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Boarding school

Connect with fellow parents of boarding school students on our supportive forum. Share experiences, tips, and insights.

Am I missing any schools?

26 replies

Argentum13 · 15/05/2026 19:11

Evening all,

We are currently in the process of looking at schools for my son who is in year 5. We have taken him to see Oundle and Harrow and we all really like both of these schools (albeit I know they are very different).

I have previously visited Eton, Sevenoaks, Wellington, Marlborough and Canford and don’t want to take him to see any of these schools - Eton and Sevenoaks are too academic, I didn’t warm to Wellington and I prefer Oundle to both Marlborough and Canford.

Sherbourne, Bryanstone and Bedales are not schools that I would consider.

My son is middle of the road in terms of academics (CAT score of 118), but has dyslexia which does cause him to struggle in some subjects. He’s lacking in confidence in terms of academics, although he’s perfectly bright. He can be cautious about trying new things mainly because he’s worried he’s going to fail, although he’s fairly sporty. He’s an incredibly kind and generous boy and has very good emotional intelligence. He can sometimes be a little sensitive and has a strong sense of fairness and right and wrong. He will be better at a school where he can be gentle motivated and stretched a little and not left to his own devices.

He will have a brother boarding on the outskirts of London so we’d rather limit our choices to schools within two hours of London by car. We have toyed with the idea of visiting Radley and Rugby, but they seem fairly similar to Harrow and Oundle (in that order). Are there any other boarding schools that we should consider? We are due to see Charterhouse even though we realise that’s mainly weekly boarding and will require one of us to travel over every few weeks for weekends and to farm him out to London based godparents and aunts/uncles for other weekends.

OP posts:
AnnaQuayRules · 15/05/2026 19:14

Why don't you want him to go the school his brother's at?

Argentum13 · 15/05/2026 19:16

AnnaQuayRules · 15/05/2026 19:14

Why don't you want him to go the school his brother's at?

Because it’s far too academic and requires you to be a motivated self-starter that doesn’t require any (or hardly any) support or scaffolding.

OP posts:
EatenTooMuchChocolateAgain · 15/05/2026 19:25

More House in Frensham if dyslexic

woowoo23 · 15/05/2026 19:28

Why can't you send him to a private day school?

tachetastic · 15/05/2026 19:56

woowoo23 · 15/05/2026 19:28

Why can't you send him to a private day school?

They could send their DC to a private day school. They could also send him to the local comp, but this is the Boarding School forum and they've asked a very clear and specific question on which other boarding schools might be suitable.

@Argentum13 Sorry I can't help because I loved one of the schools you have rejected (though we didn't think it would work for our children) and my own DS is down for one of the schools you won't consider, but it sounds like you have a very clear idea on what you want. Your DS will thrive at either of the two you have chosen.

Argentum13 · 15/05/2026 20:00

Thanks @tachetastic. Out of interest, which was the school that you loved? I initially didn’t want to visit Harrow, but was persuaded to by a close friend and was pleasantly surprised.

OP posts:
gracioushoratio · 15/05/2026 20:33

Bedes. Does very well for 'added value'. Strong on sports and extra curricula in general. Good mix of students and happy to support students to achieve to the best of their ability, whether that is to Oxbridge or to apprenticeship/work-based opportunities.

KruelladeVille23 · 15/05/2026 20:52

King‘s Canterbury? Might be a bit too academic but if you are looking at Sevenoaks, Oundle etc then he should be bright enough. Lots of full boarders. Broad mix of students.

GranolaBaker · 15/05/2026 20:56

Stowe? Royal Hospital?

LadyGaGasPokerFace · 15/05/2026 21:02

Shiplake?

CosyTraybake · 15/05/2026 21:27

KruelladeVille23 · 15/05/2026 20:52

King‘s Canterbury? Might be a bit too academic but if you are looking at Sevenoaks, Oundle etc then he should be bright enough. Lots of full boarders. Broad mix of students.

Kings Canterbury is less academic than Oundle and Sevenoaks?

KruelladeVille23 · 15/05/2026 21:49

CosyTraybake · 15/05/2026 21:27

Kings Canterbury is less academic than Oundle and Sevenoaks?

The top sets are very much on a par with other academically selective schools but I think they accept a broader range than Sevenoaks.

Howtorecoverfromthis · 15/05/2026 21:52

Why would you not consider Bedales? It has a good reputation for dyslexia and supportive weekly boarding at this age. Very much encourages self reliance without an overly academic/pushy approach. Could be a good fit for a sensitive boy with strong sense of fairness. Obviously I don't know why you've excluded it, though totally accept you may have totally valid reasons.

OrangeSushi · 15/05/2026 22:37

Tonbridge?

nixon1976 · 15/05/2026 22:42

If your child is middle of the road academically then Harrow and Oundle are probably not the best fits. Look at Charterhouse Cranleigh Bradfield King’s Canterbury. All excellent schools where the top students achieve highly academically but there is a broader church

cloudchaos · 15/05/2026 22:47

Eastbourne College?

RocksByThePool · 15/05/2026 22:48

Prior Park, Bath

OrsolaRosso · 15/05/2026 22:49

Have you considered Lancing College?

CosyTraybake · Yesterday 09:45

Also check out the below

bradfield - not full boarding.

cranleigh - not full boarding

teddies - not full boarding

CosyTraybake · Yesterday 09:48

I don’t know your CAT scores but Oundle and Harrow, although not Westminster Eton level they’re still just the step just below and do require a certain intellectual quotient but I’m sure you already know this.

if you give us a little more objective info on his level posters can help a bit more. Do you want him top of the pack, middle in a hard working school or don’t care…

TonTonMacoute · Yesterday 09:53

Why have you rejected Sherborne? It sounds ideal and I know several boys who received brilliant support while at the school. It's very nurturing.

Argentum13 · Yesterday 14:14

My understanding is that Oundle will look at children with a CAT average of 110 and above, although the average for most at school is around 120-125. My son’s CAT average at the start of Y5 was see 118. I imagine it’ll settle around the 120 mark. He would prefer to be middle of the pack. Having looked at a flexi boarding school today, I think we would prefer full boarding.

OP posts:
CosyTraybake · Yesterday 14:15

Argentum13 · Yesterday 14:14

My understanding is that Oundle will look at children with a CAT average of 110 and above, although the average for most at school is around 120-125. My son’s CAT average at the start of Y5 was see 118. I imagine it’ll settle around the 120 mark. He would prefer to be middle of the pack. Having looked at a flexi boarding school today, I think we would prefer full boarding.

Tbh your options are great then !

FolioQuarto · Yesterday 14:23

I know boys at Radley, they and their families are very happy.

Would you consider Sibford? A Quaker school but has a very warm feel.

fluffiphlox · Yesterday 14:26

Stowe?