Wellington for a 'quirky' DD

[HlnHny]

Opinions please on if Wellington College would suit a quirky DD? Is it big enough that she would find her 'tribe'? She isn't in the 'popular' group at prep, more on the fringes. She is an all rounder with a v high cat score and is confident, but with a quirky personality. She isn't enjoying being top end of current non selective prep, so preference would be selective for senior school. There has been frustrations with pace and some unpleasant singling out from other pupils. Perhaps with Westminster going co-ed that might be a better option?
Any other suggestions? preferably co-ed in the south east or southern midlands (we are just outside London near the m40) boarding with option to come home at weekends.
Prep recommended wellington but I'm aware it is hugely in demand currently and would look good on their destinations list.

My info is probably slightly out of date but I would say a big fat no to Wellington. Seems like completely the wrong fit.

Wouldn't somewhere more academic suit?

Preps def like to have big names on their Destinations list and I would be wary as their advice may be self serving-as I think you suspected.

If she's academic how about WA CLC and St Swithins?

Thank you for replies.

WA is a potential, but again I wonder if the fit is right for a quirky girl? I thought co-ed might be better with a wider diversity of pupils.

CLC I've discounted based on comments on other threads about it being a socially tough school.

St swithuns I felt a stretch distance wise as that m4/m3 bit of the motorway is always a nightmare.
Thoughts on st cats? Not quite as far as st swithuns.

what do you mean by quirky - can you give any more colour?

Wycombe Abbey or Downe House? I think St swithuns would not suit a quirky type.

Wellington probably the least academic of everything mentioned here and I wouldn’t have thought quirky types at sll. .

I'll try explain what I mean by quirky.

Eccentric personality. Really loves history, fantasy genre novels, quizzes (frequently asks me to set her a general knowledge quiz...likes to know stuff), v competitive. Happy to go her own way rather than conform to norms.

Probably Wycombe abbey? Def not Wellington. Downe house might be worth a look. But as someone above said “ a big fat no to Wellington “ I’d have thought.

Not Wellington and not Downe House either I don’t think. Downe House girls can be cruel to those who don’t fit the mould.

It’s a shame Winchester isn’t coed all the way through yet - from what you have said that’s the school that immediately came to
mind.

Most boarding schools are very much about social conformity. I wonder whether a day school might fit the bill a bit better. Somewhere like Oxford High?

Or if not, maybe Wycombe Abbey as others have suggested.

Or, very left field, Bedales? Not so academic but being your own person really is celebrated there - any number of eccentric and talented types…

Yes the girls or co-ed equivalent of Winchester is probably where I imagine would suit her. But does it exist?!

WA I think we will apply. Need other options though as so competitive.

Oundle? I would need to get over the strict full boarding but I feel I could if the fit was right.

WA is full of quirky girls. They’re all, as you know, very top end academically but with all sorts of personalities yet somehow all get along. In my opinion WA has a much broader selection of personalities than e.g. Downe House (which, for the record, is also a brilliant school).

Do you mean St Catherines Bramley? I’ve a friend who’s chosen it for her DD who sounds rather similar to yours. But day.

Is there no day school that would work? I’m not anti boarding for the right child but I’m not convinced a quirky “on the fringes” child is best suited to boarding.

Yes I meant st cats bramley, I'm aware it is mostly a day school with boarders, so a different offering really to WA/DH.

Day options would mean a long coach journey which she doesn't want to do, and she really wants to board. She gets stuck into everything she can at school and wants the opportunities.

She is good at making friends, by 'on the fringes' I mean doesn't spend time with just one group, she will switch between groups based on who is doing what and if she wants to get involved. She will go and sit with a book if she isn't interested in what is going on. Hopefully that makes sense

I don't know whether it would be the right academic fit, but Leighton Park had plenty of quirky students when my son attended

Are you Catholic? Because I think they require it and are fairly rigorous in enforcing/checking that you really are.

I hadn't realised st cats was that religious, (we are catholic but non practicing). We discounted St Mary's ascot as don't want a heavy religious element to schooling.

Thank you for suggestions, will look at bedales and Leighton park.

My son was at Leighton Park many years ago and loved it.

If you're going to look as far out as Bedales then Christ's Hospital would be worth a look. Very diverse backgrounds and a huge range of extra curricular so everyone can find their niche.SHe'd have to be OK with the unifor but it is an amazing school - one of mine went there for 6th form.

Sevenoaks? Co-ed, academic, diverse environment, plenty of quirk. A bit further for weekends than WA though

Leighton Park definitely. Come and look around its lovely. Or st Anne's in Caversham or Reddam house.

St Cats is CofE. Has chapel etc but many girls are not religious (we are not). It does seem to have a wide range of types. It’s academic and not uncool to do well.

Oh yes sorry I was thinking of the other “st” girls school St Mary’s Ascot.
St Mary’s Calne is C of E . Actually that could be a good call too OP. I think they quite like a quirky type - though there are plenty of horsey types too.

Bedes

@MrsMitford3 - Could you please shed some light on why Wellington might not be suitable? What kind of kids does it suit well?

@Calliopespa - Could you please shed some light on why Wellington is a No?
We have an offer from there and are considering it, so would like as much input as possible.