Boarding School

Sorry I thought the emphasis of your OP was on the general shoddiness of state schools and the millions of students who have to attend them. I just wanted to reassure you that your views aren't a fair reflection of the many many kids who do really well regardless. And come out as critically thinking, well rounded adults.

OP don't underestimate your children's ability. They could cope in state schools. Both mine would count as bright in your eyes I think - got full clutch of A stars at GCSE and A level (in proper academic subjects). One is at Cambridge; the other at Durham, both having exceeded entrance requirements, and both now knowing a broad range of people. And their comp was properly bog standard. They are extra proud of their achievements because they took this route.
Have faith in your children OP.
If they really are bright, and are capable Of making the right friendship choices they'll be fine.
Plus I had the joy of seeing them and their friends and all that hubbub that happens when you have teens. That time son goes .
Go on - trust them

I think they could both be their own person at WA. You just need to request that they are in different houses. If one were in one of the Daws Hill houses (Wendover, Cloister and Shelburne) and the other not then they would hardly see each other.

My one bit of advice, if choosing full boarding, is you really do need to make sure that the 'fit' of the school is right for the child. Don't choose just on academics. When you are there 24/7 other things matter a lot too.

That’s interesting and I see your point - but it’s not my experience at all. My daughters went to independent day schools up to GCSE and nobody was tutored, well maybe a couple of girls on a subject they struggle in. I suspect lots were tutored to get in though.

One of my sons is at the local comp and don’t know of anyone being tutored (except him!). They finish at 3.10pm so even a few hours tutoring a week wouldn’t come close to the many hours a child at boarding school is in lessons (including saturday mornings

Day school pupils come home to all the distractions of TV, laptop, siblings, pets, hobbies etc. My son at boarding school attends compulsory prep sessions. He has no choice and is sitting at a desk in a silent room. I have no doubt that if he was at home he would do the bare minimum and as a result of his school will get much better results.

I’m sure London is very different. Heard horror stories about the pressures there.

Oh and FWIW I have several friends with children in top London day schools. They've all been told at different points that they need to pay for additional tuition. Which makes me pretty sceptical about the general quality of teaching.

OP what makes you feel qualified to make all these sweeping statements about state schools when clearly neither you nor your DH has ever set foot in one?

@GaribaldiGirl I would respectfully disagree on the academics.

Those I know at day schools (London and home counties, especially the elite academic schools) have tutoring at least twice a week and sometimes over weekends, usually in 2 subjects. Particularly in Maths. If a child is borderline for a top set the tutor will make sure that their place is guaranteed and will tailor work to particular academic weaknesses. The parents cherry pick the very best tutors who are often more like mentors and on speed dial for exam season over the weekends etc. For some this continues even throughout university, yes really. Those that might have got the equivalent of an A star in a day school will likely get a A at boarding school IME.

This sort of 'coaching' just isn't possible at boarding school during term time anyway. When you say Prep sessions are supervised by teachers, often that means a house parent or assistant house parent who won't have time to really get involved with showing a child 'how', there just isn't time and they won't necessarily know 'how'.

In fact I would say that children slightly underachieve (if that's the right word) academically at most boarding schools because there isn't the 'support' that is more accessible to day pupils. Their schedule, at the best boarding schools will be packed with all sorts of things, not just academics. I know day school parents who have Oxbridge in mind from about Y6 and 'make it so' with early planning and specialised tuition.The thought being if the child misses out they'll get to a Uni on the next tier down very easily etc. These 'interested'/helicopter type parents also help 'make it so' with music and sport IME again sorting out the elite events/coaching and ferrying children around accordingly.

Children are pretty much on their own and have to do the work in the time allowed at boarding school. If they can't keep up they are moved down a set etc. They pick up life skills that will likely help them enormously later on. There are sporting opportunities and musical opportunities but the child will need the motivation and the maturity to take full advantage of both. Depends on what you and your family value and are after.

I would like to shadow a tiger mother for a week to see how they get their day school children to do their homework.

