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Original poster

Starting to look at Senior Schools (private) how to choose?

64 replies

PhantomCAM · 06/10/2006 14:33

Even though dd is only Year 5 we are starting the process of looking at Senior Schools (for 13+ entry). I've basically got a short list with the help of her current school and have made appointments to view (without dd initially) over the course of this term.

The initial questions are do I want boarding or day?
Do I want single sex or co-ed?

I know some people are very definite about these things but I genuinely don't know.

How do people make their minds up?

OP posts:
hulababy · 06/10/2006 14:35

I would go and see some schools and get a feel. With privavte schools you can arrange to visit in advance of the year your child starts. Many have Open Days around this time, or you can make your own appointment.

Original poster
PhantomCAM · 06/10/2006 14:39

Thanks hula, yes I've made the appointments apart from one for which there is no rush. The others get full lists a couple of years ahead so that's why our current school recommends looking now.

Who on here has children at private senior schools?

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RTKangaMummy · 06/10/2006 14:55

My DS has just started in year 7 {11 years old} at private day boys school

His friend has just gone to a different school which is co-ed and changed from day boy to weekly boarding cos of all the time spent travelling each day

His cousin is a full boarder at Harrow - you can't be a day or weekly boarder there

RTKangaMummy · 06/10/2006 14:56

Where abouts do you live?

SNORcacKLE · 06/10/2006 15:03

ds is yr 8 in private secondary and dd will join him next year. It's a day school - I wouldn't go with boarding unless I had too. I'd miss them too much and not sure I'd trust a school to raise them right. My preference is for co-ed, but there are good arguments for single sex. I think I'd take your childs opinion into consideration too - have a look around a few open days and you will probably form your own views on what would suit her best.

BY the way, I thought most girls schools went from 11 rather than 13?

Original poster
PhantomCAM · 06/10/2006 15:08

I live in the South East Kanga in an area where good day choices are limited, so I am looking at the possibility of boarding. Some schools offer weekly, some only offer full boarding (with exeats).

On my current list (of 5)is one girls-only, the rest are co-ed.

I have eliminated some geographically-accessible schools on the basis of quality of education and religion.

OP posts:
Blandmum · 06/10/2006 15:10

Just like state schools you have to go round a few and see which will suit the needs of your child. For example, no point in sending them to a super sporty school if they don't like sport

Do you want them to board. Would they be happy, would you be happy, weekly or termly? Discuss it with your kids

fairyjay · 06/10/2006 15:18

My ds (14) and dd (13) are at the same school. They are day pupils although the school does offer boarding - about one third of the pupils are boarders.

We looked around a number of schools, and went to see the one that they are at because 'we thought we should'. After our first visit, we felt that it was the right school for both children (gut instinct), and appointments with their individual heads at the time (they were at separate single sex schools) confirmed out thoughts.

My dh said at the time, he felt more comfortable every time he visited the school - and in dd's 3rd year (after joining at 11) and ds's 2nd year (after joining at 13), we feel as positive.

Unfortunately league tables can't tell the whole story, although interestingly, the school is regularly top of the 'value added' table in it's area.

HTH

ScummyMummy · 06/10/2006 15:34

Wouldn't you miss dd if she boarded, Cam?

Original poster
PhantomCAM · 06/10/2006 15:49

Fairyjay I'm hoping I will get the gut feeling you describe! Like I said I'm looking at the schools recommended to me by her current school who take the placing into the next stage very seriously.

Scummymummy, Yes I will miss dd if she boards but the question is will she miss me? She likes the idea of boarding but then she's only 9 and she might not feel the same by 13. She's going to have a try at boarding in her last year of prep, although it'll be very cossetted and we're only a few miles away, but it'll give her an idea.

OP posts:
Original poster
PhantomCAM · 06/10/2006 15:50

What part of the country are you in Fairyjay?

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fairyjay · 06/10/2006 16:39

We're Midlands/Shropshire. My kids have a 25 mile journey each way - that's how much we want them to be at that school!

I don't like the idea of mine boarding, but a friend of my daughters has just left to board in Somerset at 11, and she seems to have settled in very well. Depends on the child.

redsky · 06/10/2006 16:48

Ds boarded at senior school (and last 2 years of prep school and loved it). We looked at 2 or 3 schools before deciding which one would suit him best. His prep school headmaster was very helpful too. Dd is at a day school and loves it - we visited it and all loved the atmosphere and ethos and just knew it was the right place for her so didn't bother to look at any others.

cocopopshater · 06/10/2006 17:29

cam, Id consider the following factors:

single sex is easier for girls, but not a realistic preparation for real life?

a long journey is VERY stressful come GCSEs and A Levels. I did it myself, and ended up with candida infection and depression at age 18. Im not saying its not possible, but do watch your child's health, and if they start getting very tired, or depressed, get them to a doctor, or take them out of the system for a year to recover.

Original poster
PhantomCAM · 06/10/2006 17:37

How do your children travel to school and back Fairyjay?

Snorcackle, sorry only just seen your post, the one girls-only I'm looking at does have a small intake at 11+ but most join at 13+ from preps. Also it does not have a day option so 13 would be better from a boarding perspective.

OP posts:
Flowertop · 06/10/2006 17:43

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redsky · 06/10/2006 17:49

dd is at a private senior school and is the only one in her class who went to private junior school - others all from state schools.

Original poster
PhantomCAM · 06/10/2006 17:55

That must be fairly unusual redsky, whereabouts in the country is that?

OP posts:
RTKangaMummy · 06/10/2006 18:11

In DS class 7 at private about half of the year is from State primary and half from Independant primary

And then another intake at 13+ from private prep

Cam I have remembered where you are:

DH went to E College and my best friend her neice + nephew went to B A school iirc

Original poster
PhantomCAM · 06/10/2006 18:17

Interesting Kanga, I currently have a nephew at E college and am going to look at it next week as it is the geographically nearest.

Whereabouts are you then (in a general sense of course).

So I'm presuming that a lot of people are happy with their state primaries but not finding any good state senior schools then?

OP posts:
RTKangaMummy · 06/10/2006 18:32

I am in seaside town near B A school and in NW London we live in both areas

But DS school is in NW London

iyswim

batters · 06/10/2006 18:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fairyjay · 07/10/2006 08:04

PC
My children are either taken to the school bus stop (about 9 miles from home), or I take them in. Same applies in the evenings.
Cocopopshater
I understand completely what you mean. I was at school in Birmingham, and my mum wasn't silly like me - if I didn't get the school bus for any reason, the journey home was three bus rides! It stopped me joining in with loads of additional activities at school, and I do think I missed out.
That is why, having decided that their school is right for them, dh and I are prepared to put ourselves out for the 6/7 years necessary to do lots of chauffeuring!
One plus is that although the journey is long in terms of miles, it is through fairly quiet roads or on the motorway, so it doesn't actually take too long.
And - like most boarding schools - the holidays are ridiculously long

SueW · 07/10/2006 08:26

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This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

DominiConnor · 07/10/2006 08:35

SueW has hit an interesting point. I read recently that there are far more boys in private education than girls. So the sex of the head is a small thing compared to the sexism of the parents.

My FIL was the chairman of thr governors of a top private girls school. He laments that you can't charge the same for teaching girls as boys even though it costs nearly as much.