Good Non selective Independent schools in Salisbury?

[CoconutCream]

Does anyone know of any good, friendly, non selective independent schools in the Salisbury area? (For girls- Pref with junior and senior schools).

Somewhere creative, child centred and not too formal would be ideal. The school would also need to to be able to cater for mild SEN ( literacy difficulties).

Any ideas, please? :)

[Elk]

Most of the independent schools in Salisbury aren't selective at Primary level.
Leehurst Swan School goes up to 16, good reputation for dyslexic children.

[hmc]

Yes Leehurst Swan is CRESTED crested.org.uk/

[filee777]

Leehurst swan is a great school, as is Chafin Grove.

godolphin is wonderful for girls with dauntsy's on the outskirts of salisbury but very good for boys.

[JugglingChaotically]

Another vote for Godolphin

[Talkinpeace]

Godolphin

[Erebus]

Godolphin? Informal??!

Obviously changed considerably since I lived in Salisbury!

[Talkinpeace]

the only truly informal private DH and I could think of was Bedales .... nuff said
kids of friends who are there have found it pretty mellow till about year 4

[doradoo]

I went to Chafyn Grove - mid 80s - it was fab, had a really good time then - not too formal.

Of course was an age ago but would look seriously at it if needed for my DCs

[Erebus]

I'd heard that Chafyn Grove has, like most of the Salisbury 'preps', gone 11+ factory mad recently. Obviously I have no first hand experience, just what some friends who are 'in that system' tell me. It's a 'real' Prep as in 'goes to 13' but I have absolutely no idea whether the numbers fall right off in Y7 & 8 as so many have left for the GSs.

[JugglingChaotically]

Erebus.
Godolphin is v informal and girl focused. As I came from a v formal trad school I had to adjust but would highly recommend as just the right balance! Doesn't sweat the small stuff!

[Elliethinks]

I wouldn't say Chafyn has gone 11+ mad, they have always prepared for 11+ and Common Entrance at 13. Maybe more people in a recession try for the 11+ and most from Chafyn who try get in, they had 11 get in last year but still this year the Chafyn year 7 group has a good group of children, certainly still feels like a proper year group not a dwindling few! Aside from that I think it's a friendly school with a nice atmosphere and a good well rounded set of things to do, they're good academically but also do lots of art, drama, sport and music and they also have free learning support for those who need it.

[Erebus]

informal? Like the uniform of these girls dancing in a happy ring?!

Pinnies? Boaters. Ok-ay....

And you would kinda hope a girls' school was 'girl focused', wouldn't you?!

No, my experience of Godolphin was back in the 1970s where you certainly wouldn't have used the term 'informal' about it. They were in hot academic competition with the state girls' grammar and it was a high-pressure environment with a lot of anorexia.

[Talkinpeace]

erebus
when I looked at Godolphin in the 70's (for me) it was St Swithuns with bells on. Now its not.

[difficultpickle]

I know nothing about Godolphin but I do have to wonder about a school that has to tell its sixth form that pyjamas aren't an acceptable dress code

Sixth Form girls at Godolphin are not required to wear a uniform but there is a dress code for when they are at school. Girls are encouraged to dress comfortably and sensibly and the following are not allowed while attending classes:

Pyjamas
Frayed or torn clothing – including jeans
Clothes that are too revealing – short-short skirts, crop tops, see through materials, plunging necklines
Tracksuit bottoms
Leggings and jeggings
Flip flops

[teacherwith2kids]

Golly. Pinnies. Think I've now seen it all....

[difficultpickle]

Mind you if I'd been made to wear a pinny over my uniform I probably would want to wear pjs in the sixth form.

[Erebus]

[goinggetstough]

erebus did you notice that on your link just under the picture of the boaters it says " everyday the girls WERE a pinny over their uniform."
Great proof reading!

We have had friends whose DDs have had a great time at Godolphin and done well academically. They also liked wearing the pinnies and a few years ago I think the girls voted to keep them. We showed my DD the prospectus and she took one look at the pinnies and said " don't even think about it!"

[Erebus]

I was surprised to read that 'the pinny is a very important part of our tradition' or similar- the girls of 1975+ wore a fitted blue jacket and knee-length skirt, a rounded collared blouse and a cross over tie thing, I recall, liek an old-fashioned Brownie one, and a pudding basin boater, not a pinny!

The 'pinny' was drawn to my attention about 5 years ago when DH & I were in Waitrose (of course) in Salisbury and I espied a poor girl, with her parents, attired in a red pinny. Tall, gawky, gangly- so turns out she must've been a Y8, maybe (assuming they do proper 'Prep' as in to the end of Y8) as it looks like they wear red pinnies in 'juniors'. Looked like something out of Beatrix Potter!

[TeenAndTween]

Is HCS within driving distance? No idea whether it would be suitable.

[SatinSandals]

Dauntsey's isn't on the 'outskirts of Salisbury', it must be over 20 miles away!

[PervCat]

mate of mine had a kid with severe dyslexia - found all the schools pretty un friendly!