Wycombe Abbey vs co-ed boarding

Bit late to this OP, just wanted to add two points which I don't think have been covered previously-Daughter is at WA, it is an exceptional school with incredibly hard working staff. Firstly that one of the things we really like is that the girls are not pitted against each other academically. No class positions, rankings, etc. Each girl's grades are tracked for effort and attainment,but only ourselves and DD get that info. Has worked brilliantly for my bright but by no means stellar girl. Secondly, I think it is much harder to get in at 13 than 11. Our DD went at 13 and of about 30 only a handful got in via CE, everyone else sat the academic scholarship. Our prep school were told not to send her for the WA assessment day if she was borderline as v oversubscribed, so listen to your prep school's advice. Hope all that helps with your decision OP, and best wishes to you and your DD. Pm me if I can help further.

Laxmama instead if moving your DD just for 2 years to another prep school I would follow her inclination (if she still prefers WA or another girls' school) and move her at 11. Nothing wrong with her choosing to look around for sixth form if at that time she wants to change. Alternatively she could always transfer from WA or CLC at 13 to a coed school if it did n't work out (unlikely).

Very best of luck laxmama with whatever you decide. Happy to answer by pm if you have any queries further down the line.

Sorry - just read the full post. I see you are already considering moving to another prep school for 11-13.

This is exactly why we encourage the girls at prep school to stay on until 13 rather than leave at 11. Is that a possibility? We find that girls who go onto secondary school at 11 are much more likely to leave for 6th form, so that aspect doesn't surprise me at all. It also gives you longer to discover what you really want.

Actually Honesty this is not off track for the OP as she is questioning staying 7 years in the same all girl environment.
I have no doubt that the overseas applicants who get in are impressive and that an international mix is a positive. However there are many UK girls who consider and do move at sixth form. That includes those who seek boarding as a new environment (and whose parents can pay for it). The fact that there was no UK intake (at least last year) means that either they are outperformed by the sixth form overseas applicants to WA or they prefer co ed including Westminster or I suppose perhaps a different girls' sixth form.

The overseas girls prepare for a long time for their applications to uk sixth forms and choose carefully with regard to uk/USA uni application preparation. They are phenomenal. Our DD and we chose WAS because we love that it's an international mix.
It's quite a tough call to move school at sixth form for uk pupils, let alone into boarding.
Sorry OP think this has gone off track. Good luck with your choice.

Honestyisbest you say there is huge demand for the WA sixth form but I've heard that for the most recent entrants all were from overseas. Of course that may reflect that none of the british girls applying were sufficiently academically able. However it might suggest that the WA sixth form is n't a popular choice for bright British girls compared to other co-ed boarding or day alternatives.

My dd is at WAS. It's an exceptional school. Given the loooong holidays no danger of being too out of touch! Joking aside both my DS and DD are thriving in single sex schools. Re leavers before sixth form, lots of girls look around, mainly at London day schools, most end up staying in the end, but quite like trying the various entrance tests. Some leave for academic reasons, others maybe want day schools and some co-ed, also financially it's a drain compared to day school fees. Huge demand from outside to get into sixth form as careers advice etc UCAS/USA admissions is excellent and they get to live like uni students in Clarence. So not a problem. My DD says she wants to stay right through so we will remain skint.

I think the only thing you can do is try and see both girls's schools and co-ed schools with an open mind and it is worth the slog of going to see quite a few. There are pros and cons to each but you will certainly both have a better idea at the end of the process about which schools you think will be a good fit and which wouldn't. Without wanting to be inscrutable I think you might well find that although girls' or co-ed is a defining feature of a particular school it is only one element of whether you think it is the right school.

Posted too soon!

Keeping up male friendships from prep is also good. Boys heading to all boys schools will be facing the same issue too!

Finally just wanted to say not to rule out coed. For a 9 year old, I suspect any cosy senior school girls boarding house will look desirable at a coed or single sex.

