Kate Middleton is 'considering' Oundle School for Prince George: Environmentally conscious institution teaches pupils to be 'ambitious but never arrogant'

Kate and William are said to be considering the Northamptonshire schoolREAD MORE: Meghan Markle 'must have been incredibly envious' of Kate Middleton because of Princess' sisterly relationship with Prince Harry, says royal expert 

As the Prince and Princess of Wales ruminate over the difficult choice of where to send the future King to secondary school, a new institution is reportedly in the running.

The Mail on Sunday reported this weekend that Kate, 42, and William, 41, have listed the prestigious Oundle School among their top choices for their eldest son, 11, who will be leaving primary school this summer.

It comes amid reports Kate’s alma mater, Marlborough School in Buckinghamshire, where fees are £47,000-per-year, runs the risk of being ‘flashy’ with a source revealing the Princess of Wales’s style is ‘understated wealth’.

In contrast, Oundle School in north Northamptonshire claims to help shape its pupils into ‘decent’, ‘open-minded’ and ‘ambitious’ adults – but never ‘arrogant’.

The institution, founded in 1556, boasts that pupils, known as Oundelians, ‘share the town of Oundle’ with residents as its buildings are scattered around the area in an open campus which includes a chapel and a cricket ground.

The prestigious Oundle School in north Northamptonshire is rumoured to be among the 'top choices' for Prince William and Kate Middleton in where they will send Prince George for secondary school

The prestigious Oundle School in north Northamptonshire is rumoured to be among the ‘top choices’ for Prince William and Kate Middleton in where they will send Prince George for secondary school

The headteacher, Sarah Kerr-Dineen, has studied at both Oxford and Cambridge, describes pupils at the school as ‘intellectually curious, energetic, resourceful’.

She adds: ‘There is no strutting’ among pupils.

Speaking about adults who were educated at the Northamptonshire school, Ms Kerr-Dineen says: ‘What I see in them is a sense of decency and an enjoyment of other people’s company; a sense of loving opportunities and challenges but not of being entitled or feeling that they are owed anything.

‘In my experience, Oundelians work hard on feelings. They enjoy friendships, they enjoy relationships.’

George, ten, will be attending secondary school from September, however, Kensington Palace have not confirmed which school he will enroll at

George, ten, will be attending secondary school from September, however, Kensington Palace have not confirmed which school he will enroll at

Oundle School, which was founded in 1556, offers pupils a huge range of extra-curricular activities

Oundle School, which was founded in 1556, offers pupils a huge range of extra-curricular activities

The school's open campus includes a chapel (pictured) and a cricket ground

The school’s open campus includes a chapel (pictured) and a cricket ground

As for the curriculum, the school’s website explains that pupils between the ages of 11 and 12 are taught more academic subjects in the morning, which frees up the afternoon for ‘creative subjects and sport’.

‘At this age, children’s minds are at their most alert in the mornings,’ the website explains.

Pupils also study Latin and have a chance to take either French or Spanish – but are also given the option to explore ancient Greek, German and Chinese.

School fees at Oundle for full-time boarders are £34,515 per year for Year 7, but the fee rises to £45,435 from Years 9 to 13.

Fees for day pupils at Year 7 are £22,350 per year, rising to £29,370 for Years 9-13.

However, the school’s website says: ‘Oundle is founded on philanthropy and we strongly believe that for well-suited children, financial circumstances should not limit access to an Oundle education.

‘We will endeavour to support any family whose child has the potential but not the financial means to come to Oundle.’

In addition to giving its pupils a strong sense of community, the school emphasises its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and encouraging students to become ‘environmentally-minded’.

The picturesque school is set in the market town of Oundle in north Northamptonshire and pupils mix with residents in the town

The picturesque school is set in the market town of Oundle in north Northamptonshire and pupils mix with residents in the town

Among Oundle’s key objectives are to ‘raise environmental awareness throughout our school community’ and to ‘improve energy and water use efficiency’.

The school also operates a ‘tree management strategy’ which plants three new trees for every one tree removed, plus a biodiversity drive through planting of wildflowers.

The school’s commitment to environmental sustainability may well appeal to Prince George’s conservationist father, Prince William.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are also known to champion youth mental health – which is another philosophy prioritised by Oundle.

A mental health lead is employed by the school, who runs a wellbeing team there to support students.

Oundle offers one-to-one sessions for any students who need emotional support in its Clayton Rooms – where they can also make a fuss of Mabel, the black Labrador.

The school also runs a pupil pastoral forum, the members of which are members of the Sixth Form.

The PPF focuses on the areas of gender, race, health, mental health, LGBT+ issues and neurodiversity. The school’s website says the PPF’s aim is to ‘ensure that voices are heard and that a school-wide spirit of open conversation is fostered, leading to understanding and tolerance’.

Among the societies available for pupils to join at the school are a mindfulness group, a dressmaking group and a model United Nations.

Although Prince William and Prince Harry were both educated at Eton College, just a short distance from Windsor Castle, it has not been confirmed if Prince George will follow in his father and uncle’s footsteps.

He has also been linked with his mother Kate’s former school, Marlborough College, where Pippa and James Middleton were also educated.

The Mail on Sunday reported George has already been allocated a ‘house’ in a safe location and given a housemaster at the school if he does eventually attend.

But there is said to be concern that Marlborough has become ‘too flashy’ after a rise in its popularity with ultra-rich families due to its association with the Middletons.

‘The 2024 version of Marlborough may be quite different from how Kate remembers it,’ a source said. ‘It’s become a little more jet-set. Lots of parents have villas in Ibiza, chalets in Verbier or a private jet, which isn’t Kate’s style. She prefers understated wealth.’

They added: ‘Kate wants a school that suits all of her children and keeps them grounded.’

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