Advise please - Oxford Girls schools - honest opinions

[mumofthree22]

Hi. We are going to be relocating this summer to Oxford (only found out in the last month) and daughter is due to start year 7. She has fortunately been offered a place at Oxford High, Headington and St Helens (Abingdon). We will be located South Oxford so all schools are easily reachable by school bus. My sons will be starting MCS. Which school would you recommend? Daughter really enjoys extra curriculum activities like sports and drama. Looking at personal recommendations as new to the area. We need to make decision in next few days. Have just visited Headington and St Helens (however OHS would not let us view school from inside due to covid). My husband is adamant at sending her to OHS due to higher academic results and has friends who are dons at Oxford uni who advised most of their colleagues send their kids there. I'm not getting a good gut feeling about OHS as I feel it lacks pastoral care and find the facilities quite limited and campus cramped for the number of girls. Which one to choose? So stressed. Do your daughters go to any of these schools? What are your honest opinions on the schools mentioned- academically, pastoral, teaching, extra curriculum, general happiness of girls etc. Thank you.

Hi UK2020 I’m so sorry that I didn’t not see your message until now. I will answer your question in the hopes it’s still useful! Re: the transfer to OHS SS, you don’t have to ‘accept’ the offer per se, but rather you have to give a terms notice at any point if you want to leave the school (Prep or SS, the contract are the same). Course it’s courteous to let them know if you plan on sending your DD to the senior school but that’s up to you. I do believe that the school wants what’s best for all the girls and if you decide to look at other options for your daughter, they should be supportive. You won’t be the only one & it shouldn’t reflect badly on you or your daughter. And if you ultimately decide to stay at OHS, the school will of course be delighted. I hope that helps! Please don’t hesitate to ask any other questions you may have. I’ll do better at keeping an eye on this chat!

@uk2020 sorry that the above post didn’t tag you. I tried replying before and it didn’t post for some reason. Hope this reply isn’t too late!

Hi @Delphigirl it’s interesting you say that about OHS (anxiety, eating disorders & unhappiness). I admit, we’d heard similar things of the school previously and decided to spend lots of timing talking to current parents and staff to get a better idea of whether these are outdated perceptions of the school or the current reality. We were so relieved to learn that it’s moved on from these preconceptions. And I do believe that they are really focused on being supportive and nurturing under the leadership of the new Head. It’s a shame that their bad reputation lingers in the community. We’ve had nothing but a positive experience at the school.

I'd be wary about anecdotes about eating disorders. These occur at a rate of a few % in the teenage female population so ANY large community of teenage girls is going to have girls with such issues. I think there would have to be proper evidence that school X had significantly larger cohort of problems than a school of a similar size before I'd pay much attention to it.

Speaking from personal experience, OHS is not a caring school. Very academic but not a well-rounded education IMO. SHSK is the one I've heard most positive things about.

@WhyAmIPayingFees
There are way more than twice as many cases of ED's in our local selective all girls than at the co'ed, so your argument doesn't wash in that particular case.
All girls environments often harbour ED's and self harm to a higher proportion than you would expect based on statistics. Not sure why. And of course co'eds come with their own issues.

@WhyAmIPayingFees

I'd be wary about anecdotes about eating disorders. These occur at a rate of a few % in the teenage female population so ANY large community of teenage girls is going to have girls with such issues. I think there would have to be proper evidence that school X had significantly larger cohort of problems than a school of a similar size before I'd pay much attention to it.

I do not believe that there are many OHS girls has eating disorders. Actually the food in OHS is not properly cooked and uneatable. Many parents complain to school but see little improvement.

Hey. So glad you find the right fit for your daughter. Can I ask how you are finding your relocation and St Helen's for daughter. We are considering a move to Abingdon area...

Want to find a private school very locally though so my children can make local friends...TIA

My daughter looked at SHSK and in the end she chose OLA for the small class size and small school. She’s been in a large school for 6 years and hated it. She can’t wait to start at Our Lady’s Abingdon in September for 6th form.

Just looking at secondary schools. DS likes the look of Abingdon so we are considering SHSK for our DD. She is quiet and gentle, smart but not competitive, and loves art - do you think SHSK would be a good fit? How is your DD getting on there?

Sham, is a lovely school, a long way from charlbury though!

Ahhh, auto correct SHSK!

True, but DS is looking at Abingdon and there’s a school bus nearby with similar pick up/drop off times as the Oxford school bus. DS is looking at MCS and Abingdon (for next Sept), and we’re looking for DD’s school now for the following year in case it influences which school DS chooses. I’d love to have them at school in the same town (and bus) if possible. I feel DS would be fine at either, DD is more sensitive (and arty) so I don’t want to pick the ‘wrong’ school for her. Fees like a weighty decision but if we felt a particular girls’ school was ideal for her it would help DS choose between Oxford and Abingdon (if he got in)

In that case it’s perfect, there are many families who have siblings in both the schools

Hello,
It was really useful to read all the above. We are in this predicament now: DD is in Y5 in Chandlings and we are considering our options. We tried to get into SHSK in Y5 but were rejected - wonder if there is a chance to get in Y7. Has anyone been in similar position?
To be honest I must say we were just putting our finger in the air then - no preparation went in (we were moving house and thought it could work out better logistically).
DD is smart but drifts off (I wonder if that what happened at the assessment) - she is very arty and sporty though, loves music and drama too. Potentially going for Art Scholarship (maybe sport one).
I love that SHSK is fantastic at sports and the rest too!
Would appreciate the input.

Hi @Strictlymum3 - take Chandlings’ advice. Mine were at Chandlings. DD1 they said “she’s not right for Shsk, will not get in, try Headington”. Had specific LDs and her maths was weak. She did go to Headington and did well there but in the bottom third of the cohort. With hindsight there wasn’t a chance of her getting into Shsk so I’m glad we didn’t put her through that stress. DD2 a different kettle of fish, highly organised motivated and achieving. She decided she wanted to go to SHSK at year 5 so she sat and got in. We told Chandlings afterwards. But other Chandlings friends of hers tried and didn’t get in at year 5, but did get in at year 7. 2 reasons - they needed the additional maturity and preparation time, and the yr 7 cohort is much bigger. At year 5 there is a tiny cohort and they guarantee them a place at yr 7 without testing again, so they are looking for the obviously capable ones. At year 7 they can take a broader intake and also risk a few more borderline cases.

So if you like SHSK and think she would be happy there, and Chandlings say it is worth a go, give it a go again at year 7. If Chandlings are steering you elsewhere, listen to them.

@Delphigirl thanks so much for your reply. Makes a lot of sense and compartmentalises things. Chandlings is happy for us applying to both schools - however they said we’ll need 3rd school as a back up. Does everybody choose 3 schools? We are looking at single sex ones - not considering OHS.

No not everybody does but I would again take their advice and find an insurance. Maybe d’Overbroek’s which I really rate and has excellent value-add but is co-Ed, or wychwood which is small and nurturing?

Wychwood only recently became co-ed right?

Oh yes I’d forgotten they had announced that. Hmmm.