Boarding School with Art

[ticketyboo2]

Hoping I can get some good suggestions for a boarding school with a great art program. We live outside of Britain so looking for a school with full boarders (not just weekly) and a fun weekend program, demographics more than just kids from Asia and Eastern Europe, down-to-earth kids (not richy-rich also not all type A), great pastoral care and hopefully South of England (at least, not in the North of England).
Does this school exist? We are looking for something special.
Thank you!

The Oratory School just north of Reading has an excellent reputation for art. It's an Roman Catholic school, recently turned co-ed.

https://www.oratory.co.uk/pupil-life/catholic-boarding-school-reading-london

What age is the dc? Do you want to start at age 11 or 13? All boarding schools that have full boarders are expensive so of course you need to be wealthy to attend. The international students keep the schools afloat in many cases. There isn't massive demand for full boarding for pupils based in the U.K. so there will always be an international element if you want full boarding.

aged 12 going on 13 (year 8, I believe)
Wealthy but down to earth kids (not out of touch)

Bryanston in Dorset. Co-Ed, big campus, you will need a UK guardian as there are exeat weekends (like most boarding schools now).

My kids went there (youngest left last summer). We are wealthy through our professions (not inherited wealth) we are not stuffy, and my kids are polite and not arrogant. We fitted in just fine at Bry.

Art scholars from DD’s prep school have gone onto Uppingham, I’ve visited for a sports tournament and it’s a beautiful school with great facilities.

Teddies in Oxford was quite arty. It might empty out quite a bit at the weekend though. I'm not sure if any boarding schools are 'down to earth' and most of the kids will be 'out of touch'. Boarding school is a complete bubble. Often a lovely, fun, safe bubble but I think you need to be realistic about what you are buying into.

I am sure anyone who is able to afford boarding school is "out of touch" in some respects. I just mean that I want kids to know that some people fly commercial. Get my drift?

You didn’t mention if you have a son or daughter, but if a daughter, St Mary’s Calne might fit the bill. Excellent art program, in the South, small and non stuffy.

You could check out Sutton Valence? I've visited, it seems like a really nice school with a good atmosphere and endless activities. It is (I believe) non-selective, so you get a real range of families. It's in the South, in Kent, and has full boarding as well. The reason I mention it is because I was very impressed with the art department! By far the best art on show of the many schools I have visited in the SE. They also have an impressive sports programme. Good luck!

Bryanston.

Both St Mary's Calne and Downe House have always impressed me with their art exhibitions, though I think both schools tend to empty out quite a bit during weekends.

St Mary's Calne is quite a 'horsey' school, but the girls have always made a good impression. Downe House is not known on this site as a school with down-to-earth students, but the students I have met have come across as polite and friendly.

….aged 12 going on 13 (year 8, I believe)

Most schools will have settled their year 9 intake a long time ago!! You need to get a move on and may well be facing waiting lists.