Boarding for sixth form- which school

If it makes any difference, 2019 results were 54% not 53% A*-A at A Level at Roedean.

Sorry but Roedean's sixth form needs to have an update. They have chased grades for a couple of years and at 53% A*A they are not exactly shooting for the stars compared to GCSE results. Their 6th form is run by 2 unlikeable but nonetheless accredited ladies who, despite protestations, are not representative of the school's ethos. The sport department is friendly and have some accomplished players but rarely a whole good team. The international element is generally a good addition to the social mixing and there are some lovely girls at this school. In all, there are dysfunctional elements which must be addressed to ensure the girls in the lower part of the school stay on for 6th form. At the heart of it they need to lighten up and bring the loving support given to the boarders to the whole 6th form. Noone achieves much under pressure.

I am not the expert on boarders at Westminster so will bow to the experience of others but from memory, we were told that about 70 girls join in 6th form and that only a third are boarders. Given that girl boarders can go home on a Saturday, that can leave less than 20 in a year group in school. That does create a different school dynamic from a proper full boarding school. Having said that, I agree with others who have said the school and the opportunities open to pupils by to living in central London are amazing.

There are plenty of girls boarding at Westminster doing languages, English, maths A levels and also the usual History, Geography etc as far as I hear.

We had the same criteria and narrowed it to Rugby and Uppingham, Marlborough would have been on the list but was geographically too far. In the end DD went to Rugby and had a wonderful two years. She was in the new girls' house, which worked brilliantly, she made lots of lasting friendships in and out of house.

The school is beautiful and although the town is not exactly 'naice' it's lovely that they can walk into town to have a coffee, get any things they need or go to Pizza Express on the weekend.

My son is at Millfield and loves it. Amazing sporting and other facilities, small classes with good teaching, beautiful countryside - he loves it.

Have you looked into state boarding? Peter Symmonds is an excellent state boarding, with a minimum criteria to get in. Experiences of family & friends who have gone down independent sixth form schools have regrets. State sixth form offer a whole lot more. We have recently given up our very generous academic scholarship for sixth form and will be going to state.
Best advice is do your homework and don't rule out state. Good luck!

It might depend on subject. DD was a scientist so her boarding friends were more likely to be overseas. The others we knew had switched from schools like Cheltenham Ladies and Wycombe Abbey. (A few seem to tire of the trad boarding environment at 16.) Given they used to stay regularly with day school friends I assume they were not boarders either.

Plenty of London girls boarding at Westminster @needmoresleep, I know a few (happy) girls there who came from London schools.

Sorry Dancing. We seem to have experience of different schools. None of DDs boarder friends came from London.

Being in Central London means that many activities happen outside school. Art history students have any number of galleries to visit. Drama and music are really strong and involve practice and rehersals. DS regularly went to public lectures at the LSE with friends and scientists did similar at the Royal Societies. Sunday evening supper was not provided, but DD used to join Asian friends for noodles in Chinatown.

No not exactly jolly japes in the dormitory. But for the right engaged and interested student, living in central London is a huge opportunity.

Sorry I didn’t mean to mislead. Yes Westminster and Wellington offer full boarding however many seems to leave on Saturday evening. I agree Westminster is a fantastic school but it is a different experience. It was obvious when we visited that at both these schools the majority of DCs went home at the weekend. Westminster particularly seemed to attract a large number of girls from the London super selectives so it was easy to pop home on Saturday evening for parties with London friends etc. It certainly didn’t offer the range of activities that other full boarding schools offered. Quiet was how the house master at Westminster described the weekends to us. I certainly wouldn’t say that about Marlborough.

My DD knows people who went to a range of boarding schools and they all enjoyed them but the experience was different where they didn’t have the school organised 6th form activities. Rugby has similar 6th form weekend activities to Marlborough but there seems to be less freedom to leave the house in the evenings and the town isn’t so nice to wander around at weekends. Marlborough just offered a great all round experience rather then just an education. That may not be what some are looking for but my DD loved it.

