Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Downe House / Wycombe Abbey / others? 2022

28 replies

KindnessisKey · 16/10/2022 00:59

Hello all,

Kindly requesting current 2022 opinions on boarding for girls 11+ / 13+ entries.

We are currently looking at schools for daughter post prep school. Our head has recommended Wycombe Abbey and Downe House as options. So am looking to current parents of these schools to find out how they’re getting on and any tips or information/opinions would be so welcome!

Also what other schools anyone might recommend as alternative options. I’ve heard St Mary’s Calne, Cheltenham Ladies (though not sure about off campus boarding houses), St Swithuns - so anyone able to share their thoughts would be much appreciated.

We are also open to co-ed too so perhaps Wellington College / Marlborough / Charterhouse? Or any others similar.

We have the Good Schools Guide but opinions from those currently in these schools would be so helpful to give us an insight.

Thank you in advance!

OP posts:
WayDownInTheHole · 16/10/2022 21:37

Are you Catholic? St Mary's Ascot is a superb school, and I would add it to your list if you are.

BookwormButNoTime · 16/10/2022 13:41

To clarify, Downe House has the biggest 13+ intake out of all the girls schools but their main entry point is still at 11.

BookwormButNoTime · 16/10/2022 09:19

It would be helpful if you could provide more information regarding your daughter’s interests and motivation. Right now your list appears to be a list of “big name” schools. That’s no bad thing but parents so often get caught up in what is “the best” school and disregard what is the “right” school.

For example, if your daughter is into football or hockey then I wouldn’t send her to Wycombe Abbey. They have squad teams only as there’s not enough girls to make teams for each year group. If lacrosse is her thing then WA is great.

Does she want to come home a lot? Would she be up for spending the full term in France at Downe House or would she be extremely homesick? Would she expect you to come and watch matches and how far are you prepared to drive? Are you both happy with her being a full boarder and not having her around at weekends? Wellington College has a very London centric pupil base with socialising in the city at weekends - can she easily get there?

There’s plenty of other schools to add to your list - Benenden, Oundle etc - but it’s pointless without any direction.

To further add that Wycombe Abbey has their main entry point at 11+, along with pretty much all of the girls schools, regardless of what your prep school says. Downe House has the biggest 13+ intake I believe. I would honestly move her at 11 if you want a girls school. 13, obviously for the co-Ed schools you mention. That’s surely the first decision you need to make?