Any experience of Winchester College or Sherborne school?

@Rebeccajtaylor I suggest starting a new post on the Boarding School board, you are likely to get further responses there - people may not see you’ve tacked this question onto a very old thread.

@Rebeccajtaylor I have had my children at prep schools with many international boarders. I simply would not consider sending my child to a boarding school before 11, maybe a couple of days a week from 9/10 if they want to stay over with friends, but definitely no weekly or full time boarding before then. I would change jobs (sorry, I know this is hard to hear, I had to too) to provide stability and parental support. I’ve been moved to tears by FT boarders comments and need for family interaction.

However my children currently go to Winchester College as full boarders so I can offer up my experience here. At 13 they were ready to board, although we are even now at the school at least once a week for matches/events/Sunday jaunts. Boarding is a tough transition but rewarding for boys who want to take advantage of the numerous opportunities a great full boarding school offers. We’ve been very pleased with the pastoral support and academic teaching. Minor problems are ironed out quickly, communication is strong, and they learn tolerance of one another. We appreciate the focus on learning how to discuss and debate, consider other points of view, and basic manners. Having a don at the lunch table daily results in an ability to effortlessly be a good dinner guest which is a skill in itself. The school policy towards phones is very helpful too in terms of keeping them off devices.

Hi everyone,

My husband and I are starting to think about boarding schools for our son. He's only one, but my job involves a lot of relocation, so we want to plan ahead and provide him with stability. We've looked at a few schools, including Pilgrims (given his current age), Winchester, Sherborne, Truro, and Windermere.

However, we have some significant concerns, primarily:

Bullying: We're very anxious about him experiencing bullying and how schools handle these situations.
Mental Health: We want to ensure he'll have access to strong mental health support and a nurturing environment.
We're particularly interested in:

Schools with excellent pastoral care.
Robust anti-bullying policies and reporting procedures.
Comprehensive mental health resources.
Schools where children flourish.
Questions for the Forum:

Experience with Pilgrims, Winchester, Sherborne, Truro, or Windermere? If you have any firsthand experience with these schools, particularly regarding pastoral care, bullying, and mental health support, we'd love to hear about it.
Recommendations for other schools? Are there any other boarding schools you would recommend, especially those known for their strong support systems and nurturing environments?
How to assess a school's anti-bullying and mental health support? What specific questions should we ask during school visits to gauge their effectiveness in these areas?
How do schools handle children who's parents move frequently? What questions should be asked to ensure the school can support a child who's parents move frequently.
What are the key factors to consider when choosing a boarding school for a young child? Given our son's age, what should we be prioritizing in our search?
Any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

@SarahDorset that’s not very encouraging. Can you say anymore about what kind of bullying is going on and where?

SarahDorset - thank you for the insight. Based on your username, I assume you are based in Dorset? Are there other schools in Dorset that you have looked at and have insight into?

DS son now in his second year at Sherborne. Not directly the victim of bullying, but sees a lot of it and it upsets him. Housemaster is kind enough, but overall culture of the school not what the publicity led us to expect. The Headmaster talks a good game (a lot about himself), but in recent dealings with us has lacked integrity. We are not choosing Sherborne for our next DS and our first certainly doesn't want to stay for Sixth Form.

I went to Sherborne in the late 90s, so not a great deal of help I’m afraid.

It’s certainly very beautiful. Wasn’t especially academic at the time, but I imagine that has changed. I’m not surprised that bullying has been a recent problem. It was when I was there, although I escaped most of it.

Had friends at Canford, and they enjoyed it.

I've just scanned the thread but I just wanted to second Canford.
Good academically, great sport, seems to be very strong on pastoral care. It's been fantastic for us. Not too London-y iyswim.
Definitely worth a closer look to see if it fits your child.

@Oscarbravo Which of these schools are you referring to? We are considering one for DS.

Late to the question but I wanted to confirm the pastoral care is very, very poor at this school to the point that pupils may suffer long term damage.

I'm so sorry you had an awful experience, @Hellothere48928492, particularly having achieved so much in winning Election. I very much hope things are better for you now in whatever you are doing with your undoubted gifts.

Ok so a little bit of advice on Winchester: I went there for three years and then left. I was admitted as a scholar. Was bullied for my entire time there; I developed several mental health problems and it was a complete disaster for me personally. Facilities are rather lacking, but not too bad. Pastoral care is awful, and notoriously so. The master in college is particularly bad and tends to deal with things in an old-fashioned sort of way. Quite academic, but definitely on the decline. Do let me know if there’s anything you want to know, I know better than most.

I have a ds at Winchester and he is very happy there. It is an unashamedly academic school, with all sorts of interesting learning taking place. Happy to answer any specifics.