If you don't mind the north, then I would say definitely come and have a look at Sedbergh. It is very much a full boarding school meaning there is lots going on outside the normal school day, and weekends, in a beautiful setting. My SS have attended all the way through, fantastic opportunities.

Dancingdreamer, your information is wrong. Westminster is weekly boarding up to sixth form, but offers full boarding for sixth form. They have Saturday morning school and plenty of Saturday afternoon fixtures and activities, plus allow day pupils to join evening and weekend meals, indeed even breakfast. There tends not to be much of a social separation between boarders and day pupils. My DD often went on to do homework with boarder friends on Sundays, and both DC regularly had boarders to stay.

My impression was that the school was keen on girls being full boarders. It is a wonderful school and one worth looking at. I would hate for false information to put op off.

I am a house parent in a boarding house in lincolnshire. Our boarders are amazing. The experience they get ie meeting and living along side people from different countries and cultures is so worth while. They move forward to college or university with more life skills than my son did . it's a great transition kind of half way from living at home with parents to moving on in life

We were in the same position a few years back. We narrowed the choice to Westminster, Rugby, Wellington and Marlborough. In the end DD chose Marlborough and had a fantastic time.

I think Westminster was the most academically selective. DD loved it but didn’t get a place. However, like Wellington, it is mainly a weekly boarding school and with hindsight, there were huge benefits of a full boarding school. Socially at Marlborough there was a lot going on at the weekend which helped to create firmer friendships. There are lots of 6th form events and parties organised. The town is also lovely to pop into on a Saturday or Sunday for coffee or lunch.

My DD didn’t like the idea of joining a new 6th form house as she felt it would be ostracising from the main school cohorts so discounted Rugby. Marlborough has a large intake of girls who mainly join one of four boys houses which take girls in 6th form. This has the benefit of being part of a new intake but also quickly integrating with existing pupils. Wellington was also eventually discounted as it was mainly weekly boarding in 6th form and just didn’t offer the weekend activities that Marlborough did.

Academically Marlborough is very competitive for 6th form. DCs do well if they want to but they have to be self motivated. The school prides itself on developing well rounded DCs and it certainly broadened my DD. There is loads of sport as well as amazing music and drama.

It can be a tough environment so DCs will need to be robust but for the right DD it’s an amazing school. Do take a look.

Charterhouse will be going fully co-Ed in September 2020

@BubblesBuddy yes sorry I was thinking Charterhouse not Eton! I didn’t realise Harrow UK only accepted boys. my DS attended Harrow overseas and it was mixed. So I assumed would be the same here!! Sorry for not checking

My kids are at Lord Wandsworth College, which is in Hampshire. Not a big name so is often over looked. Fantastic location and lovely boarding setting and staff.

Arewedone: Eton and Harrow are not mixed. Definitely boys only!

I would look at Rugby. Charterhouse takes girls in the 6th form. Marlborough is highly competitive for 6th form entry.

I’m never sure separate boarding for newbies is best. It just keeps them separate and hinders integration. The existing pupils can just ignore the new pupils if they wish.

Most schools offer what you have listed but I do agree that you should stick to 90 mins from home. In fact 1 hour is better. You want to support her at school when required.

Oh forgot to add St Paul’s boys will start admitting girls to the sixth form in 2 years time which would definitely be worth looking at!

Sorry missed mixed- remove Benenden, St Mary’s, Wycombe!
Maybe add Eton, Harrow.
SevenOaks for iB
Number of friends just left Ampleforth and loved it.
Cheltenham College great sporting and location ( not Ladies)

Westminster, St. Mary’s, Wycombe Abbey, Benenden, Sevenoaks

Bryanston? Amazing sports, reasonably academic (bright kids tend to do very well, but those who struggle to motivate themselves can be left to doss a bit), and in a beautiful place.

Forgot to say, Rugby town leaves a lot bit to be desired, but the school itself is beautiful.