The Prince and Princess of Wales have added Oundle School to their top choices for Prince George's secondary education, with the £34,000-a-year co-educational institution now a frontrunner. The school, dating from 1556 but with a modern ethos, emphasises environmental sustainability, a factor likely to appeal to King Charles.
Oundle's website states: 'We have a responsibility to ensure that every single member of the school community takes both individual and collective action towards environmental sustainability.' The school also promotes values of aspiration without arrogance, nurturing open minds and a sense of service.
The couple have visited their alma maters—William's Eton and Kate's Marlborough College—but there are concerns that Marlborough has become 'too flashy' due to its rising popularity with ultra-rich families. A source noted: 'The 2024 version of Marlborough may be quite different from how Kate remembers it. It's become a little more jet-set.'
Oundle offers the advantage of being co-educational, allowing all three Wales children to attend, which is preferred by their security team. While William initially favoured Eton, a boys-only school near Windsor, Kate is said to want a school that suits all children and keeps them grounded.
Prince George, ten, visited Marlborough in December and has been allocated a house and housemaster there, but Oundle's modern ethos and environmental focus may sway the decision. The couple are considering whether George would be comfortable boarding from age 11.
