Experiences of Cokethorpe Prep, Witney, Oxfordshire? Any suggestions for sensitive 6 year old?

[ForeverYoung11]

Hi all, I’m wondering if you can help please!

Does anyone have experience of Cokethorpe in Witney?

I have a sensitive boy who would be joining Year 2. He is bright, gentle, not sporty, and doesn’t thrive under pressure… We’re hoping to find somewhere with a calm, nurturing environment rather than something super academic and hardy.

We are also a family for whom independent schools aren’t a given but we can prioritise to afford paying for education because we want to get it right for him. I’d be interested if anyone has a view about the sort of population at Cokethorpe - a mix or only very wealthy families, etc.

Any other suggestions of schools in Oxfordshire and its surrounds that might offer small, safe, calm, happy environment would be very much appreciated too!

Many many thanks xxx

It’s considered to be a through school for many so you need to make sure you want the senior school as well. It’s not the most high flying academically so could be a good choice. Other more academic schools chasing scholarships to big name schools might not be what you want.

There is Kingham Hill at Chipping Norton that might interest you. Not sure about feeder preps and Bloxham might interest you too. Again check feeder schools. I’m sure the admissions staff would help you in terms of what preps pupils went to.

Lastly - of course plenty of parents will be well off. Some won’t but if you make a decision to go private it’s just how it is. You cannot change the wealth of others and you just have to find your tribe. I would have thought Oxfordshire had lovely village schools so if paying is a stretch, do you need to do this?

You might also like Winchester House in Brackley. It’s Northants bit close to Oxfordshire. Kitebrook is worth looking at too.

If you don’t want a particularly pushy academic school, I’m wondering if you might consider the state sector? If you’re hoping that private = uniformly lovely kids, it doesn’t! And the small nurturing classes you envisage can be a nightmare if there are 1 or 2 who rule the roost in a small year group. However nurturing a school feels, the main influence on your ds’s school experience is going to be the other pupils. If there is a larger cohort, it may be more likely that he will find his ‘tribe’?

My sensitive son - now in year 3 is very happy at Christchurch Cathedral School. He joined in year 2 from a state school. Very nurturing environment and he has really blossomed.

I wouldn't worry too much about wealthy families - there's a good mix at Christ Church, but the boys are not bothered at all.

@ForeverYoung11
I think you must think about senior school. Do you intend to pay? What destination school do you want? State comp? 13 plus or 11 plus or through school such as Cokethorpe? Work back and look at schools that prep for your destination choice.,

For example, Lord Williams School in Thame is a big comp but well respected. Plenty of village schools feed into this school so your quality of life in South Oxfordshire could be quite high. I’m not sure how Burford School admissions work, but you might consider villages around there and check out Burford admissions? There’s quite a few options in Oxfordshire where you can have a lovely life and a good state school.

Thank you so much for this all - truly valuable food for thought. I’m very grateful!

New College School is fantastically nurturing and has lots of sensitive boys. Range of abilities but they get the best from each child. Almost all parents are working to pay the fees, just the odd very wealthy one. Mostly professionals like doctors, accountants, academics, , teachers, etc. Amazing for the musical but you don’t have to be musical or interested in music in particular.

Hear positive things re chandlings being suitable for most dc but don’t personally know it. Think mix of family backgrounds.
Christchurch I hear incredibly mixed things about, you would have to look and find out
Rye st Anthony now coed and very nurturing and gentle.
Our lady’s in Abingdon apparently similar.

Avoid the manor, Magdalen, dragon, Abingdon prep as they are either very academic or would suit the more robust or both.

I would find out where has a place !

Thank you so much!! I’m sending enquiries now… so grateful!!

Sibford is also very nurturing. It's a Quaker school. I met the head teacher a few years ago, such a lovely and kind gentleman.

Cokethorpe Junior did a good job with my DS and DD. It is a very supportive environment for sure. The environment is lovely and the kids have many outdoor opportunities. I'd just look into the extra-curricular side to see how things are now. When we were there sports was very dominant, and with rather lop-sided choices. 6 rugby pitches and no swimming pool says a lot. It's an all through school as well so you need to pay attention to the Y7 process - they are not exactly supportive of kids applying elsewhere unless they want you to leave. But there are some truly outstanding teachers there, and we have no regrets about the junior school, despite going elsewhere for senior school. Do your homework and investigate.