Oxford Parents Association

It may mean a pub called Wetherspoons (called spoons for short) which serves cheap and cheerful food

https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/england/oxfordshire/the-four-candles-oxford

I'm sure that @RichE has a deeper knowledge base, but for the Worcesterites out there, our/our son's Jericho favorites (besides the College bar) were the Old Bookbinders and the Rickety Press.

Weatherspoons is to a pub as McDonalds is to a restaurant!
So students love them, parents avoid them !

@Euapp - a question you might know: do European kids also need a BRP card? I was just talking to a friend on the other side of the pond whose Daughter will be studying in London and who hadn't heard anything about the BRP card pick up, so I thought maybe that's just for Americans?

What’s a BRP card?

It’s the Biometric Registration Permit card… The visa that got stuck in your son’s passport is just an entry permit, once arrived in the UK he will have to pick up the BRP, I believe.

(Another interesting hurdle for us, as a minor can’t pick up this card, but has to send in an application that a third party gets permission to pick it up (even if the third party is his parent and legal guardian). However, when he sent in the application they didn’t grant it because “We are unable to assist with the nomination for a Third Party collection (3Party collection) until the recipient of the BRP has arrived into the United Kingdom.
 
Please contact us again one week before the recipient arrives into the UK.” which seems slightly contradictory to us. *headscratch*

Anyway, I digress. TL;DR: BRP=Biometric Registration Permit

Hah - I knew I would find answers here! Thank you everybody for passing on the knowledge. I even got an impressed nod from the silent son for having found the answer.


@Euapp - a question you might know the answer to: do European kids also need a BRP card? I was just talking to a friend on the other side of the pond whose Daughter will be studying in London and who hadn't heard anything about the BRP card pick up, so I thought maybe that's just for Americans?

Are the college bars know to be on the more affordable side, compared to the town pubs?

Hi any Hertford College parents on here? Can anyone tell me what male Students wear to Hertford Formals? Is it the same as sub fusc so black suit , white shirt , bow tie and gown ? Also is there a ‘ best time’ to drop off at start of term? Thank you!

Hi @Crafty Mum,
May I ask if they provide with full/twin size bed at St Catz? Do you recommend any essential items for freshers (eg: pillow, duvet cover, mattress protector etc)
Also do they provide with extra storage for international students between the term?
My apologies to bombard you with so many questions, any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Hi @mathmomUSA, sorry for the delay in replying as I’m only just back after a slightly early 30th wedding anniversary trip to St Lucia.

Beds at St Catz are European single size, which basically means quite narrow. Daughter rolled over one night and knocked off all the things on her bedside table, as she wasn’t use to the vey narrow single. But fear not, as St Catz provide all the bedding including mattress protector. We had already got a mattress protector, which she does use and nearly forgets to remove it at the end of each term. The ‘scout’ (cleaner) will provide fresh white bed linen each week. Some students take a throw and cushions to make it more homely.
Daughter has a friend there who is an international student, and I’m sure they have extra storage facilities between terms. Some of the freshers rooms in old quad do have a floor to ceiling storage cupboard, door width, which is great to have. You just need to provide your own padlock for it. I’ll check with her on the extra storage for between terms, and report back….
In the meantime, just ask if you have any further questions.

This was her room in 1st year, which also had a sink. There are some en-suite rooms in old quad too, which tend to be given to internationals. Daughter was lucky enough to be allocated one in the room ballot at the end of Trinity term, as her 3rd year room for this new academic year. It faces east, but as the blinds aren’t great at providing proper privacy, she’s looking at putting up some sort of curtain. It will have to be very lightweight, if we can get a long enough telescopic rod. Failing that, there’s always paper and sticky tape!!
We provided the fan (her room faced west, so very sunny in the afternoon), and inflatable sofa/bed. She also took a clothes rail as the small wardrobe was half height and items hung from front to back, instead of left to right. There isn’t anywhere to eat own prepared/delivered food other than in your own room. The sofa was great, especially if you have mates round, otherwise it’s the floor, bed, armchair or desk chair.. One of the nearby staircases had a table and chairs, which they used for occasional socialising. Also, very few old quad staircases have a freezer (none in new quad for 2nd years).
Daughter has a white board, which she fixes to the wall using ‘command’ strips as they can easily be removed without damaging the walls at the end of each term, and ‘command’ hooks for her fairy lights.

Cannot get over St Catz doing their bed linen for them!This is a great description of everything one needs to know about rooms at St Catz Crafty!

Are the college bars know to be on the more affordable side, compared to the town pubs?

From Scotney Xx.
Wadham to quote the Alternative Prospectus 'don't have formal hall ever.'Privately the other reason son chose it!They do have special guest dinners twice a term where people tend to be more dressed up but no gowns are involved.This was a great disappointment for me but suited boy to a tee!