Oxford / S Oxfordshire Schools advice needed

[Flumoxd]

Moving nr Abingdon later this yr, and researching schools for B9, G6, G3. Open to all options - went to open day for Abingdon and St Helens but wasn't sure. Also considering European School / Europa Free School but not clear what's going on there. Would love some feedback on these or other schools in area, considering private and state,going to see Manor Prep. Someone else recommended St Hughs. B9 is academic and sporty. Any inspirational schools and heads you'd recommend? Feeling bamboozled by process so far.. thanks!

[1805]

European/Europa = have friends there that are impressed so far with new Europa school. B9 will go into European school, Girls into Europa. Don't think that's a problem though. Also depends on spaces available of course.
Ab has good reputation for academic and sports, haven't heard anyone have bad words about The Manor. St Hughs does boarding/flexi if that is of importance to you. Also good reputation. Our Lady's for co-ed private????

What put you off Ab and StHelens? There's also Cokethorpe thats co-ed, but further away.

HTH.

[soda1234]

Have experience of St Hugh's, Abingdon and Our Lady's. Sporty, academic ds is v v happy at Abingdon, may I ask why you weren't sure?
Pls PM me if you'd like more details

[StarryEyedMama]

If you can afford private then Abingdon has some fantastic private schools - our lady's is amazing, my daughter has swimming lessons there after school and the facilities are great and have been very impressed by the staff I have met in passing. If state, then St Nicolas is a good school with good opportunities for sporty and academic kids and I've heard good things about Long Furlong too. Happy to give more advice, as I moved to Abingdon 18 months ago, feel free to PM me if you'd like.

[1805]

Are you looking at Abingdon Prep, or Senior School?

[take3]

The Manor prep is a wonderful place, really superb, although only girls from 7-11.

[BensonBunny]

DD is at St Helen's, very academic but also good at sport and music (the school not DD). She loves it there and we are very pleased with the school. No personal experience of Abingdon but other parents with boys there are happy with it, it seems to suit sporty academic boys so may be ideal for you.

Not sure what is happening at Our Lady's at the moment. They are into the 4th year of co-ed in the senior school but I have heard of a number of children leaving. The junior school at Our Lady's is nice but not at the same level as The Manor / Abingdon prep / Chandlings. The fees used to be a lot lower than the other preps so it attracted familys looking for more than state could offer but cheaper fees than the big preps, however I understand the fees have increased considerable over the last few years.

I believe that Rush Common has overtaken St Nicks as the most popular north Abingdon state primary but will qualify this statement by saying that this information comes from a biased source! I think you would have to be in or near catchment to get into either now. Some of the village primaries are very good (Appleton and Wooton are the two I know of) but again you need to be in catchment.

Don't really know St Hughs that well but the parents I've meet seem very happy with the school. It is quite a distance from Abingdon though unless you live in that direction. They have Saturday school at St Hughs which none of the other local schools do anymore (although Abingdon and St Helen's both have Saturday sports fixtures).

[Lidingo]

Anyone else have any thoughts on OLA? The threads seems to be nice school not too stressful on the kids but not great academically and losing it's way. Have a DS and DD and considering sending there for junior school but can't find any current parents to ask their opinion.