Port Regis update please.

[Gho]

Hi all, please does anyone have any insights or first hand experience of Port Regis? Any update since the new head would be most appreciated - there seems to have been a lot of changes at the top, and I wonder why and its impact.

I need a very good co-ed prep for my DS (8) and we need stability and progression - Excellent academics, strong music and pastoral care. The school seems to do a lot sports, which is sufficient for our requirement.

Are you looking for boarding?
If yes the obvious choice is Windlesham universally praised by all on MN. The other to consider for "excellent academics" is Summer Field.

Thank you happygardening. I have read many of your comments on MN with great interest.

We are not looking for boarding particularly, but would have to if DS went to a good prep school suggested here.

One of my DS's full boarded from 7 I'm therefore a great believer in boarding. Windlesham has an awesome reputation all the children I know who went there (I know quite a few) including a hard core anti boarder who couldn't settle at all at another well known boarding prep were very happy there.
I know less about Summer Field apart from its incredible success at scholarships into big name senior schools.

@ happygardening, Please see my private message to you. thank you.

We didn't think of boarding before and it has been a SHOCK to our system when we first seriously consider PR. We have many questions and most of all, whether boarding school is well structured enough that children will make good progress as at supportive home and fulfil their potential?

We are not pushy parents, our Ds has no outside school tutoring, but we give our support as and when it is needed, he is apparently getting ahead of his age group by a couple of years, but this means little to us as we have no idea what this "actually" mean and where this leads.

The only thing we know is that we may have done something right, and would like Ds to continue his good work (though he complain not learning anything in school), will boarding school such as PR carry him through in the desired direction?

Sorry about my ignorance - I feel so inadequate as a mother who have been complacent about Ds' schooling for so long...

IMO no non selective boarding school will be able to "carry him through in the desired direction" unless its large one because they just don't have enough classes to differentiate to that degree. You need to find one that separates potential scholars from non scholars at yr 7 not yr 8 and that has to be for all subjects (you need to watch that some separate forms) but bring the children back together for actual subjects because they just don't have enough teachers. If you really want a scholarship into a top school choose a school with a good and recent track record of getting them.
"We have many questions and most of all, whether boarding school is well structured enough that children will make good progress as at supportive home and fulfil their potential?"
Boarding by its nature is usually extremely structured especially at prep schools fixed times for prep etc. But no one is going to stand over your DS ensuring he's revising doing his prep properly etc, time is also usually allocated for music practice but again no one is going to force them to go.

Hi Gho,

Both my sons are at Windlesham and I support happygardenings comments. I have a DS who is 8 and an older one who is 10. They were rather reluctant to board, but easily adjusted and love the school. Pastoral care is excellent and academics very good. From what I understand all of this years leavers got into their first choice school. Sports are also good, without the win at all costs attitude! Hope this helps..

Hi tintin,

Thanks you for sharing your experience in windlesham - it does sound a very impressive school. But we r too late to consider joining for this Sept., will have to see what we can do for next year.

I have had 3 children at Port Regis and can't recommend it highly enough. Very happy.

Windlesham House really is wonderful, couldn't tell you exactly what makes it so special, it just has the most wonderful energy/ vibe. Don't feel you have missed the boat. It isn't the case that everyone new starts in September. There are big intakes every term as well as some mid term! It is the kind of school where your child can start and within a week feel like they have been there forever.

I'm very local to Port Regis and have been there for fairs etc. My DS is not of schooling age yet but from what other local parents have said I would not hesitate to send him there at all.

Also, very nice part of the world.