Independent day school or state boarding. Anyone decided between them?

Also wrt boarding - is this weekly or full boarding you’d be looking at? Because so many boarding schools now empty out at weekends. Many of the independents have school on Saturday mornings but if that’s not on offer, you’d have to think very carefully about what happens at weekends. They talk a lot of talk about activities but that only fills so much time. Relaxing in the boarding house is not the same as relaxing at home.

He may also get far less independence boarding than he would at home. The boarders I’ve known have been very “young” when it comes to just navigating everyday life, because they are taken everywhere and managed so much, particularly 11-14 years. Imagine every leisure activity you do as a family but transposed into a school trip, so names on a register, head counts, being put into groups, given set times to do stuff. The freedom to just be a normal kid growing up is surprisingly limited.

What’s the motivation for boarding? That’s where I would start. If it’s not family need (jobs abroad etc) then what would he gain by being away from home that he couldn’t get by being a day boy at a good local independent? And I think KE in Birmingham is supposed to be very good isn’t it?

It feels like you’re comparing apples and pears to be honest. If he desperately wants to board for very good reasons then you have one basis to start looking at state boarding. But I don’t think it’s a comparable choice between independent day as state boarding.

Ultimately what educational experience do you want for him? If the state option beats the indy then great, but I’m not sure why you’d look for him to go away rather than benefit from an excellent school on his doorstep.

Also - the best and most lovely boarding school have their downsides. Until you’ve lived it you / he might not understand what it is like to not have your own space, the ability to manage your own time, the freedom to leave your own house and walk round to friends, plus of course not seeing your family for a week at a time. The novelty can wear off pretty quickly!

Hello again, I am local to Holyport College and applied for the day place along with independent day schools as backup option.

I went to Holyport College open day. Basically they give boarding spaces for families whose children need boarding spaces. It is a small school and intake only 18 boarders with 26? day children from Year 7. If you are super lucky enough you can get a space but otherwise no. Also they aim to send children to Russell group universities, so six form places are academically selective and not all children can go to the six form automatically. (I remember only 60% can go but forgot the exact figure) GCSE results are above average but not very high.

The school is calm and the pastoral care seems really good. They use Eton's facility for extra curriculums. All families I know there are happy.

My another state boarding suggestion is Gordon's in Surrey. I heard they have bigger boarding spaces and it is easier to get in but probably a bit too far from you?

It's worth to visit some state boarding schools and indies around you. Then you can see the differences.

Many state schools including Old Swinford are boarding comprehensive schools so therefore academically miles away from KES. There are a few with a grammar intake but I am not the expert on which. Eton does sponsor a school Holyport College so that may be worth a look at. Most state boarding school prioritise places for those whose family life means they need a boarding place.

Pros and cons in both, I would say. Your DS sounds like he is looking forward to that independence in a boarding school and I like the idea of giving a child what he wants, within reason. Otherwise, there is always a possibility that the child might have his own regrets - note these are purely my personal thoughts about this topic. My DS, in contrast, does not like the idea of boarding and would have to be coaxed into doing so. Another point I would make is that the level of education provided by a good state school may not be inferior to that in a good independent school. We looked at Cranbrook School in Kent (which is a very competitive state boarding school)- a little far for you but might not be such a big deal for boarders. 52 boarding places for Year 9 entry in September 2020: 34 boys and 18 girls boarding places. A substantial population of the students are boarders although more than half of the school are day students. The proportion of boarders to day might also be a consideration for you.

Re the more prestigious extra-curriculars and the more talented children - this can be a double edged sword. Dd is at the girls school next to KES, which has a similar intake and they get together for drama and music. Dd always loved drama at primary, but she's not been able to get into the school productions as the standard is so high - she failed to get through the auditions. Music standards are also very high - lots of kids are already grade 8 when they enter year 7. So yes, the standards in the arts are incredibly high and professional, but your ds might miss out. I guess similar is true in sport - my dd found she was quite behind in year 7, not having done netball or hockey at primary school.

My ds is at one of the Birmingham grammars so I can compare their experiences. Certainly they go more off curriculum at KEHS, whereas state schools are very bound by the National Curriculum. By year 10 and 11 it makes no difference though.

Both my DC are at an amazing state boarding school. DD is in Yr12 studying the IB having dine very well I. her GCSEs last year, DS isI in Yr8. Both very settled and happy at school, and enjoy being at home with no homework to do every weekend.

We chose the school over local indies and turned down scholarships for DD and a place at grammar for DS in favour of state boarding. No regrets at all.

Happy to share more via PM if it's helpful OP.

