MCS vs. Dulwich College

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DS got 11+ offer from Magdalen College School in Oxford and 13+ deferred entry from Dulwich College. We live in South East London, so will have to move to Oxford if choosing MCS.

Whilst MCS is an amazing school with much stronger GCSE/A Level results than Dulwich, considering the moving costs, commuting to London from Oxford for work, looking for a new school for DD etc, does it worth to move?

Re extra curricular, DS loves music and swimming, not very good at games. Any feedback from parents who knows either of schools will be very helpful. TIA

God I wouldn’t uplift my life for MCS, it’s not that great a school. 50% of the boys at my sons’ prep went there - they were all fine and mostly all went on to Durham in a pack, but I can’t say they loved it. It’s just a very pressured academic oxford day school, partially leavened by the addition of girls in sixth form. Good music and drama but no better than Dulwich. Dulwich has always struck me as a very happy well rounded place with great grounds and great sport. I would stay put in Dulwich!

Ps the other 50% went to Abingdon which is probably very like Dulwich in set up, sport, academics, but Dulwich would hbe stronger in music I’d say.

13+ deferred entry, would that include more exams? 13+ offers really varies so check what the details are going to Dulwich.

It's an unconditional offer so no more exam.

Very helpful insight thank you so much! I also worry about pressured academic as my son is not that academic. Interesting to know that music at Dulwich is better as I heard music at MCS is quite strong...

I would much rather my kid was comfortably mid tier or above at Dulwich than towards the bottom of the cohort at MCS, personally…

Music at Dulwich better than Abingdon but probably similar to McS, which is quite strong.

If cost of moving were no issue, MCS is a no brainer. I know families with kids there. Top top school academically. No comparison. But of course that is never the only factor.

Thank you! Costs of moving are not big issue, looking for a property to rent/buy and a new school for DD within 6 months sound stressful... plus commute to London to work for both of us.

It does well academically but that’s because it is ferociously selective and chucks out kids who do not perform sufficiently well at gcse (ie who get a B or two), who are not allowed to progress to 6th form. There isn’t anything magical about it. It should have better results than schools with a wider cohort such as Dulwich. Doesn’t mean it adds more value than Dulwich does. I mean it’s a very good school, but so is Dulwich. I wouldn’t upend my life and that of my Dd for the sake of a place unless I really wanted to live in oxford.

I agree that upending one’s life for an academically better school is not a good idea. Particularly when this involves long commute.

My son has been at MCS for over 3 years coming from a local, to us, primary school.
It was absolutely the best choice we made - there is loads of extracurricular activities for the kids to involve themselves including lots of music and drama. My son was worried about the academic pace to start with but the school was very supportive and he settled in quickly - this was despite his last 2 years before joining consisting of one online lesson a day compared to MCS junior school who had had basically normal teaching. He is now comfortably at pace with gcse but the school clearly does not pressure him and in fact told us to be hands off re academic and he has been encouraged to analysis his outcomes and implement changes himself ( which l wish l had been taught at that age). He even didn't revise for one set of exams but we kept quiet ( very hard!) and the school didn't penalise him for it - just chatted about what he might of learnt from it and now his revision is much better!!!
Of great importance is that he has lots of friends in different groups and they are all really nice kids and are pleasure to be about with much laughter when they are together. We live outside Oxford and he travels in on the Oxford tube from lewknor and my husband drives to Harefield for work. I commuted to London by train from Princes Risborough for years so you don't necessarily have to live in Oxford City.

Surely that move would put a huge amount of pressure on your DS. What if he doesn't like the school? I don't think I'd want a 13 year old shouldering the burden of the whole family being uprooted. I'm also of the belief that long commutes put a huge strain on family life and are best avoided when possible.

One of mine went to DC, albeit a while (2 heads) ago. He left at 6th form to move somewhere coed. At the time it was fine. Lots of sports, music, leadership and extracurricular opportunities. My DS had a wide group of diverse friends, both in terms of backgrounds and interests, many of whom he's still friends with. Teachers varied - some of them were quite old, but I'd guess there's been some refreshing in the years since. At the time, I thought their stem subjects were stronger than their humanities, but that's probably changed too.

