Country boarding schools in Wilts/Hants/Berks

[neverenoughtimeintheday]

I am looking at country boarding schools in a c 30 mile radius around Hungerford. Top choices for us seem to be Cheam, Pinewood and Farleigh. The latter seems to be riding high at the moment. I am looking for a girl and a boy. Academics are important but so are the wider opportunities (sport and other extra.curricular, lots of space, fresh air etc!), great friends and a fun childhood. We'd like flexiboarding from year 3 until c year 6 and then weekly or full in prep for public school - for which we'd ideally like to go full boarding. Does anyone have any insights or experiences to share?

Do full boarding schools still exist??

St Andrews in Pangbourne?

I think it is a difficult area for full boarding. Do check the figures as often the final year/2 years there are lots of boarders. This skews the overall figures and if your child is joining age 8/9 they may be in the minority. So you need to ask very specifically e.g. How many DCs age ? were in last weekend.
I don't think Pinewood has many boarders and is often known as a day school. Cheam has 4 exeats this term, which is a lot if the school closes completely over those weekends and you want full boarding.

We found it useful to check where most of the parents lived. This affected when there were meetings/plays etc. At one school where everyone was close parent/ teacher meetings were on a Tuesday so not accessible for the parents of full boarders who may live a distance away. The term calendar can often give you a steer on the ethos of full boarding.

Do you want them at the same school? Horris Hill could be an option for your son?

Or:
Brockhurst and Marlston House
Rookwood

Where are you hoping your DC's will go onto next? Do choose a school with a proven and recent history of getting children into you preferred senior school especially if your looking at those which are very over subscribed.

I was a boarding parent and am now a Housemistress in a Yorkshire school which is day and boarding from pre-prep up to 6th Form. We take girls and boys as full boarders from Year 5 and in rare circumstances, Year 4.....they're all very adaptable and happy but I would baulk at accepting a Year 3 child! Our school is a 6 day enterprise but the younger children have a Saturday morning activity rather than lessons. Unless you board your little one at a school with lots and lots of tiny children (even as a flexi boarder) it will not necessarily cater for or prioritise their needs. My own children went to Chafyn Grove in Salisbury which although not 'country' is a fab school which feeds into really great senior schools. .Good luck with your hunt and trust your parental 6th sense, it it feels wrong it probably is!

Farleigh?

You have identified the top 3 ie Pinewood, Cheam and Farleigh within 30 miles from Hungerford. Pinewood and Cheam being the smarter sets choice. The three of them do all feed into the better public schools. Have friends with weekly boarders in all 3 schools, P and F have more weekly boarding than C. C the largest of the 3. F of course has the Catholic element........... P and C are neck in neck in terms of naice sloaney parents.

Have the been to see them?
You do have the benefit of the Pinewood bus from Chilton Foliat.

MaureenCognito I've carefully reread this thread and no where did the OP or any one else who posted after her ask for others uninformed judgmental and ignorant views on boarding schools.
"that is child abuse" to come out with comments like this is insulting to those who have been abused; baby P Victoria Climbe.

I don't think palming off your kids on others for weeks on ends is anything but abusive.

Boarding schools for year 3? Mental.

I don't know about mixed schools, but if you were going down the separate ones then Horris Hill, Twyford and Pilgrims are ace for boys, and I am a fan of Hanford for girls, in Dorset but doable, just, esp from Horris Hill. All caring pastorally.

Watching with interest as we live very local to your 'school radius'.

St Gabriel's in Newbury, however this is a day school. Mix until 7, then girls only.

Not forgetting Downe House.

Oh and Marlborough College

Sorry what's year 3, which age? I went to a School in Scotland and we didn't use the years system.

8/9 yrs old?

They are only 7 when they start Year 3!

Thanks irregularegular

Maureen
The OP says flexiboarding Yr3-6 then weekly or full. i.e. the OP wants the option of a bit of boarding up to Yr6 then weekly or full boarding. The OP does not seem to be saying sending a child at age 7 full boarding. Perhaps you shouldn't go with your knee jerk reaction and instead read what was written not what you thought was written.