Suggestions for a suitable plan B and C for Sherborne

[tachetastic]

After spending what feels like years of looking at schools, I think we are now pretty much settled on Sherborne as our first choice school for DS when he moves to senior school in a couple of years. He is currently at a boarding prep, so the full-boarding element does not worry us. However, his tutors at a recent parents event mentioned that in recent years Sherborne has become increasingly selective and there have been boys with academics similar to my DS that have been turned down, so they said that while we could definitely have a go, we should have plan B and C schools in mind for if that does not work out. I was quite shocked as I had begun to assume that Sherborne was pretty easy to get into, but perhaps not for boys with my son's academics.

My challenge is that all the other schools in the area that I would be happy for him to go to are harder to get into than Sherborne, and so don't really make sense as a plan B or C (Marlborough, Canford, Bryanston (probably)). The remaining schools are either too small for me and not at all sporty (Kings Bruton, Milton Abbey, Clayesmore), only have a small number of full boarders (Blundells) or are in the centre of Taunton (Taunton, Kings College Taunton and Queens College Taunton). Millfield is the only real contender that I see, however, my DS is very sporty but probably not by Millfield standards and I worry about sending him to a school where he would probably be on the C team, whereas he would be on the A team anywhere else.

We are looking for a full-boarding or mostly full-boarding school within about an hour of Sherborne (or slightly further if heading west as we live in that direction). My son is sporty but not Olympic standard. He was also recently diagnosed with dyslexia, which is another important factor for us. I am aware that the Millfield LSU is exceptional. While we are looking at full-boarding, I do also like to make it to matches at the weekend, and so schools further east are not really viable unless there is an exceptional reason.

Does anyone have any good suggestions I haven't thought of, or else compelling reasons to look again at schools that I have discounted? I would be super grateful for any insights.

I would say that Bryanston is academically broad and would be a potential back up. DS has friends there who are really thriving. Only thing is that if he’s a super keen hockey player I’d avoid as it’s basically gone over to football- no U14 boys hockey team this year.

Has your prep indicated what sort of ISEB scores Sherborne is looking for now? I agree with you that my impression is that Canford and Marlborough were slightly more selective and roughly on a par with each other but I’m a few years out of date.

Thanks a lot for that top tip re Bryanston and hockey. I am amazed that they are not even running a team. How did that go down with parents?

Hockey is probably DS's favourite team sport, at both school and club level, and he is at a prep school with a strong hockey team in his year, so that would be a big problem.

I have had conversations with our prep HM about school suitability and have been given indications as to where DS is in terms of standardised testing, but I did not even think to ask what scores Sherborne was asking for as I understood schools kept this information strictly confidential (in part I always imagined so that they could make an offer to a child that didn't do well at ISEB but that they like for other reasons).

It will also be interesting to see the impact of the VAT change on applications this year, and whether this encourages schools to be more open if they are struggling to fill places.

Thanks you for taking time to comment.

No worries- my understanding is that there are a few v good hockey players who play up as there is a team in U15 but there’s no way of knowing which way the majority will go in a given year and it seems the current Y9 is majority football. At Canford hockey is mandatory unless you choose to row but that’s a 2 term commitment and so anyone who wants to play cricket in summer has to play hockey in Lents.

it may be worth looking at canford- the hockey is v strong there with links to county and regional squads. I get the impression ISEB around 115 is good enough for boarding ( day slightly more competitive). The boarding is full ( no flexi) but in reality a majority go home about every other weekend- seems to get less as they move up the school. Big new sixth form centre being built.

I wouldn’t discount Millfield. Sounds like an ideal choice based on everything you’ve said. Lots of kids there aren’t Olympic standard and always plenty of teams for all sports. So what if he’s C team at Millfield ? Surely what’s important is he’s playing at the right level for him? Often Millfield’s B and C teams play against other schools A teams. Be aware that lots of schools that say they’re full boarding really aren’t. Millfield genuinely is.