Unless deep down you're hankering to make a move, I'd stay put and go with DC.

Thank you so much for all your valuable feedback. We've decided to go to DC.

I’ve had 2 boys at DC and we’ve been v happy with it. The music and drama is v good from what I’ve seen. Sadly my kids were t that way inclined - but it’s a big school and everyone can find their tribe. I’ve found it very inclusive and they make sure that pupils are aware of their privilege. Good decision OP!

My DS has been accepted for MCS in Oxford and I am really confused about sending him there. We live in London and he’s currently on the waiting list for some top performing (London) schools but has a confirmed offer from MCS for a Sept 25 start. Obviously this means we would be relocating and have considered Beaconsfield as they have good transport links to London and MCS also has a bus service which is going to mean my DS is commuting about an hour each way. I’m so unsure if the school is going to be right for him considering the huge upheaval and taking a huge risk. Can anyone, please shed some light into the school and what it is like? I have noticed over the years that’s its ranking has fluctuated quite a bit.

I pass the MCS boys waiting for buses several times a week. They all look happy. But an hour’s commute by school bus would be a nightmare. A slog on normal days, but what about days when the child needs to leave earlier or later than the buses run? And how would they ever see friends after school? And what about parents’ evenings, and plays, and matches? An hour’s journey each way would mean you’d probably miss most things (logistics, exhaustion) that parents would want to attend.

I can’t comment on the school itself - but I’d rethink Beaconsfield.

Agree big NO to beaconsfield. Please understand that oxford traffic is horrendous and it is the city and county councils lifetime mission to make it more horrendous. They loathe cars. You have to take the long view, he will be there for years. I live 3 miles out of oxford with zero public transport within 2 miles, and my office, which is in oxford, should be 7 minutes drive away. Sometimes it takes me an hour and a half. Most usually in term time it takes me 40-50minutes.
if you are going to relocate then consider somewhere considerably closer.

Maybe check London school wait list and other London schools, families do move due to work relocation. Email and phone in case there are occasional places. Which wait list places? Maybe MN can give light to other schools nearby?

It's crazy to move from SE London to Bucks and not even near Oxford for the sake of a place at MCS. You must have another secondary school option in hand? Ring all the schools you are WL for next week and say you will accept a place immediately if offered.

Sorry saw the original poster was in SE London but still either stay in London or move to Oxford but not a half way house.

Thank you for all your views thus far. The reason I chose Beaconsfield is a) the school does offer a bus from the area which makes me think it’s tried and tested and they have enough students to service this route and b) easy access into C London as we work there. Also, being a Londoner, a 1 hour is (school/work) commute is very much the norm so it doesn’t phase us as much, but I do take on board the after school activities that may occur. This would need a logistical approach. My main concern still - is the school worth it?

Yes, but a London commute, where teens can independently use the Tube for both school and socialising, and there’s no shortage of public transport, is very different to an hour’s journey outside London where - except for the school bus - teens completely rely on their parents to drive them everywhere.

Do you have friends or family in Beaconsfield? Because your child’s friends will mostly be elsewhere, and your own social life might be in London, alongside your work. Your child might find themselves miserably isolated in a place to which none of you have any connection beyond a house.

And no - of course MCS isn’t worth uprooting the entire family to make a child travel two hours a day by bus, when you’ve already said your son isn’t particularly academic.

What is it he needs that only this school can provide? If there is something, then move to Oxford. To an area between, or that triangulates with, the school and the train station. So, to the S/E of the city. Because it’s an easy commute to London which thousands of people do every day. And Oxford is a lovely place to live if one can afford the accommodation costs.

(I should say the youngest in our family attended a boarding prep in Oxford, so I do understand the draw of the local independent schools. But I don’t think your idea stands up to scrutiny.)