Boarding 6th form with excellent pastoral care

[MackenCheese]

Hi lovely mumsnetters,
My DD is in year 9 and has struggled with school in general.too big, noisy. I have already moved her from an all girls high pressure grammar and she likes the coed environment but is still struggling with the sensory overload of a big school, and starting to drop attendance.

We are considering boarding to give her some space to thrive away from her brother, who has ASD/PDA and sadly " rules the roost" at home. (Those people with similar children to my DS will know what I mean)

Can anyone suggest a nurturing boarding sixth form in the Bucks/oxon/berks/herts areas? Before you ask : we did consider boarding for DS but he would have needed a special school, and we went through the mill with tribunal etc to get ehcp and still couldn't find a school place.

Thanks for your suggestions for DD.

Being a boarder at Sibford School is a great experience and one where memories that will last a lifetime are made. Having only a small number of boarders means that both pupils and staff get know each other well and there is a strong, supportive family atmosphere.
This is from their website, but I would strongly recommend it. It was amazingly nurturing to my friends daughter who continued to St Andrews Uni after boarding at Sibford.

@CuteCillian Thanks for replying, yes I have heard that name before. I will take a look!

Look at Bloxham, it's a small and nurturing school with great pastoral care. Whilst their SEN provision isn't on a level with Sibford's, they do understand the extra challenges that come with a child whose home life is a little more challenging.
One of mine has PDA so I get it!

Leighton Park Reading
wychwood Oxford ?

Thanks for the ideas. I will check these out x

Ditto bloxham, wychwood
rye st Antony
We felt sibford lacked the academics related to interests ds has - mainly just limited choice due to size rather than results/quality - and felt all the boarders were international students but that could have changed.

OK, I'll bear that in mind , thanks!

Not in your preferred area, but may be worth considering Moreton Hall.

Another one to consider might be Godolphin in Salisbury - very good pastoral, big enough to offer plenty for everyone, but small enough to be a close supportive community. Not too far off your patch!

Whilst I would have recommended Rye it's going to merge with Headington which is like culturally chalk and cheese.

Don't consider it.

I'm going to be moving my DD14 after GCSE so on the look out for a nice nurturing environment for A levels.

St Chris in Letchworth offers boarding and is a wonderfully different and nurturing school. My DS is a day pupil there. His twin sister is at Haileybury but is considering St Chris for 6th form as she hasn’t gelled with the high pressure environment and general culture at Haileybury.