Girls Boarding School for Sixth Form

[jadeyang66]

Hi. I'm looking for a suitable all-girls boarding school in the UK for my daughter for her A-Levels. We're from Malaysia, however, my daughter speaks English fluently and we use it as our first language. It would not be too hard for her to adapt to the academic system in the UK as she already studies the British syllabus at an international school here in Malaysia and will be taking her IGCSE's when she's in Year 11. I would say that she is academically inclined. She also enjoys singing, and plays piano and guitar but not to a high level. She is not a very sporty person although she swims and plays tennis. Her favourite subjects are mathematics and science. I also do not want to send her to a school that is too pressuring. Any thoughts or suggestions?

[EBee57]

Hi, it might be worth reposting this on secondary education to get more responses. The UK has so many choices that it's quite hard to know where to start. Are you looking for a school that's not too far from a main airport, with a religious foundation, with a tradition of welcoming overseas girls?

My experience is with St Teresa's Effingham, Surrey. It seems to fit many of your requirements - good academic experience for girls who want to work, lots of singing - annual choir trips in Europe, instrumental tuition, great pool and loads of tennis courts. The new Head is putting a lot of time into improving facilities, teaching and opportunities for girls. But it is one of many good schools just in Surrey, we are well served for girls schools and I'm sure you will get lots of other suggestions - St Catherines, Woldingham, The Royal are just 3 others that spring tomind in Surrey alone. Good luck!

[Needmoresleep]

St Leonards Mayfield in Sussex?

A good mix and a reputation for nurturing quieter girls.

[Dustylaw]

Have a look at Roedean. Lots of opportunities and good results without being too pressured. Nice house for sixth formers. Lots of international girls as well as local so it doesn't shut down at weekends (which is something to be wary of). Tennis courts and indoor swimming pool. The website will probably give you enough for you to know if it is of interest to you. NB The very good head is leaving this summer (for a super-plum job in Switzerland so understandable) but will be replaced by a head with excellent track record so I'd see that as a change with potential rather than anything to worry about.

[jadeyang66]

EBee57 It would be better if it was a school which welcomed overseas girls so DD will be able to fit in better not too far from a main airport would be great as well! any views on Roedean, Headington or CLC?

[jadeyang66]

Dustylaw I was just having a look at the school's website and posted my previous post right before I saw yours. Sounds like a great option. Thanks for the advice! Any views on CLC or Downe House?

[grovel]

St Mary's Ascot? A very good academic school near Heathrow.

[jadeyang66]

Does anyone have views on Badminton? Would love to have some input.

[jadeyang66]

Also, are there any other schools you would recommend that have not bee mentioned yet?

[jadeyang66]

I am also looking for a school where the boarding houses are in the school's compound. I've heard that CLC's isn't? How about Roedean and Downe House?

[PestoSwimissimos]

Have a look at Roedean

here

I live nearby and my friend's daughter goes there. It's in a fantastic setting and we're only half an hour drive from Gatwick Airport.

[jadeyang66]

PestoSwimissimos Yes, DD and I are quite interested on Roedean Thanks for the advice! Are they quite internationally integrated? Also, any views on the new head?

[heronsfly]

Have a look into Benenden School in Kent, very popular with 6th form girls.

[PestoSwimissimos]

I think there are quite a high percentage of Roedean from overseas. My friend lives locally, but they are an Indian family. Sorry I will have to quiz her, but I think they are very happy with the school. Her son goes to nearby Brighton College.

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[PestoSwimissimos]

pupuls

[PestoSwimissimos]

pupils

[notcitrus]

Consider Roedean. The boarding houses have just been done up, there are many international pupils from all over (probably over half the boarders, and the school is nearly half boarding still). All the buildings are on one site, mostly connected to each other, as opposed to CheltenhamLC where some of the boarding houses are 15 min walk from the central school.

The new head was considered a good thing last year - he comes from Henrietta Barnett so should have a clue about leadership.

