Late Boarding School app DD (yr8) for Sep 17

I think you are right that sometimes you can just be unlucky with the group of children. Dd (Y8) felt unpopular in her primary school class. I think it was cool for some of the less nice kids to look down on her. She then moved to high school and has been so much happier socially. Partly because there's a much bigger year group to find like minded friends and partly i just think there are more good natured kids in her class. (Plus her form tutor is quite strict so I think this keeps them in check.) It's so much better. This is a comp so i can't advise on schools, but just wanted to agree that it can sometimes just be luck who you end up with and a change might give your dd a fresh start if you find the right school. Hope you find a school where your dd will be happier. I think if it has got to the point where she is wanting to move then it's the right thing to do.

Hello - have you looked into Westonbirt as is s quite a bit nearer to London than Cheltenham and has a really good rep for being friendly, (+sporty and arty) and has an excellent gifted and talented programme (www.westonbirt.org/gifted-and-talented-children). I'm pretty sure they have supervised coach to London for hols/exeats.

Wellington? It's v selective. There's another thread about it atm.

Queenswood also do door-to-door trasnport

If you decide to visit Cheltenham have a look at Cheltenham College as well. Though I agree it may be a little far for you compared with other suggestions. We've gone from 1.5 hours each way at prep to 1 hour each way now which makes a real difference.

Whilst you want to find somewhere strong on academics, I am guessing the schools that are highly selective at this entry point are less likely to have places still available. I could be wrong though! And you could still be in time for academic scholarship entry for many. Cheltenham College seems really thoughtful about what they do for their academic students though having an overall non-selective entry. St Edwards seems to be on a similar journey aiming higher academically whilst not wanting to lose their breadth and non-selection. Headington - if they have a place - could be a good option and the London coaches stop right next to it; however do try to find out about 6th form if you are considering it, as a couple of years ago I was hearing worrying things about 6th form teaching there - but that's the kind of thing that can change for the better quite quickly. I feel that you don't want to move at year 9 with a plan to move again for 6th form!

I agree that Wychwood is probably too small a school in this context. Though, the main reason for discounting it amongst my acquaintances has been less depth in music which would be irrelevant to your daughter.

Good luck finding somewhere that feels right for you and your daughter, hope it works out.

I found this information on the Times website (but still had to merge two sets of data together as they show independent and state schools separately!). I have analysed lots of data and interestingly there are discrepancies between published results and sometimes even the results the school shows on their own website. I assume some of this difference may be attributable to remarks but not sure this addresses all the discrepancies.

I think St Edwards is a very different school and attracts parents from London. Wychwood is not comparable. St Edwards may not be premier division academic but has many more opportunities than Wychwood. Who really wants a 6th form of 17 pupils?

The Daily Telegraph ranks schools.You can interrogate state school results on the Government's web site. The Oxford Mail gave results and cohort size.

Oh I totally agree! I'm not using the tables solely to determine the worthiness of schools. I'm just curious where certain schools fall now as I haven't seen a comprehensive list since 2013? when the financial times did theirs. The telegraph one I know omits quite a few and I think it only shows the Top this and the top that.

I wanted to look up e.g Bradfield to see how it's now ranking against others locally also interested in Bedford school.

There are various tables with rankings, but although interesting, i wouldn't place too much to reliance on them (for example The Telegraph list has some startling omissions, which suggests they must use either weird inclusion strata, weird filters, or both)

The Times is (possibly) the most respected, but it's behind a paywall so cannot be linked.

I meant 'academic' as in very/super academic, that's why I put it in quotes. I'm of the impression that Oxford high is 'very academic', so a little therefore surprised the two schools are being mentioned together.

On another note, please can you name or link me to your data source? I've been looking for a comprehensive list that gives positions for schools but haven't found one in a long time. Nothing to do with this thread, I just want to look up some other schools. Thanks.

You might take a look at Mayfield in Sussex. It has a broad intake, but does well by bright girls, especially in maths/science. Lots of other things going on like strong singing, pottery and riding. Catholic, though with a small c.

Would probably suit a girl who thrives in a gentler environment, and is picking up an increasing number of London children who find London day schools too much. Its the sort of place where kindness is appreciated and nurtured.

St Edwards was 224th of all schools in the country last year for A level results. 4 places behind supposedly highly academic King Edwards Five Ways in Birmingham. So I think calling it hardly academic is a little unfair. Certainly it is not in the upper league of super academics but it outperforms a number of selective grammar schools.

