Any info about secondary schools in Oxford

[helprelocating]

DH has just heard he is to relocate from London to Oxford. This is all a bit sudden but with the credit crunch we can't really refuse. He will commute short term but longer term we will need to move.
DS is currently in y8 and has just completed scholarship exams for 13+ entry to indie school - he loves Latin and wants to study Ancient Greek for GCSE, DD is in y5 and we were looking at grammars/indies for her at 11+. I had done all my London research, but this is all irrelevant. Any suggestions for schools we should look at (indie and state) would be much appreciated.

Cherwell is the only decent state secondary in Oxford.

My friends dss is at MCS in oxford and has studied these. Isn't Matthew Arnold supposeed to have improved quite a bit?

If your DS has a scholarship level intellect and you were prepared to pay for independent school there is really only one independent boys school in Oxford that you shoud be looking at - Magdalen College School.

It was independent school of the year 2008 and does teach Classics (Latin/Greek) department. It is always very high in league tables but good at sport and has great facilities.

www.mcsoxford.org/

They have just had their entrance exam I think but I am sure if you rang them and explained the situation and sent his 13+ exam results thay would be happy to have another scholarship child in the school.

Only downside to Magdalen is that it does not have a sibling policy so if you have other sones they may not be offered places.

If you want co-ed you will need to look at St Edwards or Abingdon school. Frankly I would not choose either one of them over Magdalen.

I wanted a co-ed school for our boys and left Oxford to move to the Midlands to find one.

Cherwel is a state school and simply not in the same league as Magdalen.

Thanks for the info everyone - I have looked at the MCS website and it looks quite promising. Any ideas for girls' or co-ed schools for DD?

Well if your girl is bright then Oxford High School. However, if you want to be at the same end of town as Magdalen then you need Headington Girls School.It is very good and catching the Oxford High School fast but not as academic. It does boarding if you needed it occassionally during the week or for a few terms here and there.

If you want co-ed then you could send your son to Abingdon boys school and the St Catherines girls school next door. Not as good as the Oxford schools above but very close to their standard. I think the Abingdon schools share 6th form activities.

The only serious co-ed senior school in Oxford is St Edwards but far far less academic than Oxford High School and Magdalen. It does boarding if you are interested.

Thank AbetaDad - you have really helped. I know have some ideas to start researching a completely new area. I had done the N London research and felt a bit overwhelmed at starting again in a new city!I have sent off for a few prosepectuses and can now start arranging visits.