Any ideas for boarding schools 90 mins from London?

[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

Any

Having had one child go through King’s, I’d say if pastoral care is high on your list, look elsewhere. You’d be better off looking at St Edmund’s Canterbury with your list of priorities tbh (I’ve also had two children through there). Bryanston would be a lovely school but I presume that’s a bit too far for you?

I've been looking into Teddies and it sounds like a fantastic fit for a very sporty arty sociable girl who loves drama. We have booked into an open day but would love any insider knowledge from current parents as it sounds like there may be a few on here! Does anyone know if weekly boarders have to be back at 9pm Sundays too? Ideally we'd like 2 nights at home per week. Really appreciate all the advice on here x

They do have to be back by Sunday evening (I think just to avoid chaos on Monday mornings), they can go home on Saturday after their sport commitment. It is honestly a lovely school, the kids are really nice and it has a nice ethos and atmosphere. The teachers are great and do put on a lot of clubs, lectures, events to stretch kids who are interested in their subjects but there is also a lot of support and understanding for those who struggle in a given subject. The North Wall theatre is a great asset - it attracts interesting theatre from outside the school too.

I wouldn’t send my child to Epsom after what happened there in February. The school will be reeling from the shock and trauma for some time.

Teddies is an excellent school.

Anthony Seldon has settled the school quickly as acting head, the school had a higher level of acceptances for year 7 starting in Sept than expected.

Lord Wandsworth College, good all round school, lots of sports and known for its pastoral care.

about 80% of the suggestions on this thread are not in the area you are talking about (Oundle, seriously?)…either MN geography or literacy is not what it should be…

Four ideas for sporty all rounder co-eds in the actual area you are talking about, not overly academic:
St Edwards Oxford
Bradfield
Caterham
Epsom

When you say weekly boarding do you mean no Saturday school?

That would shorten your list of possibles.

Thank you, I'm now obsessing over Teddies and Bradfield. Teeny tiny slimmest of chances for either for year 9 but will keep on plugging away. This post has been genuinely incredibly helpful 🙏 thank you so much 😊

I mean weekly boarding as in they can come home after fixtures on a Sat. To be fair I think most full boarding schools allow a Saturday night at home nowadays.

Have you thought about Bedales? Fits your location criteria.

Are you looking for this September? If so, highly unlikely to get either Bradfield or Teddies. LWC is probably also wait list for this year.

Almost all of them around here now do their assessments in Y6 for a Y9 entry

Shiplake is going fully co-ed but Y7 from this year, so Y9 from 2025.

Maybe Leighton Park would still have space? Pangbourne?

@justuptothebrimplease I didn’t realise from your original post that you were looking for a Y9 place in 2023. Makes things much harder although not impossible. Do you mind me asking why you are only just looking now? And where is her current school in all of this - is she in the state sector?

My advice would be to stick at it. Call the registrars, be nice, explain your circumstances, send over any test results you have (eg CAT scores) and school reports. Many families are still sitting on multiple offers from these schools and we’re getting to the point where they have to choose which one they are going for, which leads to places being released and a lot of shuffling about. Spaces can open up right up until September, if you can keep your nerve.

Some boarding schools do not offer any option to go home after sport on Saturdays. My dc are at Oundle which is way way out of your geographical zone. Not only that, it is academic and strictly full boarding.
I know nothing about the schools within 90mins of your home but do check that they are at the appropriate academic level for your child and that they do allow children hoke after Saturday matches (weekly boarding ) but aso there are enough boarding Monday through Friday without flexi in the week aswell. I’m sure you will have several options even at this stage. No end of children chop and change around now to august and there may well be spaces at several schools. Ring up and put your name down for a few.

Yes unfortunately we are looking for this year, due to an unexpected need to relocate

Yes, we are all good for senior education where we currently live, and have been thru the standard process in prep school, but unfortunately need to relocate shortly so back to square one...

In which case make a long list and get phoning. Be honest with them and fingers crossed one of them have a space.

Bede's in Sussex could be a great fit. Strong pastoral care and really celebrates children as individuals.

Hi
i would phone all potential /you like the look of schools in radius and explain the relocation as the reason for a late enquiry. A friends dd got a place at a hard to get into coed boarding school around this time last year when a family illness led to the need to move her asap - my friend phoned about 20-25 schools and several took her details. Two got back and offered to assess and then both offered places for the autumn. Kids do have to leave, families move etc all the time. Loads of people hold multiple places until the last minute then withdraw.

We are Oxon based. Agree from my own knowledge I would call
teddies
bradfield
bloxham
pangbourne
wychwood (just gone coed)
rye st Anthony (ditto relatively recently coed)
shiplake is coed but not sure on the arts/drama provision
leighton park

These might be a bit far but we really liked when we visited
Dean close
marlborough
kingswood bath
Dauntseys

Another vote for Westonbirt

Farlington School https://www.farlingtonschool.com/1996/farlington-school-horshams-only-co-educational-independent-school-for-ages-4-to-18?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsM3FnO-6gIVlODtCh1kAA76EAAYASAAEgI5lvDD_BwE

OP how are you getting on phoning around schools?