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Original poster

Looking at boarding DS for Yr 8 Surrey/W Sussex/Hampshire

32 replies

JammyCow · 08/04/2011 13:19

Hi I am looking at moving my DS to board in Year 8. He is academically very capable but prone to laziness and not very keen on sport. He likes art and drama but is not massively into either. We feel he needs a more inclusive, boarding environment where academics are important but not at the expensive of having well rounded happy children who want to be a part of the school community. We have seen Epsom, Cranleigh and Charterhouse and they are not for us.

Does anyone have any experience (both good and bad) of Christs Hospital or Hurst Pierpoint?
Can anyone suggest another school we could go and see?

OP posts:
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BoffinMum · 15/04/2011 21:51

I'd have a little sniff around Bedales, actually (i.e. the prep part of it, Dunhurst, if it's Y8 you're thinking of). Very well rounded school now - good at most things and a nice mix of kids. Good academics.

cupnoodle · 15/04/2011 20:15

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CarGirl · 15/04/2011 20:10

I think CH do know what they are looking for in the children they offer places to. I have been very pleased/impressed with the pastoral care they have given. The academic standard is high though and quite competitive but lots of good facilities for sports/music/scouts/CCF/drama and other stuff.

The old CH girls school was truly utterly awful by all accounts but the CH today is a far cry from that.

However do not be niaive (sp?) it can all depend on how good a housemaster your child gets - some are better than others.

bluesky · 15/04/2011 20:04

Bedales would be worth a look

pinkhebe · 15/04/2011 19:16

my son is about to start CH in sept (yr7). Although you may have missed out on the foundationer (means tested) places, there may be some Direct places available in year 8. What have admissions said?

MABS · 15/04/2011 19:11

Hurst is fab, both kids there,BUT just stopped boarding facility in prep school so only from year 9. No boarding at Lancing or Brighton in year 8, only from 9. Ardingly has prep boarding i am pretty sure.

Punkatheart · 15/04/2011 19:01

Tell me when you visit Leighton. I am very happy to answer any questions about it or even meet for a chat. We live nearby. My daughter has been turned round from an angry sulky child into a girl who is happy and really motivated.....

Original poster
JammyCow · 14/04/2011 14:33

Thanks for all the great responses everyone. Had a look at Frensham Lovely school, but felt DS would probably do no work at all there. Liked Reeds but a bit too close to home to have the boarding experience (DS now really wants the full away from home thing :-( Brighton and Lancing are 13+ both are amazing but we would have to wait at our current school until end of yr 8 which isn't ideal. Going to see Worth and Leighton Park over next few weeks and still very keen on CH (fingers crossed they like DS). The whole experience has been such a roller coaster, you do all that schlepping around schools in yr4 and 5, think you've picked the right one, crack open the champagne when they ace the entrance exam, only to find it's going tits up by Easter and you are back looking at schools again !!!!!

OP posts:
propatria · 14/04/2011 14:13

Rather,that sounds about right,one of my godsons went there(but not for long..),The op stated her son was academically very capable,some of the suggestions made hardly fit that bill.

LIZS · 14/04/2011 13:35

Lancing College or Brighton College?

RatherBeOnThePiste · 14/04/2011 13:34

A friends two DC were at frensham heights, they had a lovely time, but didn't really do anything, poor qualifications at the end. But they liked it there!

propatria · 14/04/2011 11:24

Farnham heights? Do you mean Frensham Heights ?
Yep if you like Frensham ,you"ll like Bedales...

Happymum22 · 14/04/2011 00:15

Heard fab things about chrsits hospital- all those there seem extremely proud of the school and fit in and find friends easily. Good mix of people from all backgrounds. Really 'unique' atomosphere. wanted DD to go there but didnt get in we live miles away :(

menagerie · 13/04/2011 22:55

I was going to suggest Reeds too. I know several day boys from the school and they are all happy there.

applesandcider · 13/04/2011 22:44

I looked at Farnham Heights for one of my DC - is that too far for you? We didn't go for it in the end as it was just to far away from us for exeats, but I was hugely impressed by the school. It had a great feel, very chilled and relaxed, and the emphasis was certainly on roundedness (is that word? or did I make it up!!!) rather than educational excellence.

Otherwise, if you have no problem with distance, what about Bedales?

smallwhitecat · 12/04/2011 21:46

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Punkatheart · 12/04/2011 21:43

I can second a vote for Leighton Park. My daughter is there and they have the ability of bringing so much out of each child, treating them with compassion and interest - as individuals.....

HalleluiaScot · 12/04/2011 19:37

I would also recommend that you look at Reeds.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 12/04/2011 19:26

Neighbour's sons at Reeds, they have been very happy there, one now at Uni other in Year 11

Pippaandpolly · 12/04/2011 12:17

I have only ever heard good things about Christ's Hospital - from teachers and men who used to go there. (Admittedly they're all adults now - I don't know anyone who's gone in the last ten years.) I went to Cranleigh and hated it. (It's a good school - I was just too introverted and bookish to enjoy the rugby/flirting!)

mumoverseas · 11/04/2011 14:49

DS attends Hurstpierpoint as a full boarder and is very happy there. He is the least sporty boy you will ever meet, his cricket report from his prep school once read 'sonoverseas has progressed from making daisy chains to standing in an upright position whilst fielding, great progress'.

Although it is a very sporty school, as another poster has said, there is a level for everyone and he was not forced to do sport he didn't want to do.

DD attends Royal Alexandra and Albert school in Reigate, a state boarding school. This is also a very good school although is VERY sporty. She also loves it there.

I would have no hesitation in recommending either of these schools.

Colleger · 09/04/2011 23:53

I would avoid CH, and that aside it is not a school that a parent can just decide to send a child to as CH picks the child.

How are the schools mentioned "not for us"? What do you mean by that?

Abingdon may fit your criteria.

DazR · 09/04/2011 19:51

Both daughters went to Hurstpierpoint (in the Prep school) and had a really great time. Good pastoral care and very much a 'family feel' school. They were day pupils but there were a number of boarders - weekly, full time and occasional. It is sporty (participation is encouraged but there is a level for everyone) it also has good music facilities and is very strong on drama. Academically it was excellent with some really good teachers who had great enthusiasm for their subjects.

Giselle99 · 09/04/2011 19:31

Have you considered Reed's, or City of London Freemen's? The latter is mainly day but may be worth a visit.

missmiss · 08/04/2011 14:47

Lord Wandsworth is a DREADFUL school. Full of thick rugger buggers; very bad bullying problem.

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