Girls Boarding School’s Reputations and Recommendations

[Mumthisis]

Hi all,
I’m considering girls full boarding schools for my DD and was wondering what they are like.
Such as,
Downe House,
Wycombe Abbey,
St. Mary’s Ascot,
St. Mary’s Calne,
Tudor Hall,
Benenden,
Sherborne Girls,
Cheltenham Ladies College
Heathfield, and
St. Swithun’s.
Can anyone share:
What the reputations of these schools are?
Such as what are the girls like who go there, are the nice and down to Earth, very rich and out of touch, academically pushy, are the girls more from country preps or London day schools?
Also how full-boarding are girls boarding schools these days? Mostly international girls or instead more traditional local British girls, is there much to do on weekends?
Which of these schools lean towards more traditional versus more modern boarding values?

What about some of the smaller girls boarding schools or ones that don’t have as many girls full boarding? Such as Mayfield, St.George’s Ascot, Malvern St.James, Roedean, and Queen Margaret’s School?

To add, admittedly it’s a small sample but based on a number of years. The families were neither very religious or Catholic, but girls baptised.

It’s wonderful to hear that your daughter is so happy at the school. My daughter also joined UIII this year and has settled in very quickly. However, she has one concern regarding her allocation to Airlie House for her senior years. She has heard that it has a poor reputation and consistently performs badly in house competitions. Could you share any insights into whether this is accurate?

Boarding houses at Wycombe are a source of great pride. The problem with that is that a new UIII girl may easily come away — depending on whom she has spoken to — with the impression that some houses are spectacularly great and others are just rubbish.

This is of course not the case. Talking up one house and down others is always done with a wink. WA girls are smart enough to know that one house isn’t inherently better than another. While the inter-house competitions are deadly serious there and then (best witnessed by the annual tug-of-war), no one cares (or even remembers who won) when it’s over.

In terms of sport competitions, they are (for obvious reasons) generally dominated by the bigger houses (Pitt and Rubens) and those houses that, through chance, happen to have whoever is the U16 British/European/Commonwealth Champion of X (WA is that sort of school).

There are really just two things that are important to a house: who the house mistress is and which other girls in that year are going there. In terms of house mistresses, at present they all seem good, and in any case it changes from time to time. In terms of friends going to the same house, it’s worth remembering that in practice WA houses work in groups. The three Daws Hill houses are inter-connected, as are Pitt-Rubens, and the outhouses spend a lot of time together (Butler-Berry/Campbell-Airlie). So, even in a small house, finding friends to hang with is not an issue.

Each house has some positive and negative aspects. Pitt and Rubens are new buildings and therefore not subject to the unique British country-style luxury of water leaks and broken boilers, but lack the charm of some of the other houses. Daws Hill is basically like living in a separate, Harry Potter-style castle, with oak-panelled rooms, but you have a long(ish) walk back and forth to school. The outhouses are charming (weird narrow, twisting hallways and staircases), and they are just a short walk from the main school (greatly appreciated after a tiring lacrosse match), but they are close to the main road.

For what it’s worth, I have heard only positive things said about Airlie. I’m sure a year from now your daughter will insist it’s the best of all the boarding houses.

Interesting summary from @DornfordYates .
Which corresponds with my view which is 40 years old.
I didn't know Pitt & Rubens had moved out of the Abbey!

Pitt and Rubens moved to new buildings in 2018, I think. Of course, with new, modern buildings come new challenges for the girls - like figuring out how to trick the night alarm on the door that separates the two houses...

Morning! I wanted to give you an update about our experience of St Mary’s Calne so far… Having moved from an extremely large co-ed prep school I was aware that it is quite a bit step to move to a smaller single sex school, however both daughters are extremely happy there. They’re working hard, but the campus is lovely, meals are fantastic and the girls are kind to each other. If you’re considering an academic school with lots of opportunities I would definitely recommend St Mary’s Calne! x

Good to hear. I got feeling it was less well resourced, less ££, than others like WA, Oundle, CLC & this affected what was on offer to boarders. I liked it as a day school.

Just curious how is sport at St M C? What are the main sports? Sounds a fab school.

Our observations of clc is they have all the sports facilities but the standard is pretty poor. No idea about WA.

We didn’t look at WA but chose Downe House over CLC and SMC as a better balance for us of ambitious academics with plenty on offer across sport, art, drama in a vibrant boarding environment with the best pastoral care. It is very much a countryside school though so not a good option if you wanted a town within walking distance

@MrPickles73- the sport has been the biggest surprise. The school has an affiliated Sports Centre on site. My girls are now back swimming training 4/week and have private tennis lessons. This term they are playing hockey and La crosse. Next term it will be netball instead of hockey. The school also has a competitive equestrian team and we have been to equestrian events and holiday training. I hope that helps- the campus is lovely.

Chiming in DGD is equally very happy and excelling at St Swithun’s! Which is bringing out her inner sporting soul.
Having come from a London Prep, she’s briefly met up with past classmates during fixtures at Claremont Fan Court and Downe House.

How’s the performance of science subject at A level in St Mary’s Calne?

Calne is strong across the board

I have a DD boarding at CLC and we and she are very happy so far.

It’s a nice cultural mix. Some very wealthy people of course but all girls and parents I have had contact with have been lovely and down to earth.

The weekend programme is amazing in my view - a few hours lessons in the mornings on Sat, then sports and usually something super fun on Sat night in House and on Sunday it’s Chapel / Church then a really fun outing for the day.

Extended phone time on weekends.

Our priorities were:

Academics
Music opportunities
Ethnic diversity
Pastoral care
Opportunities for her to practice her faith

I will say I have seen her a lot more often than I expected to; with all the sport fixtures and music concerts etc she asks us to go and watch. I am very happy about this - I was worried that it would be long stretches between exeats - but so far I am there quite a lot.

We also considered St Mary’s Calne.

From 65 A-Level students- 6 went to study medicine. Their science is strong.