Independent schools for the quirky/odd/non-conformist/downright difficult!

Win Coll not only boycotts league tables it is as far as I know the only school to only offer the Pre U bar I think in two subjects DT and Biology. There is an interesting posting on the the education section of MM about the Pre U stating how much harder it is than A levels. This year over 51% got A* and they send an average of 47% to Oxbridge plus about 10% to the Ivy league. It may not be the top school but it is certainly jostling with a few others for the position. Obviously its exceedingly selective. And let's face it if you've seen their standard non scholarship entrance paper you can see why it does so well. Its true its equally impressive to take shall we say the less obviously capable and get them to do well
I would dispute the idea that £31000 guarantees fab facilities teachers pastoral care etc. sadly that only happens in the ideal world!

Also sorry assumed that by third tier you meant academically. But tbh these schools are so selective it would be very hard for them not to be highly achieving - I think the results that truely reflect on the schools come from non selectives.

Just saw another thread talking about the City of London Freemen's school and it looks musical.

King's Canterbury has a fantastic music department.

Sorry, I wasn't trying to pick a fight. I don't have any experiece of the likes of Eton and Winchester but I do believe that it is pretty hard to find a bad private school. But I think when picking a school to suit a child you need to take into account everything and the school your DC loves will always be the right choice.

If I have to pay top dollar and most of these schools cost the same then I may as well pay for the likes of Eton and Win Coll rather than a third tier school with third rate facilities that still charge the same fees

I really disagree with this comment. I think that any school charging similar fees to the so called 'first rate' schools then they will have similar facilities - don't dismiss schools you don't know just because of the name. I very much doubt that any school charging 30 grand a year could be classed as ''third rate''. Also academically Winchester and Eton are no where near the best academically in the country - neither appear in the BBC's top 200 GCSE results for 2010.

Sorry to be so critical but really don't think you should dismiss schools in such a way.

Just out of interest which schools were you classing as being ''third tier schools with third rate facilities''?

I think we have to accept that if colleger wants to be at a "known" school then its her decision.There are so many schools out there and we have to narrow the criteria somehow. As she knows (but probabaly cannot understand) and probably others know I wouldn't touch a school with a fussy unform with a barge pole but that just me. If you compromise on things that really matter to you personally then you are starting at a school that you are slightly uncomfortable with then as other niggles crop up and lets be realistic they will then you'll begin to feel increasingly uncomfortable and then its a slippery slope to gossiping grumbling and ultimately leaving. When your paying £31000 a year you want to at least start happy.
Having defended colleger I do think you should look at Gordonstoun if that is where your DS would really like to go. I believe they do or did pay your travelling/accomodation expenses so the worst case scenario is that you get a free weekend away. If you actually go and talk to people and listen to the new head and raise your concerns you might be pleasantly surprised. The only thing I do know is that despite the grand claims they make (or used to make I haven't looked recently) on their website re: bursaries you are unlikely to get a large bursary out of them. Two people we know applied and in both cases the school admitted that althugh they met the criteria they just didn't have enough money to give out large bursaries so beware!

Looks very impressive

As does this

Colleger:IMHO You do seem to judge schools on whether they are well known or not, more than whether they are suitable for your child.... You like the Harkness Method YET you refuse to consider WC because of Dr Seldon . I have to give him at least one credit; he is turning a school around. Yesterday I went to the Fire Works at WC, spoke to few young people and watched the interactions of the rest and I must say I liked what I heard and what I saw....i really don't mean to upset you.

There are a number of other schools(in UK and abroad) which operate on similar philosophy to Gordonstoun as part of the Round Square organisation

With any of the schools that you are considering I would seriously take a look around and get a feel for the places. Most schools have open days etc on weekends so that makes it a lot easier, especially as they are dotted around the country.

Did you take a look at Bootham OP?

RGS guildford, my son was here, he wasn't quirky but wasn't rugby playing lad-ish type and thrived. Know boys there who are more accentric and are accepted and valued and they come out of sixth form unique characters with the rest of the year group really acknoledging the different personalities and seeing each boys characteristics in a positive light.
It is very academic and hard to get a place, also a day school but traditional and very much a boys' education.

I would second Gordonstoun and the school would advise on help with fees.

I think the "always boozing or sniffing" comment does rather set a dismissive tone based on gossip. Yes, there are intermittent drug problems in schools, but they crop anywhere, unpredictably.

You seem to want a "known" school, easy to get into, but still academic. You also seem to have dismissed (unseen) Gordonstoun - the school your DS wants to go to.

His current troubles are likely to be down to the ethos and peer group in his current school, not necessarily the entry mechanisms. (The peer group - possibly the biggest influence - is the thing you cannot predict nor select upon). Finding a school he wants to go to, especially if boarding, is important. Dismissing schools on academic reputation isn't going to do anything for your DS; given the qualities you list in the title, I'd suggest you either follow his interests (at least looking at the schools with an open mind) in the hope he will flourish at his school (in any way, whether academic or not), or just enroll him in the local crammer to get the grades you appear to attach more attention to.

What about Bryanston?

Oundle?
I real mixed bunch of pupils go there from DS' prep.

Lynette, I think Bootham is non selective up to GCSEs and then for A level you'll need B's to get onto most of the courses. It's worth a check though.

Colleger: you seem to dismiss some schools and you don?t even comment on them, Leighton Park for example. You don?t come across very traditional from some of your posts!?

King's Canterbury has a brand new Headmaster and rumour is that there will now be a very strict line taken on the academic side. May not be true but I would also be concerned that an average child might end up 'bottom of the 4th' quartile all the time, which wouldn't be fun. Saying that, it is not fazed in the slightest by quirky types so would be good on that side.