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Original poster

Downe House/Tudor Hall/Stowe/St Edwards or..?

40 replies

PeriPathetic · 04/06/2013 14:51

Need full boarding for DD from 13+
Still unsure whether to go SS or Co-Ed, so advice gratefully received there!
Any opinions on the 4 listed above? Or alternatives. Between Bucks & Hants. Not too far west or south east. Or north!
Needs to have good connections to Heathrow (overseas parents) and outstanding pastoral care.
Favourite subjects include languages, sciences & art/textiles. She's not massively sporty.
DD, DH & myself have our favourites - but none are the same as each other so would love to get some more info.
Thanks!

OP posts:
50shades1 · 04/06/2013 19:11

My dd joined Stowe in year 9 last September, it has surpassed our expectations and she has never been happier. She moved from a girls day school , in our experience, this was full of many undynamic old hags teaching, I'm sure not all girls schools are like this but I do think that in a co-ed school you may get get a more diverse range of teachers which I think is positive.
Stowe's pastoral support has been excellent. Academically , I know far more about her progress than I ever did at her girls school.
It is a busy, vibrant environment where she works hard, plays hard and also has tremendous fun, from discos to cinema trips etc.
Stowe is a breathtaking environment to live in. The girls boarding facilities are fantastic. As a parent I could not be happier with the choice of school that we have made for our dd .

diabolo · 04/06/2013 18:05

I know two families with children at Tudor Hall, both parents and daughters are very happy with the school.

Picturepuncture · 04/06/2013 18:03

The thing about boys at Tudor hall is that there are socials to be looked forward to, and boys in school plays, and boys to beat at MUN etc... So while they aren't there every day they are still a feature!

Have you visited?

happygardening · 04/06/2013 18:03

Bloxham is pretty third rate to be honest.

Original poster
PeriPathetic · 04/06/2013 17:58

Thank you again. Bloxham didn't have enough going on at weekends for our situation. Really needs to be full boarding.

I'll tell you our preferences:
DH likes Tudor Hall (no boys Wink )
DD wants Stowe (friends are going there)
I prefer St Edwards.

OP posts:
Picturepuncture · 04/06/2013 17:51

Prepared to be corrected on St. Edwards my knowledge is not as up to date as it could be on that one.

I agree Bloxham also a good option, but not as many full boarders?

DeafLeopard · 04/06/2013 17:12

Bloxham also very good for pastoral support.

happygardening · 04/06/2013 17:06

"Also excellent pastorally but more geared up for boys than girls so I'm told."
Not true at St Eds all are treated the same and pastoral care is legendary.
"Statistically girls achieve better results at SS."
I might be wrong but I think this only applies to state ed.
We've got one in SS and one in coed I personally wouldn't make this my number one priority look at other things first and if all things are equal then think about this.

Picturepuncture · 04/06/2013 16:30

Statistically girls achieve better results at SS.

Tudor hall is fantastic pastorally and is a really small, quirky, family atmosphere type place where she would get loads of individual attention.

It has an unusually high % of UK based (as in almost all of them) full boarders meaning culturally it is quite homogenous (although caters well for sporty or arty or academic girls).

St. Edwards I believe is a little more diverse, greater access to the city and as a result pupils a little more 'streetwise'. Also excellent pastorally but more geared up for boys than girls so I'm told.

I would go SS, but I'm quite biased!

PostBellumBugsy · 04/06/2013 16:25

Have only heard good things about St Edwards, but that is from friends with boys.

Original poster
PeriPathetic · 04/06/2013 16:17

No, she's not academic. But thanks for the suggestion.

OP posts:
Xpatmama88 · 04/06/2013 16:12

If your DD is academic, should also check out Wycombe Abbey.

Original poster
PeriPathetic · 04/06/2013 15:46

Helps a lot, thank you!
I'm visiting 3 out of the 4 in a couple of weeks so hoping get a feel for the places then.

Any thoughts on ss vs co-ed? I'm so undecided.

OP posts:
Picturepuncture · 04/06/2013 15:01

Wouldn't touch Downe House.

Stowe for the right child (by that I mean, male and sporty)

St Edwards, lovely CoED school.

Tudor Hall gorgeous school, and if you want full boarding, single sex, I don't think you'd do better anywhere.

Hth Grin

happygardening · 04/06/2013 14:59

St Edwards would be my choice all the way 80% full boarders not going home on Saturday either although it is quite sporty although I understand the art dept (?textiles) is very strong. I personally wouldn't touch Stowe with a barge pole I never hear good things about it and a friend could tell a complete horror story from sending her DC there.
Cant comment on the other two.