Mumsnet Talk

where she can hopefully weekly board. And where we can get her in at fairly short notice (I am looking at this September) and which isn't super selective, as she is bright enough but not stellar. Either single sex or mixed, not fussed, though suspect she might prefer mixed. Haileybury? Roedean? Queenswood?

Queenswood very tennis and academic I think <might be wrong>

Haileybury good reputation I think.

Mill Hill? <not out of London, but parkland and does weekly boarding now>

St Edward's in Oxford is co-ed but not sure whether they would have space. Definitely not super selective but has very good reputation.

Queen Anne's in Caversham is single sex but I don't know anything about it personally.

Opps just remembered Mill Hill is 13 plus, when's her birthday.

St Margaret's in Bushey. Single sex

St Georges in harpenden
It's not actually private

Are you looking for a place for yr 8 or 9? St Edwards starts at yr 9 and is full boarding. Cranleigh definitely primarily weekly boarding senior starts at Yr 9 but there is a prep which might offer boarding.
Within an hour of London also depends on which part of London you live in. Felstead? A friend used to teach there he was a good teacher and a thoroughly decent caring person his children went there and they did well. Lancing again starts yr 9 primarily weekly boarders high church (I couldn't cope with that) we know a couple there they're happy. Sutton Valance? Friends there are very pleased has a small number boarding between yrs 6-8.
Don't know if any if these have vacencies.

Priors Field in Godalming is a lovely boarding and day school, it often has short notice mid year boarding spaces due to having exchange students from australia parts of the year. Not hugely selective intake but lovely, happy girls and good results, excellent extra support/gifted and talented. Great facilities (new building going up at the moment) and lots of extra curricular.
Sorry this sounds like a big sales pitch- don't even have a DD there just have a friend who teaches there and raves about how well run the school is.

Queenswood is glorious. You'd have to ask very nicely - I think the offers for September are either on their way or already out.

Roedean does a lot of flexible boarding now.
Sevenoaks? St Catherine's in Bramley?

Sevenoaks is very over subscribed. But havi g said that with regard to vacencies even at the most over subscribed vacancies do arise. Children start and for a whole variety of reasons leave within a couple of terms and infact there will even be children who don't start dropping out at the last minute so if there's a school you particularly like it's definitely worth talking to the admission office especially if you're prepared to move at the last minute.

I would recommend both Queenswood and Roedean - that is, I don't think you could go wrong choosing either. Roedean has established a weekly boarding programme with Friday and Sunday evening escorted train pickups/drop offs at Victoria station so v. convenient for London parents. Queenswood doesn't have weekly programme as such but in practice I think a lot do weekly boarding. Haileybury also a nice school but don't know if they do pick ups or drop offs to facilitate weekly arrangements. Note also that Haileybury has Saturday morning school from Year 9. All well worth trying for September entry. Good luck.

Woldingham may be another to add to your list. It is a catholic girls school with lots of weekly boarders.

Aldenham might be worth a look. It's probably about 2/3 boys and only 1/3 girls but it's small with a friendly feel. They're also (I think) keen to recruit more girls so even though the September offers for 11+ and 13+ have just gone out they might be happy to squeeze another girl in.

Oh you are all really helpful! Thank you so much!! Our real problem is that we are looking at a place for 12+ so not usual timing. I think the discipline of weekly boarding would be good for her - she is bright but not terribly focused. She is very, very arty and has been able to do lots of stuff at her American school, such as video production, claymation, animation etc, but I think she needs a bit of academic rigour now, as well.

How about worth?

St Johns Leatherhead is from Year 9, Hurstpierpoint, Christ Hospital, Brighton College, Ardingly ?

Entry to year 8 could be to your advantage since you've missed the usual 11+ and 13+ cut off points. Definitely call the schools you are interested in asap. Don't bother with Christ's Hospital because they do not do weekly boarding - it is very much done on a fixed exeat every 3 weeks. Also, to make weekly boarding really work, it's in your interests to see they are set up for it in terms of logistics eg station pick ups and drop offs.

Lancing
Benenden

The Royal Masonic School (RMS) in Rickmansworth Herts.
They have weekly boarders, I know several very Arty girls who go there.

Kent College Pembury

How about Cobham Hall

Have you thought of Frensham Heights in Farnham? Good academically and really good in performing arts. Lovely sports fields. Nice buildings, open fields, lovely atmosphere.

Try St George's, Ascot. Nice school, good academically, very pleasant atmosphere, good facilities.

We have been looking at a tiny school for girls in Oxford (Wychwood) which has a lovely art department.