six form boarding schools

[TealDeer020202]

Hi guys I'm a Yr11 at a boarding school - looking for a more academic boarding school for Sept 2024 entry specifically for humanities. (I'm a boy but prefer co-ed schools). I know this is really late but I've had a complex personal situation(s) so are there any boarding schools you guys know are open to accepting late applications or should I just repeat a yr.

Sorry u are in this situation. You, or helpful adult, is going to need to contact admissions offices at schools email or phone. The Good Schools Guide website will have schools by location, with short description.
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Example email or phone type discussion-

Subject: 6th Form admissions for Sept 2024

Dear Admissions Office-
I am writing to ask if there are boarding places available in your 6th Form for September 2024. I am writing on behalf of a young man, your name, that due to circumstances has missed the usual admissions process and deadline.

He is looking to study, (subject 1,2,3,or 4). Currently he studying at XYZ school and is taking GCSE in (list subjects), with expected grades of (list).

I would be grateful if you could reply, or contact me on Phone. If you do have potential open places, we would happily complete the application process.

Kindest regards,

Good luck!!

I don’t think you need to repeat a year. It depends what you mean by academic boarding school. Do you mean somewhere that accepts only people expected to get the highest grades so everyone is working at a high level? Or do you mean somewhere that will absolutely make sure you get pushed to be the absolute best you can be in whatever field you excel. If you’re happy to consider the latter I think there would be many options!

I shouldn't think you are too late at all.

Well I don't want to say what school I am at publicly - but the results aren't too bad - 16% of grades were 9s or smth around that figure - that being said I think the culture is too oriented to sports at the expense of academics so was looking for better schools. any idea where i could apply to

Hurtwood House an independent sixth firm in Surrey would be worth looking at ( although I don't know if they have any vacancies in September).

Form*

Oh I thought they were more of an artsy/drama school?

Doubt there are any shortcuts to be found on MN - use the search tool below. You will need to get on the phone and call. There are fees for applying, so you need to get on the phone to find where it’s worth applying. Are u just completing GCSEs? Or L6?
In any event,
There will be students who leave unexpectedly family move, change of circumstances or student violating policy. Parents won’t know… you need to call. If money is not a problem, get a schools consultant to do it for you.

https://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/school-search

Whereabouts are you based?

I'm intl - as long as its not like Gordonstoun and miles away from any airport I'm good

If international, then narrow your search to FIXED full boarding schools which are also academic. Most fixed full boarding schools (approx 1 in 40 boarding schools have fixed exeats only with no ability to go out on other weekends) so your choice of schools becomes quite narrow.
then get on the phone to admissions. With the potential VAT tax being added there may well be people withdrawing so you might be able to get a spot.
examples in the midlands are Oundle, Uppingham and Rugby.
in the south Marlborough and possibly Cheltenham College also Eton and Harrow but unlikely to get a place at these. There will be others but out of my geographical area of knowledge.
You will need to be working at grade 8-9 at gcse to be accepted at an academic full boarding school with 9s in your a level subject.
many fixed full boarding school will have ample students going to the airport at half term and main holidays so don’t worry about location too much as long as the school only has a max of two exeats per term plus half term when you are allowed out. You don’t want to be an international at a school where uk pupils are allowed out at weekends - because they go out and the weekends are a bit miserable as school partially shits down Sat/Sun as you don’t have all the pupils there to organise meaningful weekend programs.

I know some less well-known schools like Malvern, Sedbergh and Ardingly may still have places. Frankly, I've ruled out Sedburgh because a lot of people who get kicked out for bad grades/behaviour seem to go there - Malvern's results are similar to mine so not much point. Not a clue about Ardingly. But thanks for the advice

At this late stage I would literally ring up admissions yourself and ask them outright any chance of a place in sept ! Nothing to lose and you will get a quick answer.

Well done for being proactive and tenacious about finding a school that will suit your needs.
MCS in Oxford is mixed Sixth Form it’s not boarding but plenty of host families & one of most academic schools in UK. Kings Canterbury, Brighton College & St Edwards Oxford good co-Ed options.

For MCS how would the host family thing work - never considered a day school + host family before.

I would be amazed if MCS has a space for a ds in the sixth form to start this Sept. OP, you need to send emails to the Registrars of schools you are interested in this weekend, many schools close at the end of June for the summer. Any offer of a place is dependent on you achieving high GCSEs grades this summer and 9's in the subjects you want to study for A level.

I'm probably going to go with whicihboarding school (https://which-boarding-school.com/) not sure if they're good though?

A few good suggestions here. Also take a look at Shrewsbury, co-ed, plenty of international, doesn't empty out at weekends, good humanities subject offering, huge music dept definitely not all sports nuts. Or Oundle? Oakham? Christs Hospital? These are all academically selective although all different vibe. Closer to London more likely to empty at weekends which can be miserable for internationals but I'm not part of that crowd so don't really know. Swerve Sedbergh, its very sporty and not academically selective so doesn't fit what you want.

Or look at state boarding grammars eg Ripley or Lancaster, both academically selective with co-ed 6th forms & used to international pupils although boarding is much smaller. But much easier on the wallet.

There is often movement at 6th form so don't panic, get going with enquiries to admissions offices and see what they say. And good luck.

thx much for the help

Know a few families who had kids go to shrews - some were happy, some not so much. Quite a few complaints about too much focus on extracurriculars (especially sport) over good grades though. not sure if true but I've been firing off some emails and so on

I've PM'd you OP