I moved from all girls boarding to coed for sixth form. Wasn't really to do with the boys, more just a feeling that I had outgrown my school and fancied a new challenge! So unless the sixth form of a school is dramatically smaller, I wouldn't worry about movement for sixth form from girls schools. I know I would have had a wonderful time if I had stayed. A school that suits at 11 or 13 won't necessarily suit at 16. I think it's important to reevaluate education choices, rather than thinking jobs done all the way to 18!

Boy madness will always strike some girls more than others. Getting involved in drama and other opportunities beyond socials are really great for building great friendships with boys. so is keep

Both my DDs went to all girls boarding schools and they certainly are socially well adjusted! Just because they were at school with girls it absolutely does not mean they did not socialise with boys! They met up at parties, at friends' houses and in the holidays. There is such a thing as a life outside school!

I think in both coed and girls only schools it is a bit the luck of the draw what types of pressures a particular peer group brings. Girls' schools perhaps need to guard more against the introspective intensity and loss of perspective engendered by certain girl cliques and manipulative personalities, particularly when in a boarding environment
I think coed is good in younger years for that normality of boys and girls growing up together but perhaps 13 to 16 is the best time for single sex education.
TBH I would try and choose the best school whether coed or single sex and that would include trying to find out whether the children there can relax with their peers or have more than the average teenage angst about fitting in and issues with the opposite sex.

I'm all for single sex education, went to one too! Not just they can concentrate on the academic side of things and don't have to put up emotional pressure. Both my two went to single sex boarding school from a co-ed international school. My son was pressured to claim a girlfriend from age 11. I think it was silly, but that what that school was like.

Anyway, DD went to Wycombe Abbey, loved it, had a wonderful time, she did exceptionally well and same as most of her friends, and she is now in her 5th year in Medical School. WA is very academic, and for the right girls they will thrive. She has a big friendship group and they all keep it touch. They had socials with RGS, Eton, Harrow etc, and do have access to the outside world. My DD did community services with the local hospital. They also can go into town to shop, or cinema during weekend, but they are normally too busy with all the sport or other activities.

Girls move on in sixth form could be either they did not get all the necessary results to stay or decided to try out the co-ed, Westminster is one of the popular one to move to, or may be financial reason.

I think the all-alpha-female environment had helped my DD to gain a lot of confident in herself, especially in the all so male dominant work industry.

Ah... (I don't have brothers) Two things:

Firstly, I'd say that, absent the boy issue, it's wonderful being in an all girl environment for learning purposes - particularly if all sorts of talents are valued and encouraged (I loved Anthony Little emphasising "valuing difference" in the CBBC programme...)

Secondly, my reason for stipulating out-of-school activity is that all the debates and dances in conjunction with local boys' schools are themselves the focus of the madness. If she's lucky enough to have male friends away from school then it should be easier to take all the other stuff in her stride.

I think the all girl atmosphere is very healthy and empowering. Doing D of E over holidays and having a brother would balance things out. Disclosure: I went to an all girls school full of alphas, and benefitted much by it.
I know women who attended coed boarding schools, and they spent all their time thinking of boys.

true, Dog - there are quite restrictive rules on who can leave the school & when depending on their age; however on a given Saturday the local Wagamama is generally quite busy with WA girls! there are also a couple of cinemas locally they can go to as well as trips to somewhat nicer places like Marlow. It's also relatively restrictive because there are so many weekend activities running that most girls will have some form of sport / play practice etc etc over the weekend

could i ask - Who would you put in the 'handful of exceptionally good all girls schools in the country'? thanks realise that this is just your view but would be helpful to know - thanks

Springbreak - I stand corrected about High Wycombe and the location. Apologies. However, friends with DD at WA never mention that the girls go into the town, rather they hang out on the school campus using the facilities. CLC is split up over a small area of the town - girls walk to their boarding houses and to the sports fields, so that was the difference I was trying to get across (rather badly!). Agree WA is one of a handful of exceptionally good all girls schools in the country.