Looking for school recs for DNiece

[SlightlySnoozy]

Apologies if this is a big ask - I'm not experienced in boarding schools at all and don't really know where to start.

Am looking for potential schools for my niece. She's very smart, but almost certainly has ADHD (it's being investigated now) and so has traditionally swung between really excelling academically and sometimes underachieving because she's just not interested. Hopefully this will improve with diagnosis/treatment but good support would be needed. She's also been through a lot in the past few years in terms of bereavement and life upheaval so good pastoral care is a must.

She's very creative. She's really musical (choral competitions plus youth orchestra) and loves ballet. She's good enough that we have considered the Royal Ballet School route but weren't sure if she was that good, and also felt she was too young to be pigeon holed that way. Not into ball sports/team games but is quite active and likes being out and about.

She is very social, very outgoing but I think she has a bit of a 'marmite' personality. Obviously, we think she's amazing and she's never been without friends, but she was so badly bullied at her original prep school that her dad had to withdraw her.

In terms of location there are family in Oxford/Exeter/Edinburgh/Winchester who would be available for weekends out of school or full boarding would be needed.

Any advice welcome.

So - are you currently looking for another prep, or senior school? And single sex or co-ed?

Can’t really help with specifics (only know about boys’ schools now) but Oxford has a good range of options and is a lovely place to spend one’s schooldays.

I’m very impressed with St. Swithun’s in Winchester. Amazing pastoral and on site counseling.

Senior school at this stage - she can stay in the state system short term. Co ed or single sex both on the table.

And thank you @TheLOUDNESS and @BreakingBroken for responding. Sorry - my last reply was a bit brisk. St Swithuns looks like a really good shout and fab place to start.

How old is she? Some girls schools start at 11, other have bigger intake at 13.

She's 10 years old now. Currently I think 11 would be better as it would mean she'd be settled slightly sooner and I'd rather she didn't start in the state system at 11 and then need move but I think the timings may be a bit tight for 11 intake.

It is all a bit of a rush job for various reasons - we were originally planning on a 13 year intake with her in prep until then but that's not worked out.

Are the family you mentioned genuinely prepared to host her every weekend or really only for exeat weekends? I ask because the number of schools where most stay in on non-exeat weekends is diminishing. So for example, Wellington wouldn't really work unless they are prepared to have her every weekend as that is basically weekly boarding.

Oh bother. I hadn't thought that through. Honestly, that probably brings it down to Oxford or Edinburgh, then. Winchester and Exeter would only really be good for exeat, not reliably every weekend (with the best will in the world).

You might want to look at schools which advertise having 'Military' boarders. My thinking is that those schools will have a slightly higher proportion of children staying in at weekends as their parents are less likely to be local enough to go home most weekends.

Full / weekly boarding schools in and around Edinburgh are probably Fettes and Loretto (although outside the centre in Musselburgh) the rest in Edinburgh are more day schools that have a boarding add on. Or go further north to Dollar, Strathallen or Glenalmond but they are all at least an hour outside Edinburgh. Or if she is 10, Cargilfield Prep School (in Edinburgh, up to 13) have weekly boarders which would give you a couple of years to find a fit for senior school. We had a great experience there for non sporty, creative, ND DD.

Re Oxford…

Most of the Oxford city schools are day, or
mostly day, schools. Teddies (coed) is nice and has a lot more boarders, but one can’t start until 13. So your niece would need to try a different local boarding prep for a couple of years eg Dragon or Cothill, and then head to Teddies.

The school that mostly closely matches your criteria, if you want somewhere near Oxford with lots of boarders where she can stay from 11-18, is probably Tudor Hall near Banbury which is a lovely girls school with a great head and takes girls from 11.

If she sings in choir and is not especially sporty, you could look at schools like Wells Cathedral School. Given lots of choir performances are at weekends I doubt the schools will empty out at weekends other than for exeats, and Exeter is certainly close enough to travel for exeats.

Otherwise Sherborne Girls is pretty much full boarding with an encouragement to stay in weekends and a strong choral tradition connected to the Abbey, though certainly not as closely as Wells.

Have a look at DoYRMS. Will save you a fortune without diminishing the quality. Most students are full time boarders, but not in your desired location.

My daughter is at King Edwards Whitley which is about 50 mins from Winchester and the majority of boarders do stay for the weekend only going home for Exeat.
My daughter sounds similar to yours in that she has ADHD and Autism and is intelligent but most definitely has those lack of interest moments.
The school is big on Drama, Art and Music all of which she loves and she is a member of the Choir which often perform choral music.
They aren't so big on dance though, my daughter does that out of school.
The admissions process has happened for next year but it may well be worth contacting them if the school would suit her.

Tring/Arts Ed isn’t too far from Oxford and would offer lots of dance and performing arts. I would suspect they have a few international boarders too. As someone else said, Wells Cathedral School would be excellent for music and has choristers so unlikely to be weekly boarders only. Maybe the relatives in Exeter could help with exeats too? Other than that, traditional boarding schools like Benenden, perhaps? Lots empty out at weekends so check what they offer.

Wells would usually be a good shout because they do offer full boarding that is full boarding - they have a lot of international music students so most boarders stay. The pastoral lead isn't great though and the head (excellent) is leaving so I don't think it is necessarily right for your DN.

If she could cope with the uniform then Christs Hospital near Gatwick would be worth looking at. It is genuinely full boarding (have to have a good reason to take them out on non exeat weekends) and they also provide on site cover when there is nowhere to go for an exeat. They have a lot of DC with pastoral issues as they have a very generous bursary scheme so are set up for support. Excellent music both choral and instrumental and they have their own theatre which is a mini version of the Globe and put on musicals with complex choreography as well as plays.

Teddies in Oxford

There is also Wychwood in Oxford - your dniece might be a bit too musical for their size though.

I was going to suggest Wychwood in Oxford too. On the grounds that it would be good for her on a SEN level. It has a fair amount of full boarders and is pretty flexible boarding wise.
Musically, she would want external provision, but Oxford has plenty of options and London is within very easy reach for saturday schools. The school is good at championing and supporting talented pupils in extra curricular activities. I think there is currently a very talented ballet pupil there.

Worth a look I reckon.

Denise?

Junior kings and kings canterbury are full boarding and very big on music and drama

Lots of similar young people at St Chris in Hertfordshire. Have good boarding and excellent music and drama. Pastoral care is absolutely outstanding and she would be with her tribe of arty creative kids and there will be others with ADHD.

Blundell's near Exeter have a large overseas demographic so plenty stay for weekends.

St Teresa's in Surrey is fully boarding and great pastoral support. My niece loves it there.

Also Prior’s Field is wonderful for girls full boarding. Drama and arts excellent with a nice homey feel. Lots of fun in boarding house!