Bromsgrove school or Malvern St James???

[wissymo]

hi,does anyone here have any experience with either of these schools? we are looking for a boarding place...any help appreciated.

Have PMd you.

PM again.

My experiences of Malvern St James were back when it was still Malvern girls college but it was excellent then and I couldn't fault it!

Malvern St James is a VERY different beast from the old Malvern Girls College. My understanding is that a gradual decline in numbers (therefore reduction in selection not to mention reduced income), followed by a slightly fraight merger with a much less academic school with a very large proportion of day pupils has changed its character substantially - not to mention the introduction of a junior section...

Possibly very good in its way (excellent for sport I believe) but certainly not the same type of school as the old Malvern Girls' College was.

(The degree of change bviously depends how long ago Pottering is talking about - whether just pre-merger or from much longer ago. My comparison is over a long time frame.)

ok...so in that general area...kind of inbetween telford and oxford...im looking for a nice boarding school,not a hothouse but not a dosshouse either!! no saturday school and not too religious.... recommendations very much appreciated!!

I'm looking at the years to just before the merger (my last founders day i attended was the last one as MGC) but agree that it was very very fraught and therefore it's probably a very very different organisation to how I remember it!

Have you looked at Dean close in Cheltenham?

Pottering, my knowledge is from when it was a seriously academic, extremely selective and high pressure girls' school along the lines of Cheltenham Ladies so I suspect that the change is even greater looked at in that longer time frame...

The children I know at Dean Close seem very well-balanced and happy - it's mixed, obviously. Less academic than the state schools in Cheltenham (but then there are some very academic schools round about, both grammars and comps), don't know about the mix of day and boarders.

Ah, it wasn't like that when I was involved in it (was staff, not parent / pupil) though I have friends who were pupils there when it was.

I think the best thing I could say is go and have a look at any school, see if they will put you in touch with current patents, try a taster weekend and choose the best fit for your DD.

Yes. Looking at what the OP wants, actually the 'new' MSJ might fit her better than the 'old' MGC, as it was a compulsory-Saturday-school-and-Sunday-church hothouse in those days!

Praise the lord I never had to get the girls in my house to church on a Sunday! It was hard enough getting them to come down to breakfast :o

I used to work at MGC too! But that one year is my only experience of private school so I can't really comment any further.

i have just been looking at dean close but the ofsted for the senior school is only satisfactory.i know you cant rely on that but since both bromsgrove and malvern st james are both outstanding i think i will check them out 1st.
i would prefer her to have one school rather than a prep and senior separately.these forums are invaluable for getting local knowledge that you cant get with a visit so again thanks everyone!!

I don't know about either of the schools, but live in the area, and I don't know whether this is important to you or not, but I'd say Malvern is a nicer town to live in than Bromsgrove.

Note for independent schools that the ISI report is the one to look at for teaching and learning standards - Ofsted just reports on their social care (the social aspects of boarding provision). MSJ recently had an ISI inspection but the report is not yet available.

my dd has been offered a place at malvern st james! it was really lovely when we went to look around and everyone was so friendly!
so the decision has been made,malvern it is! bromsgrove also seemed really nice but in the end i let her decide. i will be keeping bromsgrove in mind for my ds though.
thanks for all the advice xx

Had experience of the Headmistress of Malvern St James when she was running (or do I mean ruining?) Abbots Bromley School for Girls. Not a pleasant woman, unless your child was one of her few favourites. So if you're rich and prepared to smooze her your child should be OK

My son plays frequently against Bromsgrove and every time we go to the school the behaviour and manners of the boys is pretty poor. I also know a teacher who worked there and he said it was quite an aggressive environment and so big that it was fairly impersonal. I've got no views on Malvern but I wouldn't touch Bromsgrove with a barge poll.

wissymo, I am now thinking of sending my two DDs to MSJ. What was your experience and would you recommend the school?