Oakwood School

I went to Oakwood from year 1 to year 6 and really enjoyed my time there. It was exactly the start I needed in life and looking back on it, I owe a lot of my successes in life to the fantastic early start I had. I'll never forget studying for entrance exams to grammar schools and the head tutoring me 1-1 using his break times and after school hours. Unfortunately this wouldn't be possible anymore due to how the school has grown since I was there but it shows you how much Oakwood wants you to succeed.
Apr 25th, 2019

Oakwood is a superb school where all of my children thrived. The teachers are dedicated and committed and the school gives more individual attention to each pupil than any other school our family has seen (we have experience of 4 other schools). Each teacher is available at the beginning & end of the day to speak individually to each parent about their child and they are always receptive and helpful. They balance a very high academic standard with amazing drama, music & poetry events & sporting excellence. They offer pastoral support to families in difficulty both formally and informally via a strong school community. The head sets the tone for the rest of the school and leads by cheerful and selfless example with complete dedication. A lovely man who always has time to listen to concerns & opinions of parents & children alike. They foster the development of a child's character as well as their education and set a high moral standard. Other commenters have spoken of Oakwood as a "cult" and claimed they "indoctrinate" children. This has not been our experience at all. Families of all faiths are made welcome but do need to be willing to uphold the high educational & moral standards. In my time as an Oakwood parent there were Hindu & Muslim families in prominent roles in the school community and there was always a multicultural flavour to social activities at the school including a "Bollywood" evening. It's a small school and is supported by an educational charity, established by parents, and in my time there it would not have been able to cater for some children with complex additional needs, although our 2 children with particular additional needs were well supported. My family are "run of the mill" Catholics not members of Opus Dei and never felt pressurised to be involved in any way. It's true that the families who first established the school were affiliated with Opus Dei & some of the teachers & families still are, but the school is just an independent school with a general Catholic ethos. My children have very fond memories of their time at Oakwood, which prepared them immeasurably well for their life beyond.
Mar 13th, 2019

Jan 28th, 2019

Jan 19th, 2019

Interesting to see reviews with no full names! When we moved from abroad last year, Oakwood was recommended by some friends. Our oldest kids in school just had the chance to be for few months before going to Secondary School, but the School offered them not only a solid academic program, but a nurturing environment that made the transition to a new country very pleasant. With one kid with special needs, the inclusion was total, he was made part of every activity and received a fair treatment. For the first time in his education, he felt a part of the group. Once, we had a bullying incident against our son, and the classroom teacher and the management dealt with it immediately and effectively, protecting not only our child but also taking care of setting the corrective measures with the other two kids. We still have one kid at Oakwood, and could not be happier with our choice. Our daughter is getting stronger in maths and Literature, but also growing in maturity. Following the recommendations of our friends was the best decision for our kids' education. Very grateful to the school.
Jan 28th, 2019