[Mutteroo]

Another Roedean advocate. Head of sixth form is a marvelous lady who, in my humble old opinion, does a fantastic job. Boarding facilities are top notch with the upper sixth having their own house. Yes there is a high proportion of overseas pupils, but this never bothered us or DD & most of her friends were boarders from the UK & much further afield. You'll also find you get more overseas pupils & more boarders the higher up the school you go. DD was often at school during the weekend which shows how good the weekend program was/is!

DD is quite sporty & musical & the school really suited her. She's also dyslexic & we found the learning support staff were extremely good. We were not too keen on the outgoing Headteacher, although she did a fair job with the merger of Roedean & St Mary's Hall, (another local girls school). New HT looks impressive.

Roedean is highly recommended by this happy mum. Good luck with your search jadeyang66

[nennypops]

Strongly recommend St George's, Ascot. Very convenient for Heathrow, seems to meet your requirements very well.

[Tmac1]

It will take the new head a long time to get the good reputation of Roedean back.I would look elsewhere.

[Blondie1984]

Brentwood School or Oundle

[pixelchick10]

What about St Swithuns in Winchester?

[nettlefairy]

Mutteroo - really good to hear that Roedean is good for girls with dyslexia as my dd has recently been diagnosed and, having always had Roedean in mind as first choice was concerned whether/how this might affect her suitability.

[TillySwat]

Badminton is a very impressive school that has first rate facilities and expects girls to work and play hard. Growing number of overseas students, especially from Hong Kong. Definitely worth a look.

[soapnuts]

I went to badminton (a few moons ago!) and my sister was there more recently. We both loved it. It has excellent academics but also a really lovely atmosphere. I went to a lot if schools (expat family) and this was completely the best. I felt like virtually my whole class was a friend and still keep in touch with many of them. I'm not sure if its still like it but there were many Malaysians in the sixth form when I was there. Would thoroughly recommend.

[mariK7]

Hi, are you still looking for recommendations?

I did a huge search over 2 years of my daughters (we live abroad) to find a girls school that was like you say. I would highly recommend Benenden School, in Kent like heronsfly suggested. If you want a traditional British girls boarding school it is the only one I found that fitted this description.

Reasons: it is the only all-girls school I found that is 100% boarding - they could keep this because they have such a high waiting list (other schools have had to take on day girls or go co-ed in 6th form or take in significant numbers of overseas students). They do not advertise as they are known by word of mouth.

Other thing I looked for since I am sending my girls all the way to the UK I didn't want an international school (otherwise I could keep them here) so Rodean has a very high percentage of girls from Hong Kong and Cheltenham from Arabic countries (we have roots in both those places so I wanted a more local UK atmosphere). In Benenden they limit overseas students to 20%: 10% UK citizens who are expats, and 10% foreign students. For me this was the reason I sent my daughters to UK, otherwise, like I said, they could go to an international school, like they did for prep school. Very importantly too: as it is 100% boarding, the girls have very well organized weekends which when I look round no other girls school has as varied and interesting. It is sad when half the school leaves on the weekend for the girls whose parent are far way.

BUT be warned - places are so over subscribed that you must put your daughter's name down as soon as possible unless she is entering for a scholarship. In the past it is known that there have been 4 applications to one place; Another thing - although it is difficult to get in because they can choose the best of many candidates but once a girl is in it is not at all pushy on the academic side at all. It is more encouraging in everything. The music is brilliant, theatre too, art and sports good too. It is also rare to find a girls school which is such brilliant facilities - like boys public schools. Their science centre is one of the best in the country.

I urge you to visit it. The whole of Benenden School is on a campus with 200 acres of land in Kent (which is something fantastic). There is a lake, eco-classroom. The sixth form buildings are great. Many tennis courts, indoor swimming pool, gym, squash courts, etc. In latest Ofsted Report it scored excellent in every single category.