MCS Oxford

[DepecheM0de]

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.

People have commented on your duplicate thread.

Having had a child there after we too moved from London I’d say that it’s always a personal choice. You seem very focused on the “results” ( by which I assume you mean academic?) Whatever is says in performance league tables I would say the top London schools remain ahead on this (people at school and behind my son in London all seemed to perform better) KCS and St Paul’s are laser focused on that and I don’t believe they would have weak teachers on board. MCS has some and I don’t think it’s always managed well myself. We had an issue at A Level which should not have happened. Given my time again I’d stay in London. The general experience of a London education with all the things the city offers I don’t think can be beaten. I left London because I felt it would be less presssurised. It was. But not much and at the cost of a grade or two at A Level which would not necessarily happen with you, but that’s my view. Good luck. I have to say my son was happy there until his A Level results.

I’d also add, coming from Beaconsfield to Oxford is a long way. Having met up with many of his ex London friends we found they had managed long hours at school and their social lives much more easily (particularly when a bit older) as they had public transport that works well. Outside London, even in Oxfordshire, it’s limited. My son felt cut off in an Oxfordshire village (driving in Oxford worse than London - trust me on this!) He wishes we hadn’t left London himself. He’s desperate to go back there to live.

Thank you all for your insights and comments. A lot to mull over and consider. Do agree with a lot of the points and hopefully one of the London schools does come back with a confirmed offer.

Hey @DepecheM0de what did you finally decide as we are in the same dilemma currently

Hi, I got the call in early July that my DS had been accepted into our preferred London school so we never ended up moving! I am being taken to court however by MCS for backing out so late as they want a whole terms fee in lieu. 🙄

Glad your DC got the place in London but, um, don’t you sign papers when you take the place committing to pay a terms fees if you then don’t use it? I thought that was pretty standard for private schooling T&C? Why wouldn’t you pay?

Indeed …

What I know from and conditions is that if you are not joining you have to inform before 1 term ie for example for September 2026 entry if you have accepted th offer and decide not to join the you have to inform before the start of summer term.

Yes agree. I did sign T&C’s to that effect and legally I am liable to pay for backing out so late. However, they were able to fill the space with another child so my legal team are fighting it to try and set a precedent against private schools. They already hold the jointing deposit which covers administrative costs. It’s sadly become commercialised. Good private schools are always oversubscribed.

So you agreed to pay a terms fees but have decided not to pay despite agreeing that?

Whether the school have filled the space is immaterial: you are legally obliged to honour your debt, otherwise you shouldn’t have signed the forms. It’s like if you pull out of a house purchase after exchange, you’re liable for the 10% of the purchase in standard housebuing contracts, you can’t just decide not to pay!

Frankly a legal team will probably cost you much of the due amount, why in earth not just accept you’ve committed to pay, do it and move on? you really don’t have the moral high ground if you’re refusing to pay your debt to the school as you’ve literally signed T&C agreeing to do so….

My legal fees were far less than what they were asking for. And you may be made of money but I am most certainly not. And just for YOUR reference- the court decision was in my favour. So it’s not about the moral high ground but as I said before, it’s about principle and private schools commercialising this. 🙂

All, any current pupil or contacts at MCS, my DS will be joining in Sep 2026. We are looking to move nearer to OX. Thanks

So the court felt your pulling out last minute and refusing to pay what you'd promised in writing was legally fine? Wow. that's pretty special.

if you didn't have the deposit money to spare you shouldn't have signed your child up in the first place......the whole point of term-deposits is that they are non refundable. You knew that and then actively ignored it. Not the schools's fault in any way. But that's done now.

moving on , I do wish your child the best now they're in the secondary you wanted for them.

I assume you know the Head is leaving….

Yes we got an email. Not sure what impact will it bring