Mayfield School, Sussex

Had the cloaks in my day as well Neolara, and scratchy Harris tweed skirts.

I agree about the emphasis on being kind. It seems to be something that has stayed with my peers, with several working for charities or in public sector jobs like teaching or medicine. I also agree about the academics.

Academics do seem to have changed. Mayfield does well for a non selective school, particularly in STEM subjects. My understanding however is that they are working hard to retain their ethos, seeing an increased demand for boarding, partly from London families who are seeking something gentler, and more nurturing. Singing (Mr Pont is apparently still around), pottery, riding and more are still strong, so, unlike some other schools it is OK to be clever, but equally OK if academics are not your thing.

One of the advantages Catholic schools have is that overseas boarders tend to come from Catholic communities, so you get a good mix: Poland; Mexico; Nigeria; East Asia, which helps with integration.

In terms of numbers who stay weekend you might ask the school and what they do. You might also ask about how boarders and day pupils interact at weekends. There is a MN orthodoxy that full boarding is essential. Yet DD's experience of being a sixth form day pupil at a school with boarders was that she often went in at weekends to do homework with friends, and then out for supper after, and that boarders would occasionally come and stay with us (with housemasters permission!) at weekends or for half term. She often had matches on Saturday as well.

Giddybiddy, I completely agree with you - there is no way DD is doing more than 9 or 10, I assure you! I would just ask them about it and find out where the statistic came from and what was the reason behind it. The new curriculum is also a gradual thing: not all the subjects have 9-1 grading yet.

Frankfurt, I know the junior boarding house quite well now. It's got a good vibe: one of DD's best friends is an overseas, non-British boarder. The junior boarding house and the lower school are really well integrated.

I have no idea about % staying for weekends at the moment, but again, I'd ask. I expect they get asked about it all the time. To be honest, though, I've never really thought of it as a numbers game: more as a what's going on and who's looking after them game: I think that's what really matters. What I have seen is that DD has gone from being hesitant about staying for the weekend to wanting to do it regularly and enjoying it when she does.

Thanks that is useful, I will ask again about the 12 GCSEs as it is worrying me. There should be no need to do more than 9 or 10. I think RS is compulsory which adds on one.
Good to hear about the music, thanks

Music and drama both seem very good. There's a new head of music this year: judging by the live crib I went to at Christmas, he's doing a great job so far. When we had (as might happen anywhere) a problem with DD's peripatetic music teacher, the music dept were responsive and helpful: the problem got solved.

I'm not sure of the stats for places to applicants at 11+, though I'm sure the admissions office would help with that. What I do know is that they were incredibly welcoming to DD and did their best to allay anxieties both before and after her exam e.g. with opportunities to spend time with her year group, in the boarding house etc. Clued up and caring would be a good summary.

12 GCSEs...again, I'm not sure of the story here. DD isn't GCSE level yet. However, I have pressed for details about preparation for the new grading system. It's clear that they have thought about it hard and integrated the new grading system into marking work in the lower years. I am quite critical of schools on this point. I think they're doing well compared to others.

They do have subjects like food tech and ceramics that girls might choose to take in addition to the usual set of 9 GCSEs. That might account for it?

Do you know what the drama and music are like there? Also, am slightly worried as they still appear to be getting the girls to do 12 GCSEs despite the fact most schools are doing 9 or 10 due to the new curriculum. Do you have any insights into that? Thanks so much!

Yes, I have a DD there. We're very happy with it. Do you have specific questions? Happy to pass along what I know.

I went there a million years ago! Unfortunately, I have no recent knowledge. Used to be great for singing, pottery and sport and bizarrely we had to say prayers at the start of our maths lessons but no other subject. Lots of kids from properly religious families - mass on Mondays and lots of girls went to confession because it got them out of lessons. Lots and lots of emphasis on being kind and helping others - think this is probably why I've volunteered almost my whole adult life. Almost no-one got good exam results back then (just wasn't seen as terribly important) but strongly suspect this will have changed. In my fist year, we all had tweed cloaks as part of the uniform! It really was a life time ago....