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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:
Original poster
Tuppenyrice · 27/06/2014 18:04

Because he's in the system and will need a school at 13 and he has a good shot at a scholarship so, despite my reservations, I'm sticking with it.
It's a dilemma, of course, but not worth bashing out here ;)
He's robust, not sensitive.
Thank you for your comments :)

OP posts:
summerends · 27/06/2014 15:42

MillyMolly has a good point, why stick with private if you don't like it.
If he wants to continue music at a high level he could do junior department at RCM or elsewhere on Saturdays which he would n't be able to fit in if he had Saturday lessons
It also sounds as though you need to consider the value of the music awards at the various schools if remittance of fees is important to you.

MillyMollyMama · 27/06/2014 15:26

May not be your thing, but Harrow would be excellent. I do know an ex Chorister there who had a scholarship. Worth looking at if he is a fairly robust boy. Does not suit more sensitive types. If you cannot bear private schools, why do you want your son to go to one?

Original poster
Tuppenyrice · 27/06/2014 14:16

Thank you, Yotty

OP posts:
yotty · 27/06/2014 13:56

I have a friend with a boy at kings Canterbury. Music and drama are definitely big there. He seems to spend lots of time on singing in various choirs and productions. They put on a whole week of performing arts at the end of the summer term, plus choir tours and plays/musicals throughout the rest of the year.
Don't know anything about kings Wimbledon, other than it is very competitive to get into.

Original poster
Tuppenyrice · 27/06/2014 13:22

Wrote you a long reply that promptly disappeared.... Thanks for responding.
He will go 13plus which will be 2017.
His current head suggested kings wimbledon for day and kings Canterbury boarding.
He also said he needs space and a school where the music is big rather than not.
We are close to the A3 (Sw London suburbs).

OP posts:
mummytime · 27/06/2014 12:33

Is he leaving at the end of year 6 or staying until year 8?
I would think Cranleigh maybe not what you want, and is a boarding school with a number of day pupils. Also its not very accessible unless you live in the right area. (You can't drive down the A3 easily in the mornings from west London.)

Chorister's I know often go to St John's. Where does his choirmaster and present school suggest?