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Original poster

Day or boarding options close to SW London for chorister's next steps..

57 replies

Tuppenyrice · 27/06/2014 12:23

Hello, I wonder if any of you kind people could help me navigate the murky waters of secondary school choices.. I have a son in yr5, a boarding chorister, he is musical and academically able. We will apply to selective day schools in London, but want alternative options, as they have become notoriously hard to get into. I've got some on my list:

Day:
Kingston grammar
Hampton
St. John's leatherhead
Reeds
Cranleigh

Boarding:
Kings Canterbury
Lancing
Brighton college

He needs somewhere the music is important. Somewhere he will be stretched but not a massive hothouse.
We won't get a bursary but we would need a scholarship to help with fees.
Personally I can't bear the whole private school thing so would prefer somewhere not too flashy and 4x4 heavy.
;)

Can anyone help me?!
Many many thanks if you've read this far and not wanted to slap me.

OP posts:
summerends · 28/06/2014 16:19

TBH Tuppeny if you live near enough to commute easily to Kings College School and your DS has the ability to get in I would n't bother financially stretching yourself to go boarding even for somewhere like Winchester. If the commute to KCS is a bit much that is a different matter. Of course you need a less academic fallback option which was your original query.

Original poster
Tuppenyrice · 28/06/2014 14:39

Re Eton
Got as far as requesting prospectus and saw he needed to be registered ASAP as it needs to be before age 10.5. That has just passed.
He's academic but he's more of a natural musician than a mathematician iykwim.
But he certainly has a shot at Winchester etc, yes. We only discussed day schools with his Head but I will go back and tell him we are going to think about boarding as well just in case DS desperate for that.
Again it's the dosh. We aren't bursary material but will struggle as have 3 kids etc.
Yes was asking about frensham. Am typing on phone so it's hard to navigate, sorry if it looks rude by not naming people. Not intended.
This is really helping me get my head round it all as it's all a but alien to me.
Thanks again.

OP posts:
mummytime · 28/06/2014 13:12

I know several young people who have gone to Frensham from state primaries. We even looked at it (I loved it, DS didn't).

But it is a bit alternative compared to the others on the list.

I had assumed he wasn't Winchester/Eton material as it hadn't been suggested. Although they would be the obvious choice, and have been able to take choristers from all kinds of financial background.

Moid1 · 28/06/2014 12:17

Did you ask me about Frensham Heights?

DOn't think it is particularly rich offspring (not more than the Surrey private schools) we looked around it for DS1 and I liked it. Lovely grounds, great theatre - music, art and drama are it's big selling point.

LIZS · 28/06/2014 11:59

A number of those mentioned down the thread including St Johns and Reigate are registering early and pretesting during year 6/7. Epsom , Whitgift , Sevenoaks ?

happygardening · 28/06/2014 11:55

If I had a very musical DS who was academically able I think I would be asking my prep school head about trying for Eton/Win Coll in the first instance. The musical standard at both will be in a different league to any of those mentioned above.
Your only problem is if your DS is in yr 5 now then depending when his birthday is you might have missed the deadline for registering for Eton and your seriously running out of time to register for a house at Winchester although I think you can register on a separate list. Radley might be the other one to look at I dont know much about its music dept only here say but to get a place you would have to be promoted off the "Wardens List".

Original poster
Tuppenyrice · 28/06/2014 09:27

Is that a bit like king Alfred's in golders green?
Lots of rich offspring?

OP posts:
Moid1 · 28/06/2014 09:20

Frensham Heights - very arty, no uniform, bit alternative but they get decent results

Original poster
Tuppenyrice · 28/06/2014 09:16

Happy - I don't think we would qualify, no.
Re church thing he's already used to all that.
Forago - will def look at trinity. Croydon commute off putting though.
Lancing and Brighton look amazing but expensive, but tbh hoping he will continue to want day school, I just want couple boarding options in case...
Inthename - I have heard this about Reeds, and I'm aware some reg closes sept so I will have to make my mind up ASAP about whether to chuck a few hundred quid around to register...
Thanks again really helpful.
If only they'd actually say in prospectusnhow much their scholarships are worth.....

OP posts:
forago · 28/06/2014 00:42

Trinity - surely?

happygardening · 28/06/2014 00:37

Lancing is high church, smells and bells, that would put me off regardless of how good their music dept is!

inthename · 28/06/2014 00:29

brighton scholarships and bursaries getting smaller, max £6,000 a year.
Cranleigh only if you want to board, in back end of beyomd and transport links pretty hideous.
Lancing has excellent music
St Johns close their registration lists very early so may need to be quick
Reeds pre test beginning year 7 for yr 9, getting more difficult to get in as attracting those who don't make RGS.

happygardening · 28/06/2014 00:03

Kings Canterbury only offer 10% off their fees to music scholars. Are you sure you wouldn't qualify for a bursary? There are some very bursary knowledgable mumsnetters around it might be worth starting a new thread specifically about bursaries music scholarships.

Original poster
Tuppenyrice · 27/06/2014 23:07

Thank you so much, all of you.

OP posts:
Suttonmum1 · 27/06/2014 21:35

I second Trinity. Music is v. big there.

antimatter · 27/06/2014 21:15

very good music department in Trinity (whitgift)

summerends · 27/06/2014 21:15

Tuppeny Reading School ( definitely a proper grammar school) takes an entry at 13 and has boarders. It is not the only one.

antimatter · 27/06/2014 21:13

Have you considered King's Ely or is it too far?

mummytime · 27/06/2014 21:09

Cranbrook is State and starts at 13. If he is Grammar material you could think of RGS and Reigate Grammar, but I'm not sure if he'd qualify for a Music scholarship. RGS is more academic than St John's, but I didn't think it was that much more than King's Wimbledon.
I have heard good things about King's Canterbury.
For something easier - you could look at St Edward's Witley.
I know boys at Reeds but I don't know much about their music.

I would rule Cranleigh out, especially as a day boy - but if you don't believe me just try driving there. Even if you do it in the middle of the day and then add on a lot of time for the traffic in mornings and evenings; I think it will put you off.

Original poster
Tuppenyrice · 27/06/2014 20:54

Dulwich and Emmanuel both in my list sorry forgot to post that.

OP posts:
Helpys · 27/06/2014 20:45

Music/ choral scholarship at Dulwich College was 20%+ lessons, non means tested. Music is high status and standard and the department is big- happy to talk via pm.

Original poster
Tuppenyrice · 27/06/2014 20:40

Hi Summer I don't know any proper grammar (state) schools that start at 13, they're all 11...
I don't know anything about Tonbridge I will check it out, thanks.
Yes I'm aware that most scholarships aren't worth much financially, for example St. Paul's offer £60!!
I think there must be some that do though, just not the London day schools, sadly.

OP posts:
summerends · 27/06/2014 19:43

Tuppeny quite a few grammar schools have entry at 13. I don't think scholarships are worth much fee reduction now, ranging from nothing to 10% at least at the more competitive schools. Harrow has got an excellent music department but may be difficult for you to get to. If you are thinking of Kings Canterbury what about Tonbridge School, I think they offer choral scholarships.

Original poster
Tuppenyrice · 27/06/2014 18:47

Jim isn't has come round so fast - only at the end of form 2!
Been a blast for him though :)

OP posts:
JimBobplusasprog · 27/06/2014 18:24

Watching with interest. I have a ds about to start as a boarding chorister and we will be in the same situation 2 years down the line.