To consider Malvern schools

[Schoolinfo1980]

Posting here for traffic really. Possibly moving to Malvern and wanted some info on the independent schools there. DD is 12 (yr8) and very academic. Musical and likes drama, less keen on sport but can be persuaded. Any advice or thoughts from local parents would be really appreciated. Thank you everyone!

At one of the Malvern independent schools, they taught the wrong GCSE English prose text a few years ago. In local private school circles we call that ‘doing an MSJ’. I’m sure it’s great in other ways!

Thanks for replying, I'd heard that too. How is it apart from that and how does it compare
to Malvern college?

Malvern College has great music and theatre facilities. The theatre has been extended recently and is used for lots of productions, music events and interhouse events.

It's largely boarding but does take day pupils too and they have the option of occasional boarding after events etc.

Sport is big there too but not so much so that you have to be keen on sport - some great female sports teachers , motivational and encouraging.

The only other one in Malvern is Malvern St James but that's single sex so not sure if that's an issue?. Not heard much about their reputation for music or drama but I don't think they have anything like the same level of facilities.

I think they’re both very well thought of. Malvern College is possibly a bit ‘quirky’ if that’s the right word? Both very well respected and expensive, I believe…

Haha I nearly mentioned this in my post!

Thanks for this. Do you know if there is a lot of international money at MC? Just wouldn't want her to feel isolated or left out because everyone else boards. Do you know how many do IB and how many do A levels? Sorry for all the questions!

I'm not sure of the IB/A level split but I do know that MC make sure that they have a balance of pupils from different countries so, for example, they don't rely on pupils from China or Russia etc.

You do come across some boarders that are "flash with their cash" but you also get a fair few local day students that are more down to earth.

The boarding houses vary a lot in that they all have their own quirks (some might be sports orientated, some more arty etc) so visit a few to find the right one for your DD.

I've also seen them accommodating disabled students and also those who are identifying as non-binary/trans - they've done this in very quiet and supportive ways, with the utmost discretion.

Thank you ever so much this is really useful info and impossible to get from anywhere else. I think we probably need to have a chat to both schools and see where we go from there. Obviously everyone at MC starts in year 9. So most of the senior girls at MSJ come from their prep do you think? I think I'm right in saying that MSJ has a higher percentage of day girls? Also get the impression it's less flash although suspect the facilities might be too...

Worth having a look at schools in Worcester as well, it's an easy train ride, and there are a few independent schools there to give you more scope/variation. Kings and Royal Grammar School are the big two. Lots of children travel in from Malvern

Agree with this. My impression is that the Malvern independent schools are a bit more Malory Towers, and the Worcester ones more modern in outlook.

Yes I think MSJ have a lot more local day pupils, probably due to their fees being lower.

MC by far has the better facilities I would say. It's campus is beautiful and seems to have a constant programme of refurbs and updating of facilities - fantastic sports complex and pitches, recently modernised and extended science building. Saying that, I'm not sure about any MSJ's recent improvements.

Thanks Bimble I wondered about this. Which of the Worcester schools is the most academic? Kings? From memory neither is very far from the station

King’s usually outperforms the grammar overall, yes.

Makes sense. DD is currently at a very academic day school, all girls so it's finding the right match. I'd like genuinely good pastoral and somewhere that can keep her interested academically along with nice facilities for her interests.

Easy walk from the station to either - for head RGS out of the city, for King’s, towards the cathedral.

I see. Do you know how they do in terms of universal destinations at all?

for RGS head out of the city 🙄

University

I think they’re fairly comparable overall. Traditionally King’s has the upper hand - but I don’t think there’s a lot in it.

Thanks all so much. I'll have a ring around tomorrow

MSJ has the edge for pastoral care I would say, there's been a fair bit of development of facilities recently and very strong academic results, on the other hand Malvern College is like hogwarts or something in it sheer beauty and grandness but if you're not that grand yourself that can be a bit intimidating/ostracising....

Thanks MOTU that's interesting about the pastoral care. Is it stronger academically? I'm in the early stages and haven't really started trawling reviews ofsteads etc yet. We also quite like the equestrian stuff there, do you know anything about that at all?

I'm going to mc in 2 weeks (Dp's old school event) and the current students are leading tours, I will report back

A friend worked at MSJ and found there were lots of international students who were not at all academic, or at least their English wasn't good enough for them to perform brilliantly academically.

Yes please!