Queen Ethelburga's - opinions please

Another vote for Greenhead in Huddersfield, if you can get through to your awful ex. Great ethos, fantastic staff and a real mix of state and private school kids. And has been consistently one of the best in the country for years and years - they send more to oxbridge annually than anywhere else in Yorkshire.

I would keep her at GSAL, the sixth form has quite a different vibe, though tbh none of mine felt excessively pressured in main school.
If she is determined to move then in terms of easy access and private Ashville would be my next recommendation
St Peters is a great school, but the commute from where you are is rotten and would take forever.
The Harrogate state sixth forms are much better than Roundhay and both Aidens and Harrogate Grammar take kids every year from GSAL. Both have lots of new students from a mixture of backgrounds and certainly HGS has plenty of “posh” kids if she is worried about fitting in.
I will be careful about what I say about QE, take care to note that you will be forced to swap to BTEC if not on a B minimum at end of year 12. Ask very direct questions about what % of sixth form science lessons take place in labs, about provision of textbooks as opposed to statues, if she is into sport ask to see the fixture lists ( you will find them disappointing compared to GSALs) .

Not in the area but aware of them because they advertise nationally a lot. Really a lot. Unusual, I would have thought .......

Agree with OVienna that would give Ampleforth a miss as it is apparently not yet caught up with the present day.

It looks like they've transferred the prep to a sight on the main campus. The coverage is a bit weird.

But it would be hard to find a more worrying assessment of a potential school for your child than this one:

"The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse last month issued a highly critical report on abuse at Ampleforth College, of which the prep school is a part, and another Catholic school, Downside in Somerset.

Alexis Jay, the inquiry’s chairwoman, said: “For decades Ampleforth and Downside tried to avoid giving any information about child sexual abuse to police and social services. Instead, monks in both institutions were very often secretive, evasive and suspicious of anyone outside the English Benedictine Congregation.

“Safeguarding children was less important than the reputation of the church and the wellbeing of the abusive monks. Even after new procedures were introduced in 2001, when monks gave the appearance of co-operation and trust, their approach could be summarised as a ‘tell them nothing’ attitude.”

Um...yeah. Have you seen word of the Times investigation into Ampleforth? The prep school closed due to the child sexual abuse cover up. Just announced this month.

For a flavour:

inews.co.uk/news/education/sexual-abuse-revelations-could-spell-the-end-for-catholic-eton/

No school is perfect -I'm pretty sure it was Sedburgh where two pupils (bf/gf) ran off on holiday using a Dad's credit card. Naturally they were asked to leave IIRC.

M, I think she should stay where she is (unless being thrown out for low grades). My daughter considred moving schools at 16 (in London) and I am glad she stayed. It is quite comforting to be with your friends and a harder task to change schools at 16 when you have A level work to manage. Her current school is a very good one. Boarding is not a great idea suddenly at 16 either in my view. We have relatives at her current school (if I have the right one) and they are very happy. It is a good school. Also sixth form is different. She may find she starts to like it more.

Barnard Castle is also having a resurgence, accd to the locals. They do Pre-U exams as well.

I mean - I am not sure that Ampleforth's track record of safeguarding is anything to draw attention to at the moment...in case your ex is minded to Google.

But in that vein: Sedbergh is the other name to look at. In the village of the same name, Cumbria/Yorks borders.

If he wants to social climb:

Harrogate Ladies College }
St Peters York }

Closely followed by:

Ashville
Bootham

If he SERIOUSLY wants to social climb and doesn't mind paying for boarding then look at Ampleforth.

We are not bitter. We know our independent schools having researched them extensively for our own children -and/or we have direct experience of them!

Lots of Leeds based children are day pupils at the York schools. Do look at Ashville and HLC though.

Friend's daughter has just moved to St Peters in York for 6th form & is loving it. Further afield Pocklington does very well by individuals and you can board as flexibly as you like eg two nights a week.

Worth reading regarding (1) the recent court case (not quite over) and (2) the even more recent Charity Commission takeover of control (including of bank accounts) of two charities affiliated with the school:

www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/commission-investigates-independent-school-charities-over-catalogue-of-concerns.html

I worked for them in 2004 and some of what I saw upset me. Little kids boarding who were in floods of tears. Some very bad behaviour from the children towards their horses. Lots of overseas students who didn't have the best attitude towards the scholarship students.

That was ages ago I know and it's probably changed loads. I did have fun working there but was relieved when I left.

To put your mind at rest, I went to an agricultural college at 16 and lived in. Loved it and had a fantastic time. Also came out with great results so don't be too put off by the idea of your daughter boarding.

Kids at state 6th forms are still pushing for university and good grades. I've met self declared "gateways girls" before and TBH it seemed all they were trained for was how to be good little wives and bag a good husband

I'll get my coat..........

I have to say that MNHQ were utterly amazing when it all kicked off ....
Here is the bowlderised thread
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/education/a1982279-Queen-Ethelburgas-Harrogate-anyone
I have the full version stored

I suspect that QE learned about Streisland syndrome from it and will not kick off unless we push it too hard

I know two people that worked there. I wouldn't send my kids there if they paid me the tuition fees.

Please don't let her go there.

Ta1kinpeace
Does that mean I should be worried about paraphrasing the split school thing that's openly available on their website?
www.qe.org/the-college-or-faculty/

It clearly says that students in the college are focusing on academics (hence why the college results are so good because part of the the ks4/5 cohort is in a separate school)

I live in leeds, send her to Notre Dame, it gets great results and will be a fabulous stepping stone towards University. It's very competitive to get in. My daughter goes to state secondary and I'd rather boil my head than expose her to the nonsense at private schools (sorry I'm sure it's been a challenge for you with your ex) - let her experience real life and a variety of backgrounds and she'll get an "education" that is rounded and will serve her well later in life.

indianwoman
Under the Defamation Act, MNHQ were required to provide our true details to their lawyers
or be shut down themselves
Lots of people agreed to have their posts pulled straight away.
Some of us let our details be collected.
As it was QE did nothing (yet)

How can someone sue you if you post on MN? Isn't it meant to be anonymous? How do they know who you are in real life?

Um, I went there briefly for 6th form- it was a long time ago so I’m not sure how relevant this still is...but I wouldn’t recommend it at all. And I guess I’m fairly new here so don’t know any of the back story (happy to be sued though QE- serve me and I’ll see you in court 😁😝😘)

Maybe he's interested in the legal coverage? If he's got entities and suggests adding her as a director or secretary once she turns 18 you'll know his game!