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Original poster

Boarding School Advice and Suggestions Please

32 replies

Muchtootall · 10/12/2015 21:05

First post on mumsnet so hope got all the right terms!

Due to likely move abroad having to consider boarding for 2 DCs.

DD would go to 6th form next year and DS 13+ entry year after. Want full not weekly boarding and co-ed but not worried if at different schools - think may have different needs.

DD quite academic but struggling to find full boarding co-ed that academic enough and where wouldn't be one new girl joining a house. Dismissed Westminster as not really enough girl boarders. Wellington too much a weekly boarding school for her. Marlborough looks best so far. Any up to date views on the school? Reviews seem mixed and not sure if really going to get best out of academic girl.

DS needs nuturing school with good added value and loads of sport esp hockey. Currently (apart from in maths) bumping along towards bottom of moderately academic day school which won't prepare for CE as have own senior school. Struggling for ideas for him.

Help please.

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AgeingArtemis · 14/12/2015 21:46

Kings has about 30% day pupils, the rest are full boarders with no weekly boarders ( I suppose there might be one or two in exceptional circumstances but it's not a "thing" there)

LIZS · 14/12/2015 21:37

I'm sure if entirely as they have day pupils, but there certainly are full boarders.

JenniferClarissa · 14/12/2015 21:35

I am a past/present parent of boys at Uppingham. It's worked really well for us, including when posted overseas - full boarding, no compulsory exeats and decent half terms. IIRC they have at least one girls' house that is 6th form entry only. DS1 enjoyed the new joiners (boys and girls) coming in 6th form as it shook things up a bit. Lots of sport (plenty of inter-house games as well as against other schools).

We also looked at Kings - have friends for whom it has worked very well for sons and daughters, but we preferred Uppingham's location e.g. closer to grandparents.

Please feel free to PM me if you want to ask any questions.

Original poster
Muchtootall · 14/12/2015 21:25

Is Kings full boarding?

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bojorojo · 13/12/2015 22:48

I do think Marlborough is more difficult to get into but that does not mean to say they would not encourage you to apply. They just don't hand out places to everyone.
When you are at a boarding school, you are not wandering around the town all the time. There will be lots of things for young people to do so it hardly matters where you are unless you want trips into London. Plenty of Rugby pupils come from London anyway so invitations away from Rugby may be available. Oxford would be a better bet if the town truly mattered. I think good schools can get the best students into Oxbridge. If they don't get many very super bright pupils, they will try hard with who they do get! It is not an exact science anyway! I would look for an all round package for the school. Rugby has plenty of bright children.

When we considered DD changing at 6th form, one thing she did not want was a "new girls" boarding house. She felt this separated the new girls from the existing ones and produced a them and us situation. We looked for co-ed but actually failed to find one suitable to meet DD's particular subject needs. The school we did choose mixed their new girls with the existing ones and it was a seamless move in many ways. She dropped the idea of co-ed in favour of excellence in her subjects and chances of getting onto the university course she wanted - not Oxbridge.

Incaseithelps · 13/12/2015 22:18

Muchtooall several different DCs I know of are happy at Shrewsbury. It seems to cater for the individual and is friendly and as I said does very well over a range of academic abilities including the very academic.

I don't think you can go far wrong with Marlborough for your DD, some say that the girls get a better deal out of it than the boys but that might just be for the all girl houses. I would check the sixth form results for the subjects that your DD is most interested in. Also perhaps visit Shrewsbury before making a definite decision as Shrewsbury may suit both your DCs.

Original poster
Muchtootall · 13/12/2015 22:16

Is Kings full boarding?

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NiceAcorns · 13/12/2015 21:27

King Edwards in Witley has a lot of full boarders. Real mix of children due to the set up of the school. I'd happily send my DD there

LIZS · 13/12/2015 21:24

Kings Canterbury?

Original poster
Muchtootall · 13/12/2015 21:22

Yes def my DD wants co-ed.

Thanks for all suggestions. My question with number of these is whether genuinely many boarders at weekend. Would hate for either to be almost alone on Saturday night. Sounds miserable.

A friend also recommended Shrewsbury so would love any more views as hadn't considered before.

Any more views also on following schools for my DS?

Bromsgrove
Repton
Malvern
Uppingham

And any other information in Marlborough since this seems to be front runner for DD at the moment?

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GinandJag · 12/12/2015 11:46

Epsom College?

