Sixth form boarding school for anxious expat?

I was just coming here also to suggest Hurrwood House, very strong musically and performance but also very good at drawing out the best in your child. No exam, references and informal interview. Very strong pastoral care and community and huge added value in the sense of getting the best out of the children. Co-ed and 6th form
only.

Hurtwood House in Surrey might suit particularly if your daughter is arty (although it is also has good academics). It's sixth form only and very relaxed from what I hear.

Sevenoaks would not be a good fit from your list of requirements.
There are lots of schools that aren't 'big name' that would be more suitable from a pastoral point of view.

Kent College? Mayfield?

Hi Mums, considering Kingham Hill in Oxford for Year 9 entry this September? Got a good vibe of the school but have concerns about the Academics and not listed as a good school guide. Any thoughts or any existing parent on board? Thanks

The was a special house for new 6th form girls at Uppingham. It was horrible. Some rooms were facing a brick wall and it stopped effective integration. It is not gossip about the attitudes of some boys! My DD has friends that went there for 6th form and the girls were ranked out of 10. Existing girls probably didn't have the same problem. Some of the nicknames were equally unflattering. A friends' son was bullied there and was found miles away in a field after he tried to
Escape.

I think you will just have to look round. Also ask registrars about exams. Heathfield do not have them and I do not think Queenswood do either. You should look at less academic and below top tier. Weekend activities need to be supported. We liked Bradfield but the art was average and DD wanted this in particular.

I was also about to suggest Kings' Ely - fabulous for art and will care about your dd's issues with assessment.
I think Rye St Antony in Oxford may take a similarly sympathetic view.

King's Ely is a good all round school with excellent music opportunities. An hour and 5mins by train to London Kings Cross and a slightly longer train into Liverpool Street too if you need London connections.

I meant to say both Roedean and Woldingham are lovely schools.

Roedean and Woldingham but are lovely schools and offer full boarding.

Another Uppingham parent here (hello petrova). We've been very happy with the school for our (very different) DCs. From memory, there's a specific house for girls joining in 6th form, which might help with settling in if they are all new together? Pastoral care has been excellent.

Be aware that the new head has introduced fixed weekend exeats from the next academic year so your DD will have plenty of chance to get away to see her grandparents/sister .

also meant to mention its in Suffolk with many pupils pulling in from London and surrounds

How about a smaller school - Framlingham College - is full boarding but with a majority of weekly boarders but more full boarders at 6th form. Not too big, all over the 'whole child' ethos and is essentially non-selective so not an academic hothouse but brilliant support for those who are academically gifted as well as those not so much. Excellent sports and music provision too - in fact girls hockey 1st team just won bronze medal in the national finals ...so very much up there

If you don't mind exploring the South West, try Wells Cathedral School, it is is everything you have mentioned and will engage her musically. The moto Esto quod es (Be what you are) says it all. I was at a parent's engagement dinner last night hosted by Alistair Smith, world renowned they have engaged him to develop a unique holistic learning approach in the school. Best of luck!

Interesting that you think she would not want to take entrance exams.
In your conversations with the schools I would be upfront about her personality and issues since the priority is to find somewhere that could help her be more comfortable with herself. Oundle, Marlborough and Sevenoaks are definitely off the list.
I take it she has no problems with public exams like GCSEs since most private schools will at the least request a minimum number of points from GCSEs for sixth form entry.

Talkin good as PS is she sounds better suited at this stage to a smaller sixth form with staff who can point opportunities for personal development her way.

I would try and find a full boarding school where there are a good number of other expats. It would help to be with people who have shared a similar experience to your dd. If she's anxious and away from her family she will need people who will understand and know how to help her.

No entrance exam required for 6th form entry - just a good report & decent GCSEs. They even managed to get her to pass grade 7 violin which is. an astonishing feat as she is terrified of playing solo in public.

Bootham School in York. DD went there as a full boarder. Can't fault it. She joined 6th form as a bag of nerves, left two years later as an amazingly confident, independent young woman.

Lomond Schoo, 45 mins from Glasgow airport. Fits all of your wish-list. Worth checking out.

Your list has a very wide range of schools. If you want small, friendly with great pastoral care then Westonbirt is the one to go for - though is very rural and quite the opposite of St Edward's in some ways. Small schools can have more of a family feel but of course there would be a smaller pool of friends too. Heard great things about Malvern too.

Our DC have been/ are at Uppingham. We chose it because of it's ethos of an all round education. Academia is important but so is music, sport and drama.
In our experience it is a very happy school. Please do not take gossip as truth - we all have stories about other schools that could put them in a very negative light, but it is better to get experiences from current pupils/parents.
As I say my sons and nieces were/ are very happy there.
We have found pastoral care to be very good. As a pp has said, it would be a good idea to contact the individual schools, speak to the registrar , maybe visit, speak to the house mistress and tutors etc and get a feel for the place. Only then can you decide if it would suit your DD .

OP
shocking as it may be, if your DD will not cope with exams, the mix of PSC might work if you are eligible

Frensham heights

Prior's Field?

Take a look at Farringtons School. They have a small proportion of pupils as boarders, lovely caring ethos and cater for a good range of academic ability. They also enjoy their sport and music so ticks a lot of the boxes you have mentioned.

Why would she refuse if it is something she wants to do? They might allow her to take it wherever you are. Tbh if she won't take entrance tests are you sure she could cope with the workload independently?