Bojo to be fair, St Edwards is hardly 'academic' either is it?

Wychwood had 17 girls take A levels in 2016. Vanishingly small so clearly very few girls stay on. It must be ultra claustrophobic ! . Even then, with all that personal attention, 33% were A*-A so not very academic.

King's Ely might be a good fit. It is 1 hour and 10 minutes on a direct train from King's Cross.

That's because it's a small school.

But just for your information it is above at least one of the schools you mentioned academically. Also, in terms of value added you could not ask for anymore.

The girls are wonderful, they leave being very rounded women as they have opportunities they wouldn't receive at big school. There is so much on offer I sometimes can't keep up!

All I wanted to do was highlight Wychwood to the OP as maybe a smaller school would suit her better if she is having problems with other girls. A lot of very bright girls come to Wychwood as they can't handle such a large girl environment, and the pressure that this entails.

I also have, in my opinion, a very highly academic girl, who is thriving and more importantly happy.

OP please don't discount it!

How does it compare with Headington, Oxford High and St Edwards ? Never mind the girls school in Abingdon. The OP wanted a school with strong academics. Fair enough if it is your first choice but no-one will find it in an academic league table!

"At my DDs prep, Wychwood took the strugglers - you should be pitching higher."

Rubbish! Our 1st choice school, and it's amazing!

North London she says. So going West or South is time consuming. Lots of good reasons for going North of London. I think when you look round a school, especially as a 12/13 year old, you do tend to know if you will fit in. My children absolutely knew. With a child that has had friendship problems, it is far better to be available if needed and be able to go to school events. You keep a tighter grip on any issues and can see staff when you drop them back. You can see how they are welcomed back by their friends. Being nearer, you can go to Mum's lunches, the charity sales, music events, house drama, sports matches etc. If your child is going on a coach, you just will not have the opportunity to see how they settle into school and speak to staff.

I agree that CLC, Marlborough are less likely to have places - but nothing to lose by calling to ask.

For several other schools mentioned, high academic ability may well be enough to make them open to considering the case. This was the case for my DC's late applications.

I also agree about distance, but OP does not say where in London they are. Cambridge is less than an hour from London King's Cross, while Winchester (St Swithuns) is less than an hour from London Waterloo and Brighton (Roedean) is an hour from London Victoria. It depends where OP lives which would be more convenient.

These are a long way from London for weekly boarding though. Cheltenham especially. Girls from Queenswood can just get the quick train or underground back into London when they are older. For many parents it is a quick drive out from north London. I know you said 2 hours op, but if you factor in all the events you could attend at school, do you want a 4 hour round trip? Honestly, if you want to meet other parents, go to House events and get to know the school,then stay fairly local. If your DD needs support, you are handy. She may, as a first time boarder.

I cannot imagine Marlborough having places going begging for Y9 in September and probably not CLC either. I would be realistic. You need a school that is not oversubscribed and that does not have very rigid CE entry at 13.

At my DDs prep, Wychwood took the strugglers - you should be pitching higher.

I'm going to suggest a Cheltenham school but it's not CLC. There is an excellent Co Ed boarding school called Dean Close, have a look at their website.

Look also at St Swithun's (girls) and maybe Marlborough (co-ed).

I suspect it might be easier to get a late boarding place in many of the day/boarding schools named, than it would be to get a late day place, as almost all of them are keen to increase their boarding numbers.

Unfortunately in many boarding schools there are cliques and bitchiness amongst the girls. You can't guarantee that this won't happen but the better schools are much more adept at dealing with it. Definitely something to discuss when you tour the schools.

Queen Anne's in Caversham? (Only 15 mins from Reading station, so very easy journey to London). Lots of the girls there are from London, and the majority are weekly/flexi boarders. It's not the most prestigious/famous but it's a happy, friendly school (I used to work there). There's a lot of emphasis on pastoral care, and on finding the best path for every child - academic girls will succeed and get high grades etc, but the ones who are more into music / sport / art etc are encouraged to follow that path. Because it isn't a particularly high profile school, they can be very flexible re: admissions; might be worth a look for your DD?

Or, as PPs have said, Headington in Oxford is wonderful. (Larger and more academically rigorous than Queen Anne's).

Make some enquiries OP, then take your DD to look at some likely candidates. Sometimes moving school just is the quickest way to solve a problem; also, she would be one of lots of new starters at a boarding school in year 9, so would be unlikely to be isolated as a "new girl."