All efforts by me are totally ineffective.

(The only exception would be day pupils at primarily boarding schools, as those day pupils often attend prep too. I know that at my old school, with its 8.30am - 6.45 pm school day for both boarders and day girls, and Saturday morning school, all day girls did prep at school, although if very sporting / very musical they would, as we did, also have to do unsupervised prep after supper and at weekends in the boarding houses)

Shows a major benefit of independent schools who ensure work is done and on time.

Um - no. I appreciate that you don't move in the state school world and so speak out of ignorance and what those around you say, rather than out of malice, but that is simply not true. The vast majority of good state schools ensure that work is done, at high quality, and on time.

The point the previous poster made was about day vs boarding schools. Supervised prep in boarding schools takes doing the work out of the pupil's control - they HAVE to do it and essentially have 'lesson time' in which to do it. ALL day schools, state or private, do not have that opportunity, and pupils thus have to be more self-motivated.

I’m sure you will have thought of this but consider how you and your daughters feel about the sport on offer. Boarding schools devote a lot of hours to it.
My children don’t like conventional ball sports so finding schools where they didn’t have to play lacrosse/hockey/rugby all the time makes a difference. I remember endless miserable hours on the hockey pitch when I was at school.
Some are really good at offering alternatives. Others less so.
Two of mine like riding and that was a big factor.
If your girls are classic sporty girls it’s perhaps much easier.

By the way I meant children at boarding schools are ACADEMICALLY spoon fed. They have long prep sessions supervised by teachers who can step in and help. Hence the good results. Children at day schools have to self motivate to get their work done at home. Unless their parents are really good at making them, which I suspect is very few.

Not sure why it has been mentioned that A levels are 'dumbed down' so state schools can claim good results - the new specs on A level are infinitely more challenging than the previous incarnations. The Eng Lit spec I teach at A level is far harder than the A level spec I studied myself.

Zodle- the governors sent a mass email last week saying she was going by the end of the month, i.e. April. Maybe she is doing IsI in her final week, as penance?!

If you want local for ease of exeats etc have you looked at Malvern st James?

That is interesting. I received an email from WA this week (still on their mailing list) saying that she was no longer able to be a guest speaker at an event due to a three day ISI inspection.

@EalingBroadway - she's done a midnight flit to a $chool in €hina on virtually no notice to the governors and they have no plan because the (presumably) didn't know (or kept it tightly wrapped). I guess her expansion of the WA brand into China brought her to attention of schools there and she's gone to a US school's group in Shenzhen

I have parental experience on this. I don't think you should be asking mumsnetters! You should be visiting schools with your family and in the end you should take serious account of your daughter's preferences. It's not all about academic achievement. There is happiness to think about too. I know the schools you are mentioning. One very well. Your daughter will do well at any of these academically bit please do take other considerations into account (and not just yours)

My DD2 was a Godstowe girl! I know it well. They have had many, many, girls going to CLC and WA down the years but the majority go at 13. Not 11. I can assure you that the school will give you every assistance in finding the right senior school and take your wishes into account. I cannot think of a single parent there who has used a consultancy in addition to the advice of the school. They are experts. I am sure you are aware that their senior school applications result in loads of scholarships and girls are very successful. They won’t be phased by WA if they are at Godstowe. It’s the norm for many girls from there. About 12 went in DDs year and another 12 to CLC. You really do not need to worry about where to apply to.

To be a good parent, you do not need to see your child all the time and every day. Some parents cling on to children believing they are not capable of making decisions and growing up without them spoon feeding. The most spoon fed children are not boarding ones! They are the ones whose parents helicopter all day and every day and nag endlessly. Boarders are often the most organised, resilient and fun children! They make friends for life and, judging from any research, get above their fair share of the top jobs too, so are hardly dim! Oxbridge does not appear to be full of dim ex boarding pupils from what I observe.

WA will get an amazing head. They won’t let anything slip and I can confirm that all the girls I have known that went there are bright, a few were super bright, but they all were well adjusted and enjoyed the school.