I looked at independent day, independent boarding and state boarding for my DS and now we are stick to independent day for him. State boarding school which we visited offers lots of extra curriculum but independent schools offer more prestigious opportunities. Also, there are lots of talented children at indies and they inspire other children and often they lead school orchestra and sports teams. In addition, indies offer more subjects for GCSE. Academically, the state boarding was not enough for my DS. We also considered grammars but they were too academic for my DS and we didn't want to push him too much.

My DH went to KES and I went to a state boarding grammar (about 50/50 boarders v day, but run very much along the lines of a boarding school not a day school with boarders). Selective for day and super-selective for boarders.

My DH had by far the better education even though the intakes were probably pretty evenly matched for ability.

I would second looking at independent boarding schools with large bursary funds and see what is available. Having looked at them for my DD, the difference in terms of facilities alone is huge compared with state boarding.

What about Adams Grammar in Shropshire? I’m not sure how many boarding places they have but it’s a sought after, academic grammar school so similar in offering to KES plus he could come home every weekend as you’re not far away? The exam is the Walsall/Wolverhampton consortium one, similar to the Birmingham grammars

Here you go, OP - scroll down and take a look. More than 70 boys at this school pay no fees at all - many others have bursaries that pay some portion of their fees.

And of course, the only boys who are awarded bursaries are the ones whose parents actually apply. (Trust me on this.)

Lancaster Royal Grammar School is a good choice for state boarding. DS is going on Sept as a day pupil but from what I’ve seen of the boarders, there’s plenty going on and a good mix of boys. It’s a fantastic school and I’m so excited for DS to start! Dallam is just a regular school with boarding and we weren’t that impressed when we looked around. I don’t know anything about Keswick school though, other than the location will be lovely.

Christ’s Hospital School offers a huge number of bursary subsidised places each year. Schools like Eton, Harrow and Winchester also have large bursary funds.

If you think boarding would suit (and he’s happy to do it) then what do you have to lose by asking the question to the schools about level of bursary you might be eligible for?

Like I said previously though, not all state boarding schools will be able to deliver the perceived benefits of boarding. St George’s in Harpenden is one of the best non selective state schools in the UK but there are only 10 boarding places each year - in a school with over 1,000 pupils. That could be just four other boys with which to make friends. I just wouldn’t do it unless there are large numbers of boarders.

I was meaning, the fees would need to be the same as that of independent day or state boarding.

Ah, I see. Obviously the fees at traditional independent boarding schools (public schools) are extremely high. But if you find a school you think would particularly suit your child you shouldn’t be put off without enquiring further. If you’re lucky you could be awarded a bursary of anything up to 100%. But it takes organisation, determination and luck.

In the nicest possible way (honestly), I think you need to think more closely about what exactly your priorities are. Independent day and state boarding will give you very different things. If it's school facilities, smaller classes, curriculum enrichment and academic but non-exam factory ethos that are your main drivers, then I would go for a good, academic independent day school (DS is a day pupil at a mixed day/boarding school of this type, and we get all of this in spades). But if it's the boarding experience that's the main draw, then go for state boarding, or look at bursaries at the big public school names. (Boarding wasn't part of the equation for us, as DS definitely didn't want to board, quite apart from the cost.)

the fees wouldn’t need to be the same as independent day school or state boarding.

Sorry, what does this mean?

The point we are making is that because you couldn’t afford independent boarding fees you may well be eligible for some degree of means tested bursary assistance at such schools. Have a look at some of the best known full boarding schools - these are the ones that have well established and well funded bursary schemes. Although you’ll need to get your skates on so you don’t miss deadlines.

Would agree with Bubbles here..a friend’s child has just left state boarding for a nearby independent. The experience was poles apart from what they had expected.

I never really understand the criteria for entry to state boarding schools - but had assumed there most be some element of (logistical?) need. Didn’t know people considered them as a straight alternative to independent boarding.

Certainly I’d have said a child clever enough for King Edward Boys might have a shot at a bursary for an independent boarding school. Is there a particular reason why you haven’t considered this possibility, OP?

Lancaster Boys Grammer has boarding
Dallam school has boarding as does Keswick school.

Lancaster grammar ??

Local Grammars...

The Royal Grammar school at High Wycombe in Bucks has boarding for 70 boys. There is a big RAF base nearby and boys from there might well be boarders so they have s stable education when parents are posted. It is also a requirement to pass the Bucks 11 plus. As a grammar, it does have great results.

Burford School in Oxfordshire also is a state school with boarding houses.

My DDs did standard boarding and this is more of a way of life. The top boarding schools are very special places. State boarding (my old grammar was one) are not in the same league.

In your position I would have faith in the iCal Grammars and your local independent school. I wouldn’t go chasing all over the country for cut price boarding. It largely doesn’t exist for parents like you. It mostly is there for parents who have to work abroad and are forced to leave their DC in the uk.