Which is the best boarding school?

I second the vote for King's Canterbury. Strong academics, loads of extra-curricular provision and excellent sporting facilities too.

I'd recommend Kings Canterbury- it's an amazing school with a well thought of sixth form and we are seriously considering for DS2. It's academic, artistic and sporty- and has stunning architecture and some fabulous facilities! Also would recommend Uppingham School, Sedbergh School and Wells Cathedral School. All the schools above are very sporty and/or very musical, and all do A-Levels, I'm not sure about IB however.

Rendcomb College, near Cirencester, has mixed boarding for sixth form - has had since 1971. Two separate wings of a purpose built house divided by a common room in the middle.

I'd second Merrylegs. Wymondham College. All the houses are mixed- girls' and boys' sides. Big new 6th form house. They don't do IB though, just A levels. Lots going on. New Head starts September, apparently hot on results. Don't know much more about him.

Blundells in Tiverton has a mixed boarding house for the final year of 6th form

Hmmm reddidi your right that doesn't read well. What I should have said was that all the coed. Boarding schools I've ever looked at have allowed girls/boys in their houses at certain times of the day e.g. during free time etc, not all day every day.
Maybe we've just looked at the more liberal ones!

"All the coed boarding schools I've ever looked at have allowed boys in girls house during the day and vice versa."

Really? In all the coed boarding schools I know this is strictly forbidden. In fact boys are generally not allowed in other boys houses except with specific permission.

There is plenty of mixing of sexes in most schools though, particularly in the sixth form, but if for instance your twins want to work together during prep you need to check out individual schools as arrangements vary enormously.

Co-ed and tennis? Culford or Wymondham College.

As already said in coed boarding they schools do allow girls and boys to interact how can they stop it? The pupils significantly out number the staff at even the best schools are campuses are often very large.

Oh really Badger what a shame! My brother was a housemaster there in the 1990s...

OP are you in danger of worrying about a non issue? All the coed boarding schools I've ever looked at have allowed boys in girls house during the day and vice versa, most children at boarding school also go off the school campus to shops etc especially those based in towns/cities. Activities like CCF/DoE and their associated weekends away etc are usually taken up by both boys and girls and of course they're together in lessons and their associated out of school activities exchanges, trips abroad etc.

Ardingly is nice.

Framey - Hereford Cathedral no longer has boarders, sadly

Actually, I think Turner now boys only anyway as girls moved out to the new Ivy House. I have DS there at the moment (but not in Turner, obv!).

You're right HG - forgot about Turner - more an in-college than out-college house (which the other co-eds are) so that one has all eating in the Norwood Hall - best of both worlds with fab HM to boot! All lunches, lessons, school activities with other friends so not sure that out-collegers miss out. Getting very specific here! You should definitely have a good look at both in-college & out-college houses if/when you visit OP.

Haileybury College, Hertford. Good IB track record and co-ed (but don't think they have boys and gals in the same dorms!).

Wells Cathedral School, specialises in music?
Hereford Cathedral also good and both coed

Personally of my twins were starting the 6 th form at a boarding school I think I separate them. The two years go so quickly you want them to be made to go out and make new friends as quickly as possible.

I'm sure there are others with mixed houses for 6 th formers I just can't for the life of me think of them.

I believe in some of the houses at Marlborough you dine in house every day but not necessarily the coed ones. You could look at it from toe sides if you dine in house you definitely interact with the boys, or if you dine in the main dinning hall you see your other friends. Turners (house) has a nice HM and definite takes 6 th form girls and they don't dine in house. I'm not sure OP why you think at a school "like Marlborough" the girls won't be allowed to interact with the boys much? I know they chucked out those two caught having sex but I'm pretty sure normal interaction is allowed. It is coed from yr 9 after all.

Bromsgrove has a separate co-ed boarding house for sixth formers and is very good for sport but unlike the rest of the school it is in the town. It's an unusual set-up that might be worth a look.

Does n't Charterhouse have girls as members of boys boarding houses (although they sleep elsewhere)? They do IB (although I think preU instead of A levels). Why are you against preUs?

Hi Anna - the girls and boys in the mixed houses at Marlborough interact plenty. In fact, girls in the mixed houses will tend to have more interaction with boys as they have breakfast together everyday, supper some days and share all common areas. The result is quite a familial relationship between boys and girls within the house. One perceived benefit of a mixed house for new joiners is that all of the girls in a mixed boarding house will be new in the Lower Sixth.

Repton is co ed boarding in a village setting