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Boarding school

Connect with fellow parents of boarding school students on our supportive forum. Share experiences, tips, and insights.

Original poster

Any ideas for boarding schools 90 mins from London?

81 replies

justuptothebrimplease · 08/04/2023 11:14

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

OP posts:
Original poster
justuptothebrimplease · 26/04/2023 10:28

Thanks for all the replies, after an insane couple of weeks, we are now on the wait list for both Charterhouse and Teddies! We have looked round both and I'd love any insight into either, particularly Charterhouse as the review in Good Schools Guide hints at some challenges with the move to co-ed. Thanks so much!

OP posts:
bellswithwhistles · 26/04/2023 10:30

112 isn't 'middle of the road academically'

Your child got greater depth.

Can't help with schools, but your kid is not average!

Original poster
justuptothebrimplease · 26/04/2023 10:39

bellswithwhistles · 26/04/2023 10:30

112 isn't 'middle of the road academically'

Your child got greater depth.

Can't help with schools, but your kid is not average!

It is just above average in our school, and not enough to get into 99% of selectives. It's obviously not a criticism, I think my child is the best person I've ever met :) !!!

OP posts:
doglover90 · 26/04/2023 11:18

justuptothebrimplease · 26/04/2023 10:28

Thanks for all the replies, after an insane couple of weeks, we are now on the wait list for both Charterhouse and Teddies! We have looked round both and I'd love any insight into either, particularly Charterhouse as the review in Good Schools Guide hints at some challenges with the move to co-ed. Thanks so much!

What did they say? Charterhouse has been gradually going co-ed for a few years now and will be fully co-ed from Sept (I think), so I can't imagine it being a huge issue.

Rennypie03 · 30/06/2024 14:17

WEEonline · 10/04/2023 11:49

My DS is a bit of an academic high flyer which is why we chose Winchester over the others. Tbh it wasn’t that difficult to let the Eton and Sevenoaks offers go, but my heart (and also that of DS) still longs for those amazing assessment days at and visits to King’s Canterbury, which was originally our backup choice of convenience. Teachers are great, facilities are good (apart from the long queues at the shared dining and no separate prep rooms, but these flaws are shared by most boarding schools within 90mins from Ldn), I think the only thing holding them back is a less competitive intake. All of this results in a very normal, grounded, happy and driven school. If my DS weren’t at the top of his game academically, I would have chosen it over all of the others in a heartbeat.

Hi @WEEonline Pls can I dm you?

londonmummy1966 · 30/06/2024 17:33

If she's sporty and into drama Christs Hospital is definitely worth a look - it has its own mini version of the Globe theatre. Massive grounds for lots of different sports and a lot of interhouse sport too. I'd have thought 112 would be acceptable academically for them. Its very far from blingy -money is generally off limits as a subject of conversation.

She'd have to be happy with the rather eccentric uniform though!

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