Boarding schools for average pupils?

@sadpapercourtesan
Are you a current parent? I’m interested in your comments as both my DDs went there and I was chatting with one about her time there today as she has been contacted by them as a successful alumni. She doesn’t know what to do about the request! Her time there was very much compromised by the former SLT. They have all gone though. So I would hope for improvements since our day!

Lord Wandsworth in Hampshire or bedales

Queenswood is cliquey and cold unless your daughter is one of the in-crowd. It's one of those schools where some alumni will say it was the best time of their lives, they made life-long friends, etc, while a significant proportion of others will remember feeling completely alone and unsupported. I wouldn't send a girl there unless they had cast-iron social skills and a tendency to let things slide off them. Pastoral care not up to much.

Oundle is NOT a school for academically average pupils. And neither is it a schools for average pupils outside the classroom. It is also a school for more self-starting confident students who have self-drive to feed their passions instead of being watched over to do so.

Students at Oundle are either naturally smart or made to work hard to still get good grades. Frankly, it does work and for what goes in at 13 and what comes out at 18, it does an amazing job (on the whole).

I would caution that average pupils might only be average because they haven't found the right environment to flourish or the right activities/interests to flourish in. Definitely seek a dialogue with all schools and any parents to get honest opinions.

I know Repton and Uppingham are less academic and demanding than Oundle but I really don't know what your baseline is. Good luck!

Heathfield in ascot or St George's Ascot sound like a good fit. They also both do polo lessons if she is interested in that.

Stonar in Wiltshire as a v good dyslexia unit, is very small and nurturing and good at the whole child, but the academic kids do well.

Queenswood is not really a good fit. Very little SEN there. Benenden is academic and not really suitable. Millfield is a much better shout. They are always said to be the most expensive comprehensive school!

Queenswood, Herts?

I have to second Millfield in Somerset. Originally set up as a school for dyslexia. Both my DC went there. DD very academic and sporty but did not need the LS.
DS on the other had took full advantage of all the LS available to him and did well enough to do A levels and is now at university.
Millfield has a fantastic arts department and also stables and equestrian centre. Funds permitting you can keep your own horse there.
Very expensive but lots of bursaries and scholarships available.
My two loved it.

Another here suggesting Mayfield, East Sussex. It’s strong on the Equestrian front and has an excellent arts/ceramic department….

However it’s not a cheap area of the UK to live….might not be an issue for you though.

Woldingham, Benenden?

@thelastallosaurus

Can it be single sex, or would you/she rather it were mixed?

Do you have other children?

Mayfield is very good on horses. Catholic, but not very.

Bedes near Eastbourne might well tick the boxes for you

Thoughts on Eastbourne?

Bedales. But be reassured that lots of schools look further than the academic side: everyone is average or below average at something, and the right school will allow your dd to shine at the things that she’s good at.

I was also going to say St Theresa's near Dorking, Surrey due to the equestrian angle.

PS and don’t know the schools in the midlands but have heard really good things about Repton, Uppingham and Oundle. I am not sure you’ll find anything down south so special it is worth the family upheaval.

We were surprised to find ourselves unimpressed by the quality of the art at both Bedales and Bryanston. Lots of impressive equipment, but not much evidence of drawing from life. The art at Frensham Heights and King’s Canterbury was much better. We really loved the drama and music at King’s Canterbury too and thought it was a better boarding environment.

It depends what you are looking for in a boarding school. If you are in the midlands, here are some suggestions in the broad area.

Bromsgrove offer full and weekly boarding. Most of the boarders are international students which some people like and others don’t. The boarders make up half the school. Bromsgrove is comfortable with a wide range of abilities from the ultra smart 45 IB point student to those who are more focused on sports than academic and everything in between. I’m not sure how they cope with such a cross section but they do and they have high value added scores. I think they still have an equestrian team but the horses would need to be stabled nearby. The music and arts are decent.

People I know with children with SEN have been really happy with Malvern. It’s mainly a boarding school with some day pupils unlike Bromsgrove which is half and half. The school setting is beautiful and it’s a smaller school which suits some Again I think they have an equestrian team with horses stabled nearby.

The other you may want to consider is Cheltenham College. It’s often a back up school for some of the bigger more academic names but again people I know who have had DC there have been really happy with the school. I’m not sure about horse riding there, however.

Tudor Hall would be good.

Abbotsholme is a for profit school. If you are happy knowing that's the first and foremost priority of the owners, go for it. But that culture runs deep and affects every decision. They will only do the least they can get away with doing and still attract parents and their children.

For that reason, I chose and would always recommend a not for profit school that has a healthy percentage of full fee payers and with management and governors who choose to spend that fee income to best serve and provide for the students in the school.

Personally I'd start looking close to you at the not first profit Midlands boarding schools before you go further...

Bryanston (Dorset) is strong in theatre and art, also has stables (you can bring your own horse/pony or ride a school pony) and pupils who compete at a high level. I think it has 400 acres. Over 700 pupils, most subjects have 8 sets.

I came on to say Abbotsholme but someone has beat me to it.