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Original poster

DS not enjoying school and am thinking of moving him, where to though?

67 replies

PutThatCatOutNow · 26/01/2012 18:37

DS is currently at the local school and is really not enjoying himself. He's in year seven at the moment so we were wondering, do you know of any boarding schools with good pastoral care which are likely to have an intake at year 8? Our local private school is Yarm School so that is also a possibility. We're considering full boarding as well so could go to most areas in the country as long as they are on a good train route. He's musial and is into drama so we want to take that into consideration, too.

OP posts:
Downnotout · 29/01/2012 20:55

It is not a highly selective academic school. It has a real mix of abilities. They focus on the child reaching their potential.

Just thought it ticked all the boxes re what you stated you were looking for. It is still about a 70%\30% mix co-ed with the boys being predominant.

Their ethos is very good. Worth a look I would think.

Original poster
PutThatCatOutNow · 29/01/2012 20:36

Giggleswick is an option although their results are very poor (in fact worse than DS's state comp), do you know the reason for this?

OP posts:
Downnotout · 29/01/2012 20:32

Could I also throw Giggleswick into the mix. Plenty of full boarders. Great music and drama departments and very good pastorally.

Loshad · 29/01/2012 20:18

agree with above few posters re schools,
avoid Sedburgh at all costs if your ds is a bit sensitive/has been bullied.
I don't get the impression that Yarm is an exam factory but could be wrong about that. Barney, St Petes, Bootham and Cundall Manor all good options. Only knowledge of Ampleforth is from my own generation and that wouldn't be a recommendation!

MuddlingThroughItAll · 29/01/2012 19:38

Cundall Manor could be another option. You can weekly board but not fully board and it is near Thirsk so is close to you (I assume!). It's just opened an upper school too so now goes up to 16.

Original poster
PutThatCatOutNow · 29/01/2012 19:22

Thanks again for all of the messages. On our list to look around is Ampleforth, THS, Red House and Bootham. Any knowledge of the schools would be greatfully recieved.

OP posts:
TheHappyCamper · 29/01/2012 19:02

PTCON - I have PM'd you x

Harmims · 29/01/2012 18:36

Stoneyhurst also good IMO. Have lots of friends with kids there.

cottonmouth · 29/01/2012 18:35

If you are considering Edinburgh, then think about Loretto School. It is just east of Edinburgh, is all-age (so has a Y8), and almost full boarding (but flexible). It really is one of those schools that ticks all the boxes.

Harmims · 29/01/2012 18:35

THS would be worth an hour or two of your time (IMHO) to take a look around WRT to your DS.

I have several friends who have actually moved their DD's AWAY from THS as (apparently) it can be quite bitchy for girls (it's a predominantly girl school) but for the more sensitive boy, I think it could actually be a possibility.

I have a similar DS myself (albeit younger than yours).

What about Ampleforth? They are very highly rated for pastoral care?

Jajas · 29/01/2012 18:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
PutThatCatOutNow · 29/01/2012 18:25

We're currently trying to get the school to put DS in another form, Seeker, but they are being very uncooperative :( My main worry is that the school have a very weak anti bullying policy and any future incidents won't be treated well either. Jajas, I don't see what other options we have tbh.
Harmims, we've looked around Teesside High and Red House but weren't massively impressed with either. This was with DD however, so it's worth a look with DS.
Thanks for all of your messages, they're really appreciated.

OP posts:
Harmims · 29/01/2012 18:21

Have you considered Teeside High? I appreciate it's not boarding, but if Yarm school is 'close' then so is Teeside high.

I looked around it for my DS and loved it there.

I also looked around Barnard Castle, wasn't impressed to be honest. Was a bit shabby IMHO

Jajas · 29/01/2012 18:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

seeker · 29/01/2012 18:08

Would it be worth having another go qt getting his current school to tackle it? Even if he is going to move, it would be good if he left from a position os strength, if you see what I mean, rather than feeling he's been driven to it. What have yountried to get the school to address the situation?

MigratingCoconuts · 29/01/2012 18:03

I agree, it isn't.

But seeker does raise interesting points. People I know who went to boarding school either loved it or hated it and bullying seemed to be the main reason.

Bullying is everywhere and its how a school deals with it that matters most.

Very close to the top of your check list, I would guess!

Original poster
PutThatCatOutNow · 29/01/2012 17:48

This isn't an independent vs state thing, if there was another state school in the area then we would look into it, but there aren't any with places. I don't know that he wouldn't get bullied and I like to think that if he was at boarding school and was being bullied he would call me straight away.
I think we're going to have a look at Barnard Castle and maybe the York schools. Does anyone know anything about them?

OP posts:
seeker · 29/01/2012 17:45

And how you would know if he was being bullied if he was boarding?

seeker · 29/01/2012 17:44

Can I just ask why you are so sure he won't be bullied at an independent school?

VivaLeBeaver · 29/01/2012 17:37

I know someone who has kids at St Peters in York and they love it.

MigratingCoconuts · 29/01/2012 17:33

I would agree with the idea of a school that would be as flexible as possible so that, if he needed the security of home, you can provide it and that he can be at homw at weekends if he wanted to.

sue52 · 29/01/2012 14:12

I understand why you think moving him is the best option, however as he is staying in the house so much, would moving him to a boarding school be the best option? It sounds to me as though he needs the reassurance of his home at the moment. Is there a school near you which offers occasional boarding so he can test the water before committing to full boarding? .

Original poster
PutThatCatOutNow · 29/01/2012 14:09

He's at the state comp, although it is very highly achieving and tbh doesn't exactly have a mixed catchment. We do have a private school nearby (Yarm School) but it is very much an academic factory without much in the way of pastoral care. It does have excellent new facilities though and gets great results. Our DS has always expressed an interest in boarding and we origionally said he could board in 6th form if he still wanted to. However he desperately wants to change schools and is still showing an interest in boarding.

OP posts:
upatdawn · 29/01/2012 14:05

From where you are, I would suggest one of the schools in or around York. That would include Ampleforth, St Peter's, Bootham and Ackworth at a push. In your area there's also Barnard Castle. I don't think any of these schools have a particularly established full boarding community but they are close enough to be able to weekly board. St Peter's does start at 13 but they have a prep school which usually has places in most year groups. None are academic hothouses (although the most so would be St Peter's) and have lots going on in music and drama.

MigratingCoconuts · 29/01/2012 14:03

I'm a bit puzzled and just want to clarify really. He is at a state comp now? You want to move him into a private boarding environment? Why isn't a day private school an option? Is it beacuse you don't have much choice around you?

I freely admit I know only a little about boarding school but it seems to me a bit of a risk to choose a place where he'll be away from you when his confidence has been so shaken.