Hi - We don't want our child to attend our local secondary after careful consideration. So we are thinking about moving house in the next few years into a catchment for a better school for us.
Child is likely to be academic very high achiever, probably sciences. So the first priority is somewhere that will feed his interests and ambitions.
Parents place a high value on kind and friendly atmosphere at school. So the second priority is to avoid a school with harsh/petty discipline, or bullying among the children.
Where should we be looking?
I'm already looking at
- Cutteslowe, Marston for Cherwell. Summertown housing is outside our price range! We like academic rep, lack of uniform.
- Hanboroughs for Bartholomew. I'm thinking Eynsham itself is too inconvenient for commuting? We like academic rep, smaller size, kindness/welfare
- I was even wondering about grammars in Aylesbury and High Wycombe etc
Any recommendations of other Oxfordshire schools?
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We thought carefully about independent - MCS seems a very nice school if a bit high pressu. But it would be a huge portion of our income, requiring a lot of sacrifice for child and adults, and might not be worth it. So I'm also wondering about career change and becoming a teacher in an independent school for fees discount. Plus son may be able to get some bursary help at some private school 11+ based on academic performance.
Let me know what you think! Thanks!