Actually quite disagree with Porridge - did you go to Oxford? or is it just what a mate has told you or what you picked up on here?
If you went to OATS then you have had a very different experience to all that I know. Okay we were on Integrated (Yes APP before anyone complains, makes no odds though). But we had a damn good laugh whilst going through the IR because as a course we knew each other. Most modular guys and the RAF guys mixed in well in the crew room, and if not flying most people seemed chatty or helped you out if needed - apart from the odd few people who just seemed to want to keep themselves to themselves.
As for changing instructors... well apart from one guy who requested a change, and a couple of people who's instructors went on holiday (including mine) you stayed with the same instructor throughout. Indeed when my instructor came back, it was straight back to him. Not a problem, unless you think instructors shouldn't have holiday. You will maximum be 4 to an instructor, mostly seemed to be 2 or 3 to an instructor - so your instructor gets to know you pretty well as they would at any school.
Yes there are a few instructors who are upset with conditions etc or want to move onwards and upwards, and at a smaller school you may fly with the guy that runs it so he would have no reasonto moan, but from My Experience all instructors at Oxford were very professional when training and gave good briefs etc, some to the point you wanted to get out of there more than the instructor!
33 Test routes - well I counted 15, had them all pre-prepared in my nav bag before my IRT. Sure there might be the odd new one that Mr Oddy or Mcleland think up, but anyway it is an IR - you should be able to fly whatever.... most of the time you get the route the night before, how are you going to cope if you all of sudden work for a corporate jet company/business man and get 1 hour to go somewhere you've never heard of before?
One thing to take into consideration is that Oxford is a regional test center - if you go to some smaller schools at none test center airfields then that is more time and money positioning ac for your irt, only to maybe cancel the test due to unsuitable wx. its more money when flying profiles as you waste the time transiting the ac, so take that cost into the equation when saying this place is xxx pounds cheaper per hour. Also it adds an extra element to already one of the most stressful days you will have in your life (although for me it was like an out of body experience, just happened before I realised - lucky me)
Priority list as stated works well, although I never made it into the top 20 as some people have been there forever. I did the whole 74 hours integrated (40hrs sim, 34 ac) in 8 weeks with a first time pass. per schedule. I only did this because I prepared for all my flights thoroughly, pushed to do 3 trips a day between me and my partner where possible and avoided flying the most popular shifts. Also had pretty good wx this summer, and when it was borderline (CB's around etc) I was still prepared to go.
at Oxford you are not just a number, all the senior flying staff and management know me (and most of the others) by face and name even having been out of their a couple of months. I had a thouroughly enjoyable time and although can't possibly advise on other trainings schools I have not been to, will happily sing oxfords praises. If you want further info then PM me.
BigAir