Agree with Vaughan... we have been really happy with Sherborne and my DS is currently there . I have PM’d you. He is choosing to stay for 6th, and has been super happy with the on-line live lessons during both lockdowns.

They may have ups and downs, but where doesn’t! Committed staff and they do have a handle and deal with issues as they arise from our experience. It helps if you have faith in the HMs.

The problem with asking parents about schools is that they (we) are generally over-invested in our own choices, so it can quickly descend into competitive arguing- you'll particularly see this when the question relates to two or more rival or directly comparable schools. The reality is that these leading schools are all excellent in terms of their educational provision, so it really has to boil down to what works and feels right to you and your child, and no one on MN can tell you that. There really is no substitute for personal contact with the school- visits of course, but also converstion with the Headmaster, Houseparents and other staff. I think Admissions teams are also very instructive- do they behave as though they are doing you a favour, or the other way around? Because this could point to whether the school culture places the child first, or the institution. For most of us this is one of the biggest investments we ever make, and any school you consider should be generous with its time and led by you in terms of the time and input you require to understand their school community and whether it suits your DS. Admission should be a process of discernment- it shouldn't necessarily be linear and it's not objective. If feels too much of a set-piece, that limits your view and suggests a lack of respect for you, your child , your decision-making role and choice.

Don't write Sherborne off, OP. We know lots of boys there from DS's prep school and all are happy- I honestly think their pastoral care is high priority. That may not always have been the case- it was probably more 'robust' a generation ago but there's much more emphasis on kindness and mutual support today. The Head is one of the best in the country and strongly 'anti-entitlement' and pro-social responsibilty. You have plenty of time to make your choice, and there are lots of options if you move to Dorset. For Winchester you'll need to engage in Y5 to secure a place on a House list, but for almost anywhere else you have a couple more years to research options and see how your DS develops . Good luck with your decisions, OP.

OP I came on here a while back to ask about the boarding houses for Sherborne for one of my DS.

I don't know about the bullying. Before we applied I asked some friends and a relative who had or have DC at the school, and this issue was never bought up. Considering DS is soft spoken and academic, I would have thought I would have been pre-warned, and I did directly ask as he is at a day school currently, so it is a concern.

When I asked my question here on MN, I did get DM replies and I have now mentioned your post, hopefully, one of the parents who currently have DC there can give you direct information.

You still have plenty of time if your DS is still only 8, to go back again and again, especially to speak to the Housemasters. Everyone I spoke to said the Headmaster is very encouraging about being kind and would not tolerate bullying behaviour. As a side note, I just wanted to say that Sherborne is one of the very few old top traditional schools to publicly show support for BLM - just something I noted as I saw it as a sign of empathy.

Have you thought of getting your DS to Pilgrims for y6? since they are probably the biggest feeder to Winchester. And I guess it would help if your DS is a chorister too - I don't think its too late to get into various choir programmes at his age.

Good luck.

I don't know Bryanston but yes Millfield is very sporty. I went there for an equestrian evening recently and the horsey facilities were gobsmacking.

As an aside, my son went to the (short lived)day school for Horris Hill in the early 2000s. HH always struck us as being traditional to the point of old fashioned. Of course it may well have changed since then.

I guess the point is that within 1 1/2 hours of Dorset, there is plenty of choice. Depending on where you end up living, within 2 hrs, you could reach schools such as Radley (know nothing about it)or even Marlborough (approx 11/2 hr drive from Sherborne).

Good luck with your search.

Canford? Co-Ed, good exam results.

If you're looking at West Dorset then you have quite a lot of choices. Dauntsey.'s in Wiltshire, King's Bruton, the various Taunton and Wellington schools, Milfield even Blundell's at Tiverton. There are probably more. Have you checked out the Good Schools Guide?

I'm sure you're aware (but just in case you are not) that there are an infinite number of threads here on Winchester - and comparisons to other schools?

I don't know Sherborne at all. I know Winchester a little (we considered it, and know several former and current pupils). Extrapolating from close observation of life at a similar school, I'd say both the child's and their parents' experience will be wholly shaped by the character of the house and the housemaster they end up with.

Which makes it horribly difficult to consider as far in advance as the process determines. Almost inevitably the house leadership will change either before or during your child's time there - which can lead to a fundamental reversal in their enjoyment of school.

Setting that aside, although I found some areas rather cramped and tired looking, Winchester seemed, on the whole, gloriously civilised - and somewhere this middle aged female would have loved to spend her formative years. (The family child preferred a brasher alternative.)

Obviously at this stage you won't know if your son is cut out for boarding at senior level. If he is, but would prefer some escape from ever present people, the school over the bridge from Windsor - where they all have their own rooms - might be a better fit.