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Education

Boarding schools for rowing mad DS?

92 replies

upatdawn · 02/10/2011 14:16

Our DS is in year 11 and is absolutely rowing mad! He currently goes to a school nearby which goes up to 16 and rows at the local club. We are thinking about options for 6th form now and he desperately wants to go to a boarding school where he can concentrate fully on rowing as well as maintaining the grades he wants. Does anyone know of any schools which fit our criteria and offer sports scholarships?

TIA

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LeoTheLateBloomer · 02/10/2011 14:17

Radley in Oxfordshire. I'm biased for various reasons but they're very good at rowing and it's academic as well.

LeoTheLateBloomer · 02/10/2011 14:19

Link if you're interested.

ThePosieParker · 02/10/2011 14:24

Did you know there are 38 state boarding schools?

eaglewings · 02/10/2011 14:25

Another vote for Radley, or some of the others on the Thames

upatdawn · 02/10/2011 14:27

Would definitely be interested at state boarding options as well - what are the entrance criteria for those?

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FIFIBEBE · 02/10/2011 14:27

St Paul's, Westminster.

upatdawn · 02/10/2011 14:28

Also had a quick look on the Radley website - it looks very religious. Is that a big part of school life there?

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dairymoo · 02/10/2011 14:29

My DH (who was also rowing mad) went to Tiffin Boys, no boarding but great school academically and worth considering if you live in the SE.

LeoTheLateBloomer · 02/10/2011 14:33

They have a chapel, but then lots of boarding schools do (at least the ones I know do). I know plenty of non-religious people who have been there. It's just one of those parts of school life that they accepted but didn't necessarily believe in. I don't think it has to be a big deal.

ThePosieParker · 02/10/2011 14:37

No idea, heard someone talking about it on the radio. You only pay for the board, between £5k and £9k per year.

RandomMess · 02/10/2011 14:37

You don't nec need a scholarship (which may just be a small percentage off fees) you need to ask about bursaries which means that they fund some or all of the costs.

I think I have that the correct way around!

They are 2 different things anyway only the "poor" are eligible for bursaries whereas anyone can get a scholarship.

upatdawn · 02/10/2011 14:39

Very much doubt we would be eligable for a bursary but I am liking the sound of the state boarding

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ThePosieParker · 02/10/2011 14:40

hope this helps

empirestateofmind · 02/10/2011 14:43

A vote for Bedford School. Not sure about the scholarship situation but Bedford is very academic and has a lovely site.

The town of Bedford has produced plenty of top rowers as it has lots of good school clubs plus other clubs including Star Club. The river Great Ouse is superb.

Eton is also good for rowing- but much harder to get into I suspect.

upatdawn · 02/10/2011 14:57

Thanks Posie, that was really helpful - will search some of those schools later with DS

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HandDivedScallopsrgreat · 02/10/2011 15:02

Pangbourne (v. military )
Shiplake College
Hampton
Kings School Canterbury
Shrewsbury
Winchester College
Westminster
Abingdon
(as well as Latymers and St Pauls already mentioned)
to name but a few.

Of course you could go down a different route and if he is pretty good at rowing (or at least has good potential) go for Leander Club. That would depend where you live though as obviously they don't provide education but they do provide a big focus on rowing.

AnyoneButLulu · 02/10/2011 15:09

Do look into the bursary situation carefully with any likely looking school, because the level of "hardship" which warrants a partial bursary may be what most of the country would consider undreamt-of wealth.

upatdawn · 02/10/2011 15:22

Sadly we aren't in the SE as there are lots of state grammars and comps which are very successful there. It also rules out some very competitive clubs on the Thames as well. DS has asked us many times whether we have ever considered moving to Henley-on-Thames!

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upatdawn · 02/10/2011 15:22

which have very successful rowing clubs there

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RandomMess · 02/10/2011 15:35

There are lots of decent rowing clubs along the Thames, just come move down here (and have a hefty mortgage )

Silence · 02/10/2011 15:37

Millfield in Street Somerset.
Best in the country for spirt

Silence · 02/10/2011 15:39

Just seen no one has suggested Millfield.weird as has an amazing reputation for nurturing olympians

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ThePosieParker · 02/10/2011 15:41

I grew up where Millfield is too. Although most of the students were arseholes.

upatdawn · 02/10/2011 15:45

Just went on the Millfield website - v sporty but don't seem to mention rowing

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Silence · 02/10/2011 15:48

Millfield has a reputation for arsey students but this is a bit of a myth, especially among the local population sadly. There is a bit of a them and usngoing on which is very sad. They do do rowing, and if they didn.t they would bring someone in. Usually a top coach.

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