Thank you. I think there is a bit of a culture shock for a boy who has always been on the A team to play on the C team, but I agree that it probably wouldn't be the end of the world so long as he was aware that the rest of the C team were also of the same standard.

The idea that the school sends multiple teams to different schools to play the As is interesting if that is the case and I will reach out to the school to confirm. That would make sense as what school wants to play a C team against the Millfield Cs?

I am fully aware of the issue re full boarding, which is why Sherborne and Millfield are on my list. My DD used to attend a so-called boarding school as a day girl, but whenever I had reason to visit school on a Sunday there would be a couple of international students entertaining themselves in the basketball court and the rest of the school was empty. It must have been quite bleak for any UK pupils left in on a weekend.

The other issue re Millfield is just the scale of it at 1350 pupils. That's twice the size of most schools. Is there a risk of issues/problems just not being noticed among that mass?

I wouldn't worry too much, @tachetastic. Whilst I can see Sherborne has had success in attracting academic boys away from more selective schools, it is still very much a broad entry and there are plenty of boys whose academics are not their main strength or who receive SEN support. In your shoes I would focus on sports scholarships- it sounds like your son would be very likely to secure one, and this would boost his chances (and boost his prestige in his year group).
In terms of a Plan B/C it might depend on how much of a self starter he is. My impression of Bryanston is that it suits some pupils fantastically but that to get the best from the school they need to be self-motivated and perhaps quite resistant to peer pressure. If he needs more of a guiding hand he might do better in somewhere with more traditional lines of authority and supervision.
As parent, I quite see that Sherborne sits in the sweet spot for boys sport, location, full boarding, size and academic breadth. (And it's such a special and beautiful place, which they appreciate increasingly as they mature). I'd probably turn next to Millfield, because although they have a significant day cohort the sheer size of the school means there are still lots of kids who board.

I am excited today because our DS are coming home for exeat by train for the first time- feels like such a milestone!

We have found Bryanston disappointing. It is run more like a business than a school. Under the new HM, the school has lost its quirky originality. It is also poor on special needs - they want round pegs and weed out children from the prep school who won’t make the grade. They aren’t interested in supporting children who are neurodiverse to conquer their learning difficulties.

Thanks @Clairey471. Interesting point of view.

I know half a dozen or so parents at our current prep school who went to Bryanston. Interestingly, not one of them is even considering sending their own children.

That said, they probably attended during the "quirky originality" phase in the eighties and nineties, so perhaps that itself was part of the issue? It's hard to tell.

My DB and I went to the Sherborne schools many many years ago. That was the voice for the local, all-rounders. Canford was where the rich people went, Bryanston musical and quirky, Milton Abbey not so academic and Downside catholic. Looks like not much has changed!

Downside is still v Catholic but back in my day it was where you got sent if you were "spirited" and needed straightening out- much more relaxed now I gather 😂. Milton Abbey has really leaned into the learning support side now, so arguably is not really a fully mainstream school anymore. From observation, the others have evolved over the years and who they appeal to has too - Canford went co-ed and is 33% day now and got more academic under current head. I definitely wouldn't say it's wealthier than either Bryanston or Sherborne now in terms of intake- in fact, probably the opposite. Bryanston is less "free flowing" than it was, arguably because not enough parents really want to pay £50k for that, and if they do, Bedales is closer to London. I still think it can be a good choice for the right student though. The Sherbornes still have a "genuine full boarding" offering and also the USP of single sex with the twin school advantage so if you've got one of each you can have them in the boys and girls schools and not have logistical nightmares over term dates and speech day clashes etc.

Don't envy you in choices. Sherborne is going through lots of change with new HM. Definitely wouldn't call it academic or selective. More broad brush and wouldn't recommend it for academic scholars. It is still boarding but quality of this is dependent on housemasters and there has been a lot of change there too! Sport is elitist which is a shame because enthusiastic boys get left out and they don't do anything for those not in teams and/or want to do sport for enjoyment. Music and Drama is good.
Kings Bruton shouldn't be discounted, nor Millfield.