Full boarding available, co-ed, good range of abilities. Good transport links.

Jeelba · 12/12/2015 08:44

Haileybury seems genuinely to have a good-ish number of boarders in school for the whole weekend. Definitely inclusive, lively, sporty...

incaseithelp · 11/12/2015 23:15

It's unlikely that your DD will change her view of Rugby town. Marlborough College is one of the more academic of the full boarding co-eds. Shrewsbury is another boarding school that has a mixed intake but seems to stretch its academic pupils.

Original poster
Muchtootall · 11/12/2015 23:00

Incase - yes Marlborough put new 6th form girls in boys' house - DD liked that as girls new together. She is at good academic school at moment and we worried that when moves she will lose the stretch you get in that sort of school. But she clear wants co-ed so trying to find most academic we can and work from there!

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00100001 · 11/12/2015 22:57

Does it have to be co-ed?

Original poster
Muchtootall · 11/12/2015 22:50

Cathyandclaire - how is your DD finding Rugby? Do you think we should reconsider? DD dismissed town as horrid but does that really affect the experience in 6th form? Never actually visited school but have heard good things.

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incaseithelp · 11/12/2015 22:47

I think sadly the most academic schools are either mostly weekly boarding if co-ed or single sex.
St Edwards would suit your DS but not really your DD, they get hardly any into Oxbridge. Kings Canterbury is another one that might suit both as it is mixed academic.
I think Marlborough put their new girls together in mixed boarding houses so separated from girls already there.

cathyandclaire · 11/12/2015 22:38

I was going to say Rugby too, DD has started at 6th form and seems to have settled really well.
The new head does seem to be pushing the academics for sixth form entry. Not sure about 13+

Original poster
Muchtootall · 11/12/2015 22:29

Thank you for all this information. Really helpful.

Bojorojo - Is Marlborough really hard to get into for 6th form then? They were encouraging when I rang. I agree about breaking into groups which is why I want a decent intake of new girls which Marlborough does have.

Haileybury and St Edwards I hadn't considered as wasn't sure were full boarding which is important as won't be able to come home at weekends. Shame as both seem nice schools from what I heard.

Rugby DD has dismissed - doesn't like area - but think could suit DS. Is it very academic? Am not sure he would get in anywhere too competitive. He's a friendly, kind and loving boy but just doesn't bring anything "special" to a school eg academic, music or high performance sport. And he will need to be encouraged a lot!

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gonegrey56 · 11/12/2015 21:40

St Edwards,Oxford is worth considering, may suit both your dcs. I am not up to date on how much of a full boarding school it currently is ( I am a past parent). It offers both A levels and IB and gets a few Oxbridge each year, respectable results for a school that takes a broad range of abilities. Excellent sport and drama/music etc , all you could wish for . My dc thrived there.

bojorojo · 11/12/2015 21:39

I know Marlborough can be really hard to get into for 6th form - the Middleton effect! I would seriously look at Rugby for 6th form.

Girls joining 6th forms can be tricky. breaking into friendship groups can be problematic so look at schools that have a decent intake. Uppingham do I think and you could try St Edwards, Oxford. Do be aware that often 6th formers get more time out of school so they are out of school more than those in the lower school. You could consider Stowe for DS. Not sure about the hockey though!

Original poster
Muchtootall · 11/12/2015 20:02

Midlifecrisis - she has looked at IB but is mildly dyslexic and is much stronger at sciences than arts subjects where gets good grades but has too work much harder to get them. Thinks therefore that IB would be too stressful!

Garlicbread - we enquired about Oundle but were told they only take 1-2 girls max into 6th form. She wanted a larger cohort.

Repton we have looked at especially as have prep school which son could perhaps go into. Any more information on school?

Anyone got any info on Marlborough?

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MidLifeCrisis007 · 11/12/2015 07:09

Yes St Clare's only does the IB - but has an extraordinary record. I guess here isn't the place for me to argue the relative merits of the IB over A levels!

Dustylaw · 11/12/2015 02:26

I would suggest have a look at The Leys in Cambridge but also second the idea of Uppingham (if you want total full boarding it is hard to beat).

EdithWeston · 10/12/2015 23:08

Oakham has day pupils and weekly boarders as well as full boarders. You'd need to check if you're happy with how many are in at weekends. But if you are OK with that, then it could be a good fit for both of them. Top sets do well academically, also lots of sport.

If you go to see it, look at Uppingham too.