Page 5 | Full boarding options for boy

Conniedmack · 2025-03-24T12:46:38+00:00

Hello, after some advice on boarding schools for my son. He’s smart but not genius, middle to upper level although he’s just started at his prep after 4 different schools abroad. He’s great at sports, easily makes friends, enjoys currently boarding weekly. Wondering whether I should bother with schools that seem so hard to get into, many tests (Harrow, Marlborough etc). I worry the pressure would be too much for him, he’s currently 10. He is an avid reader and huge depth of knowledge on many things, I’d say a self learner who absorbs knowledge when delivered by an aspiring teacher. He is a 10 yr old gregarious boy who’d currently prefer to rough and tumble rather than study for exams. Loves hockey, rugby and football. Not sure he’s scholarship material (although hard to assess at this age). Any advice on the type of school that is looking for boys beyond the academic grade but rather the thinking, intuitive adaptive child. He wouldn’t do well at a hothouse. So far I’ve looked at Sherborne and Radley. Booked in to tour Canford and maybe Harrow and Stowe.

Original poster

Conniedmack · 18/10/2025 06:50

RoxyMilo · 18/10/2025 00:02

We are considering Greshams at present. Pastorally it stands out against the others. I wouldn't even entertain Uppingham. I hear too many horrific stories from parents there, the bullying story in the press is true, they are very stoic, encourage cheating in their sports matches (I have witnessed this twice for myself and heard many other stories) and the way they treated the Maidwell parents and closed that school speaks volumes! We have many friends at Oundle and their children are thriving, but it is an academic hot house. Same for Rugby, would recommend but it is a hot house too. Good Luck!

Thank you for your message. We’ve applied for Sherborne and Marlborough and will also visit oundle although it’s a a lot further away from likely UK job and family but I never hear anything bad about it and have friends with children there who are incredibly happy. Greshams looks fab too but just wrong side of the country for us. Many thanks

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Nuala4 · 18/10/2025 10:30

DD went to Rugby. It is academically strong like Oundle. Each of the boarding houses have the most beautiful large gardens where they dine in summertime (subject to weather) and the very large ground are simply beautiful. They just win an award for their grounds gardens. Dining is in their boarding houses which are high ceilinged and all really lovely having been modernised sympathetically. The train from Rugby takes 1hr 20mins and have a good mix of international students. When we were looking five years ago we kept being told by parents that Rugbiens come out of school as well rounded individuals, socially confident and just nice all

SchoolsMum · 20/10/2025 15:40

Lots of good suggestions here for you @Conniedmack - but do be really careful to make sure you're looking at the "full boarding" provisions as previous posters have said. There are very few schools now that don't have a large percentage of children who head out for most weekends. Rugby, Harrow, Marlborough, Oundle, Millfied, Bryanston, Eton, Canford (though officially they are allowed home, most stay in) are a good place to start. Don't be put off by schools that say they are running waiting lists in this environment. Do PM if you want more independent advice as I know all of the schools well.

Original poster

Conniedmack · 20/10/2025 16:16

SchoolsMum · 20/10/2025 15:40

Lots of good suggestions here for you @Conniedmack - but do be really careful to make sure you're looking at the "full boarding" provisions as previous posters have said. There are very few schools now that don't have a large percentage of children who head out for most weekends. Rugby, Harrow, Marlborough, Oundle, Millfied, Bryanston, Eton, Canford (though officially they are allowed home, most stay in) are a good place to start. Don't be put off by schools that say they are running waiting lists in this environment. Do PM if you want more independent advice as I know all of the schools well.

Many thanks @SchoolsMum for the suggestions. I was going to look at Harrow as the location would be ideal but have been told they have now so many foreign children (not that I’m adverse to international mix of nationalities) but you don’t want anyone culture overshadowing. Not sure how accurate that is. Have applied for Marlborough and Sherborne (although Sherborne isn’t the best location for us). Difficulty is I have a daughter to follow or move year 7
so need to find a girls school close by or then do a through school. Rugby too far north and soundly probably is too although never hear anything negative about the school. But when in the UK we will likely be based London or south west.

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Nuala4 · 20/10/2025 16:33

Conniedmack · 20/10/2025 16:16

Many thanks @SchoolsMum for the suggestions. I was going to look at Harrow as the location would be ideal but have been told they have now so many foreign children (not that I’m adverse to international mix of nationalities) but you don’t want anyone culture overshadowing. Not sure how accurate that is. Have applied for Marlborough and Sherborne (although Sherborne isn’t the best location for us). Difficulty is I have a daughter to follow or move year 7
so need to find a girls school close by or then do a through school. Rugby too far north and soundly probably is too although never hear anything negative about the school. But when in the UK we will likely be based London or south west.

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@Conniedmack Rugby is full boarding and does not allow pupils to go home at weekends unless there is a special request in advance and usually only for family reasons or academic/sport/music. It is also co-educational and having had a DD there recently we chose it as it has been co-educational for 50 years with girls fully integrated into the ethos of the whole school and it is almost 50/50 boys and girls.

Ezi03 · 23/11/2025 10:30

Nuala4 · 10/04/2025 12:14

DD goes to Rugby and though there are day pupils they are less than 20% with over 80% being boarders, this is one of only very few full boarding schools remaining. Rugby certainly offers a great balance as although academic it is by no means a hot house and certainly not as pressured as some of the other schools mentioned above. Sport is fantastic as is its co-curricular programme. Being 5 mins from the train, just under an hour from Euston station London it has a good balance of UK and international students / UK students with parents overseas. Pastoral care is fantastic and the weekend programme of sport, fun socials across each year and in-house are much loved. Exeat every third weekend and 3-4 weeks holidays at Xmas and Easter. Cannot recommend it highly enough. We looked at Marlborough, Wellington (most go to London on weekends), Oundle and Uppingham (both are entered around just a small village) also Stow however too isolated. Rugby town may look a bit run down but the pupils love it offers a selection of coffee shops, restaurants, charity shops and large ASDA to stock up on and can pop into town after lessons daily and once 18 they can go to certain pubs on Saturday night. DM me if you have any questions.

Hi there. Will dm you. I would like to know more about Rugby school pls

Smudger72 · 30/11/2025 23:06

Conniedmack · 25/03/2025 18:43

Thank you for your advice. I do like the look of Oundle but it’s a heck of a drive to see a sports match but does look ideallic. I will definitely go and visit. How is your DC liking Oundle?
I always thought Sherborne was full boarding, I have visited but didn’t love they shared facilities with the public and their dining hall was in a public pedestrian area. Maybe I’m being fussy.
many view on Radley? I haven’t considered Rugby so will have a look and yes Marlborough is on the list, just was worried that it’s become very popular and thus hard to get into but I guess worth trying. Going to visit soon. Pastoral care is most important for us especially if we are abroad as only family is in Kent so need a school that actually cares about my child and takes and interest and is a role model, inspiring teacher. And I’d hope this would be standard given the fees 😵‍💫 thank you for your advice, most appreciated

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Sherborne is most definitely full boarding with lots going on every weekend with socials/trips and activities - often with the girls’ school.
Boys’ and girls’ school have same holidays/Exeats so logistics are great for boy/girl combo.

Obeseandashamed · 01/04/2026 18:12

ButterPiesAreGreat · 25/09/2025 10:02

It might be too far but Sedbergh is very sporty.

Hello, sorry to revisit an old thread but I was wondering if you have any relative experience of Sedbergh.