Where to send a boy if they fail....

[wildirishrose]

The entrance test to MTs or St Albans boys?

Thank you for replying. Haileyburys too far and Aldenham is not academic enough. State schools are not an option either.

What about Berkhamsted?

Mill Hill? On the up academically, but not as selective as MTS. It does weekly boarding as well if distance is a problem.

How about St Columbas ? Ive heard very good things about, non selective but does very by both bright and average children, all rounder school and in Saint Albans, so should be geographically okay for you.

I would not discount Aldenham, it may not be a hot house highly academic school but my very bright DD has never been happier. She may well have been able to scrape into a selective, but possibly feel like a small fish. At Aldenham she is one of the top getting fantastic grades without the huge pressure. The school seems able to bring out a childs full potential. Take a look.

I agree wholeheartedly with Mrs Jones, Aldenham is hugely underrated in the madness that is the NW London school scramble. It does extremely well by brighter students in a nurturing environment and is fantastic for making your child a real all rounder. I think it makes a great alternative for a child who doesn't make a more selective school. Mill Hill would be a good alternative too but it is getting much more selective, they will leave empty spaces at 13+ if they don't have enough children making the grade.

Thank you. Which school is the most academic out of the ones mentioned?

For me it was where I felt DD would be happiest out of the choices just mentioned. Happiness will bring the results. IMO probably Mill Hill more academic at the moment. Although I don't think because a school becomes more selective it would mean the teaching is any better, only that the more selected the children are obviously there will be higher results all round. I felt Haileybury is going towards boarding more and more and I felt it could become a bit them and us between the boarders and day pupils. Berhamsted too far for us and St. Columbas boys only. I do have a younger DS for which Aldenham will suit him perfectly at 13.

May I ask what you mean by "academic" in the context you are using it?

"Thank you for replying. Haileyburys too far and Aldenham is not academic enough. State schools are not an option either. "

Surely if your son fails the entrance exam for these highly selective schools then a really academic school will not be suitable for him. He needs a school that will go at the right pace academically for him. Certainly children do well as these less pressurised schools if they are late developers.

There is nothing worse than being bottom of the pile at a highly academic school and not being able to keep up. Long term a child does better if their parents accept reality about their child's academic ablity.

I agree with ReallyTired.

If your son is not an Oxbridge candidate, then there's no need to go to a very selective school.

The reason these super-selective schools get such good results is because they take only the brightest children.

It doesn't mean that if your child goes to a 'lesser' school he won't do as well as he would if the super-selective school had let him in.

even children from completely non selective schools get Oxbridge offers.

Even non selective state schools

They let DC from those dreadful state schools into Oxbridge????

Good grief.

Veralum?!

Does it not depend where you live

Sorry just sorry not a school. Though not sure why if he's not highly academic when the state schools in that area are really good

*not a state...

The reason these super-selective schools get such good results is because they take only the brightest children.

They take the children who do the best on the day of the exam. My 10 year old is very bright, his schools has said he is MTs material but I need a back up in case he fluffs up the test on the day.
I actually don't mind what school he ends up at as long as he is stretched academically, in my experience the top sets of less selective schools are on par with super selective schools.

Habs for boys

I didn't get a good feel about Habs when we visited.

OP unless you cast your net a bit wider or consider boarding you really have covered all the schools in that area, bearing in mind you've also discounted State. How far exactly are you willing to travel? Im guessing you're somewhere west of Herts (watfordish) What about John Lyon school in Harrow ?

Choices for boys in that area include Mill Hill (quite a schlep, but good HT), Berkhamsted (a real marmite school), St Columbas (absolutely lovely but very mixed intake academically), Bedford (another long journey, but boarding available), Aldenham (again very mixed academics).

TBH, because you have to sit St As early (you'll already sit and have your answer before the end of year seven), you'll know in time to apply elsewhere should that become necessary. Berko, Bedford etc will all let you apply after that.

Thank you I will look into the schools mentioned.