Concerns at Wychwood School, Oxford - seeking other families

[Galanthus78]

The situation re Wychwood going co-ed is of great concern to my DD who is a pupil at the school, and to us. We've given the powers-that-be a chance to reassure us, and DD has talked extensively with staff; if anything, we've become even more concerned. DD has now asked us to actively seek her a place elsewhere, which seems a real shame after several (mostly) happy years there.

Are there any other parents around?

Specifically, we have 3 main concerns, which I'll go into, below.

@jeaux90 how is Rye for the academically very able?

At small schools like these, the very able will be a small group. Clearly other schools in Oxford will have greater depth of academically able Dc. So it really depends what you want. You don’t always need loads of bright Dc to work with: just enough.

@KleineDracheKokosnuss my experience of Rye is that it's very individual focussed. It's not an academic hothouse though.

The thing is that the market for the tiny all girls school is very small.

A good friend had 2 DD’s at Knighton House - they were getting smaller and smaller so switched to co ed to try and boost numbers - ultimately that wasn’t enough and they ended up being “incorporated” into Bryanston. The parents were all assured that the Knighton House ethos would remain, including the name, but it was all gone within 12 months.

@jeaux90 With the other academic schools in and around Oxford, Rye would be foolish to pitch itself as an academic hothouse. Even Wycombe Abbey isn’t far away. In my view, Rye and Wychwood are trying to serve the same market so Wychwood is trying something different.

@TizerorFizz exactly I picked Rye for its pastoral care, individual focus etc. it's a lovely environment.

I'm puzzled by all the negative comments above and like another commentator I wonder if they are coming from people who actually know the school. The school is most definitely on the up - the recent open morning had over 90 interested families attending. There has been enormous investment in upgrading the facilities and there is a real vibe now at the school. It is true that the school was precarious a few years ago, but there has been a definite turnaround. DD is really happy there and excited about the future of the school. I think there is definitely a place for a school like Wychwood in Oxford providing small, friendly, individualised teaching and that welcomes children of all abilities. Not many boys for the moment but very likely to expand soon, while the ones who have been admitted this year, according to my DD, seem to be happy.

As Rye is now disappearing of course Wychwood is left as the go to small school. There no other choice. It’s still limited in what it can offer though in terms of breadth because it simply doesn’t have the numbers .

I think the very fact that over 90 attended on Saturday tells you that the school is certainly “on the up” - how many other schools can boast this number?

I'm appalled at all these messages about trans kids at the school and the supposed manipulation of sympathies. There are quite a lot of trans kids at Wychwood but this is because the school is a very welcoming, friendly and non-judgmental place. Trans children who had a miserable time at other schools find they are just left to be whatever they want to be at Wychwood. Some just need time to sort themselves out and transition back to being girls. Others find their new identities without being picked on or bullied and so flourish. I don't think this will change with the addition of boys because the ethos of the school is one of acceptance. My DD is totally unfazed by it all, and that is as it should be.

@Frazzledfish I'm amazed you feel it's appropriate to say this: "Some just need time to sort themselves out and transition back to being girls" in the same post you are apparently "appalled" by the comments criticising the schools approach.

I guess it depends what sort of school you are looking for. It’s niche so it won’t attract huge numbers. Lots of potential or existing Rye parents would be looking wouldn’t they? 90 attending? So parents and a Dc. So probably 30 Dc. 30x7 years would double the size of the school though.