment in time. So go and visit if you can. For sport, it’s very good. However it’s remote and that won’t suit everyone. But it’s not an academic hot house and suits the slightly lower achiever very well. It’s still popular with local families and London ones.

Old and also new threads for Stowe on Mumsnet. But the main point is, depends what you look for. The marketing department is very strong, and you should see if you fit the profile there. If you go with your eyes open, then you will not be disappointed, but don't expect the plain sailing dream they sell you upfront.

Thanks all!
I have been to see both, and liked both.
Have heard a few negative stories from Stowe, which worries me, but equally I know people whose children are pupils there are very happy (but very streetwise E.g. alcohol etc). It’s all singing and dancing and very slick so trying not to get sucked in by the pizzazz!
The oratory is much smaller and a nurturing environment-big on sport. Catholic which doesn’t put me off as I went to catholic schools and was fine, although I don’t go to church now.
I think my son would be happy at either school so was just hoping there was someone who sends their child to either school to give an opinion.

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

If you know people with DC at Stowe then you presumably have up to date info.

As far as I can tell, all schools have slick advertising! Most need to sell themselves to parents. What no one can control is the other DC they go to a school and they can have a huge effect on your DC if just a few are difficult.

As I said, Stowe is remote. There’s lots to do in school but nowhere to go. That can lead to “fun” because it’s co Ed. There’s a big difference to being a first year there and a 6th former. It’s quite a grown up school which suits more confident DC, in my opinion. Other parents I know consider St Edwards, Oxford and Rugby.

We are really happy with the Oratory. They have amazing facilities eg golf, real tennis, rowing and indoor pool but they are small enough to treat every child as an individual. The new headmaster Mr Smith is a wonderful role model.

Hmmmm, I know someone who works at Oratory, and they're often moaning about the organisation (lack of) from the top, and some dodgy Covid decisions that go against PHE recommedations.

No experience of Stowe.
Abingdon? Radley? Teddies?

I think the OP wants genuine advice on the education received at both schools? @wishiwasinbarbados you don’t have any personal experience of either school? Third hand gossip about health and safety sounds like a weird axe to grind. Let’s be honest everyone is on a learning curve with COVID. Fortunately South Oxon has some of the lowest cases, my kids/friends/teachers are healthy and the school is open so no complaints whatsoever.

@BadedasBubbles
Actually, it's a close family member that works there. And they've put more people at risk of Covid than they should have done. Not really third-hand-axe-to-grind stuff, just saying what I know about the school. I think there are schools that are run better. I personally wouldn't send a child to Oratory. That's all.

I really didn’t want to send my DS to the Oratory as it had a bad name for many years, but my DS loves it...he wasn’t massively sporty but they have so many options he’s tried nearly everything.
Mr Smith (head master) approachable, down to earth chap has turned the place around so much even since DS has been there, going Co-Ed has definitely added to the schools warm feel.
Everybody knows everybody so nobody is left out or picked on. I can’t believe I’m writing this as I really wasn’t keen on the place from previous hearsay!
DS is bright and getting good grades even in Art! which is big there too.
If you are looking for a co-Ed day school that’s not an academic hot house you should take a look...

@WhoElise

I really didn’t want to send my DS to the Oratory as it had a bad name for many years, but my DS loves it...he wasn’t massively sporty but they have so many options he’s tried nearly everything. Mr Smith (head master) approachable, down to earth chap has turned the place around so much even since DS has been there, going Co-Ed has definitely added to the schools warm feel. Everybody knows everybody so nobody is left out or picked on. I can’t believe I’m writing this as I really wasn’t keen on the place from previous hearsay! DS is bright and getting good grades even in Art! which is big there too. If you are looking for a co-Ed day school that’s not an academic hot house you should take a look...

The Oratory had a bad name for many years? The London Oratory? Why did you send your child if you really didn't want to? What a strange post.

@GreyhoundG1rl

I think they are referring to The Oratory boarding school in Reading ?

Yes The Oratory in Reading, it wasn’t my first choice but was my husbands better judgement!

[quote Mummy194]@GreyhoundG1rl

I think they are referring to The Oratory boarding school in Reading ?[/quote]
Oh! . Thanks...
So sorry @ WhoElise!

Please how is Oratory today? Is your son still there?