Mumsnet hive mind needed pls

[justuptothebrimplease]

Am so hoping the collective Mumsnet mind will help match my daughter to the right school as I really don't know where to start!!!

I'm looking for a 13+ co-ed weekly boarding school place for our girl. She is very strong on sports, drama music and art and middle of the road academically. 112 sats score.

She's outgoing and makes friends easily, but is a sensitive girl and would suit an environment that has a high standard of pastoral care.

We aren't into hothouse environments, and obviously her scores aren't high enough for the most competitive schools in any case, but we would love to find a place where she can be gently encouraged rather than strongly pressured to do her best.

We are looking roughly 90 minutes travel time around London so Surrey, Sussex, Oxfordshire etc etc and will probably rent a place near the school in any case.

I'd be so grateful for any pointers as all schools seem to say the same thing about themselves!!!

Thank you so much

Bump for you

Mine is at a lovely all girls one in Oxford. Small class sizes great facilities and all about the individual girl. She flexi boards and the boarding house is lovely.

Not sure why you specifically want mixed but there are at least two in Oxford that are great.

Sorry forgot to say my daughter is at Rye St Anthony. It's catholic but we aren't religious and lots of girls of different faiths.

Not so sure that this is as relevant for boarding schools, but in my dim and distant past I looked at the local colleges that had the best feed rates to university, then the secondary schools that fed those colleges (if not already 6th forms) etc, working backwards.

I would anticipate that boarding schools have better feed rates, so it's more about the softer side of things (any particular sport / music / etc requirements, and general culture of the school)

Why have a child and pack her off to a boarding school?

You've missed the boat slightly as they've dropped the entry age but try St. John's in Leatherhead.

Also interested in knowing the reasoning?

I think you’d be better asking for this to be moved to the dedicated Boarding School topic OP

Otherwise you’ll get more holier than thou answers asking why you need boarding school when it’s none of their business and not what you asked

The Boarding School board is here:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/boarding-school

(Can’t imagine why you thought the board dedicated to aggressive argument would be the best place to get advice on boarding school!)

Ha ha yes it never takes long! I'll move the post. And for those genuinely interested rather than looking for an argument, she is already at a prep boarding school, persuaded us to upgrade her to 2 'sleepovers' a week which are the best fun ever and is now desperate to move to weekly boarding at her senior school. Boarding is much more fun than being at home with your parents if you know you aren't stuck there all term

Mine boards two nights a week, more if I have to travel for longer but she loves it and happily stays for a week or so when needed.

I'm a lone parent so it's so so helpful to know she's in a safe place and well cared for.

My daughter is at Rye St Antony, it is a day/boarding school. Very nurturing. Beautiful grounds and down to earth. No hot housing.