GCSE boarding schools for independent teenager

[Talktoalexx]

Hi. New to Mumsnet...
My 13 year old is so keen to be independent and her current school is not very good so she asked if she could go to a boarding school during the week and come home on weekends. She would start in Year 9. Any advice for safe caring boarding schools for kids within driving range from London (SE1). Cant be too expensive re fees and I dont like the idea of academic grades getting you in to a school. Any advice?
Thanks Alex

State boarding schools? Otherwise you are looking at 25k upwards per year.

stateboarding.org.uk/find-state-boarding-school#south_east

Some are more academic than others, but most have main intake at 11.

Cranbrook is the obvious one I think, not that far from the south east of London either.

Christ's hospital?

But if she is 13/year 8. already you may be too late for year 9 entry this year.

What are you classing as “not too expensive?”

thanks all. super useful links and I have been busy researching all the advice. I can see some at £13,000 per annum. We could push to about £20,000 if it was really great. She isn't super academic so the Christs Hospital one looked a bit tough for her. She excels at maths but average in other areas. the state boarding school was helpful. Just finding the right terminology often helps! Any advice on where to best get reviews from parents on schools as well? Other than here :)

I can't imagine any independents in SE at 13k pa day fees, let alone weekly boarding.

You're looking at nearer £30 pa than £13k for boarding. DD's private day school was over £4.5k per term and she left 3 yrs ago. and that's without extras - sports matches, drama, outings

If you're looking for a start date in September 2021, you've probably left it too late. Most girls' private schools start at 11 yrs / yr 7, although co-ed schools will start in yr 9.

Any school worth its salt is going to be assessing the academic ability of potential student, and most will do this via Common Entrance or similar which is sat in Jan / Feb if memory serves me correctly. You're basically not going to get an academic school which does not assess your child academically. Any school that takes any child without, isn't going to be academic; they may be caring, they may promote independence, but won't push students academically.

I believe there are agents which will help place children but I don't know any to recommend. You could try the Independent Schools inspectorate - www.isi.net/ for information.

Thanks. definitely cant afford to go private so looking at state school options. wymondham college, st georges harpender, shaftesbury schools all seems to have borders for about that price. Are you suggesting that this type of boarding school might not be good options or just not rigorously academic? Which is ok for me. Its about a safe, warm, encouraging, well rounded approach (I am from NZ after all maybe thats why)...

Ardingly? Emphaisis is on all round, sports, music, not just academic.

I have no knowledge of state boarding schools, but your posts hinted at wanting somewhere with academic clout. Highly academic schools will be looking for kids who can stand the pace; they can offer a rounded education in a caring framework as well. But they will select on the basis of ability so whether that's asking for grades or setting entrance exams, they will check the child can function at that level.

Have you tried to find out a bit more about why your DD wants to be independent? Is there something about her present school that is being hidden from you, as you note it is not very good?

I think many of the state boarding schools are very over subscribed and there will probably be a requirement to prove why your child needs to board.

Independent schools will be impossible financially unless you can get a bursary. State boarding schools are much cheaper because obviously you only pay for the boarding aspect. They cannot charge for the education aspects.

Thanks. So much for all of the advice. Lots to go on here and discuss with her as well. Very kind of you all