Girls boarding schools. What are the top level schools?

[smilesandsun]

Hi All researching for my daughter, a couple of years off the 11+. Loves the idea of boarding and I don't know where to start looking at the schools.

Advice most appreciated

My DD was offered a place at Downe House but we declined it. DD strongly preferred another school so we were happy to send her there. Downe House was slightly more "stuffy" than where she went and the feel on the assessment day was of parents desperate for their girls to get offered a place. Very smart Blazers on show. It is definitely a school for wealthier and old money types (Princess Michael of Kent's DD and Clare Balding). My friend considered Tudor Hall for her DD. She thought it was similar to Downe House but in Oxfordshire. Slightly more down to earth. Both are fairly remote from London and Tudor Hall definitely has a "country" feel to it. However it is small and both these schools would know their girls very well. Academics perhaps stronger at Downe House. They also go to France for a term.

My upper/upper-middle friend sends her daughter to Down House, it's the done thing in her family.

Bojorojo interesting you make a comment about the Downe House blazers or where you talking about the Father's blazers? If it was the girl's blazers they would look very smart as they are hardly ever worn, only for special occasions. All the girls boarding schools being discussed will have families that are able to pay the fees so many may fall into the classes AppleSetSail suggests. IMHO though the girls at Downe are relatively down to earth, at least my DD's friends were!

Bojorojo Thank you for your comments they are very helpful. Where did your daughter go in the end? Why did they prefer that school?

Definitely have a look at Roedean. Very good head Oliver Blond who has really got a grip on the school in the best possible way. The make up of the pre- sixth form years is local day girls, weekly boarders and a smaller number of full boarders ( usually from a selection of overseas places). Sixth form I know less about although daughter says sixth formers are nice. The weekly boarding was introduced 4 years ago and has indeed been successful in bringing in the London contingent. There weren't enough to start with but there are now. No day v boarders divide. Escorted Friday to Victoria on the train and back again on Sunday evening ( when they get to 14 or 15 they tend to want to do that by themselves). The boarding houses are very nice,not only by dint of the massive strip out refurb they had a few years ago but also because they feel very homely. The girls are nice too - not snotty, not cliquey, and it is not a hierarchical place unlike some we went to see (eg only girls in year X allowed to sit on sofas and that sort of thing - that most definitely is not what Roedean is like). And the kitchens in the houses are focal points and open to all. Can't remember if you mentioned Art but if so the Art Department seems very good. Lots of extra curricular on offer. Benenden - we went to see and I know some love it but we didn't (see sofas comment). Queenswood - a lot to like and food amazing apparently but not quite right. Woldingham- not for us. But it is a very individual thing. I would suggest you see at least a couple of co-ed schools also just for comparison though as you might be surprised at how much you like them. If your daughter is pony mad then also have a look at Mayfield. If you want full on boarding then I wouldn't put Roedean as top choice although it is a nice place so that mitigates the effect of not having everyone boarding (very different choice for full on boarding these days and don't rule out co-ed schools if that is what you want) but if you want weekly then definitely should be one to see.

These were the Blazers of the children attending for assessment so therefore Blazers of prep schools! I could afford the fees - we did not go looking for a bursary.

smilesandsun - please PM me and I will gladly tell you.

St George's, Ascot is good academically and with dyslexia.

I was very surprised, when I began looking the next school for my daughter, by how much the schools differ. You need to start with what your daughter is like and then consider the schools. Doing it the other way round is a recipe for disaster, particularly since she is dyslexic. As for boarding at prep school age, how old is your DD? Two schools spring to mind, Cottesmore which is only 150 pupils and outstanding in every way, also The Dragon in Oxford. Both are excellent but the later is far larger so it depends on what really suits your child. Cottesmore is near Gatwick so 30 minutes from London, Oxford is easy to get to as well. I know people who have children at both. Are you looking for the best academic record or the most cache/snob value? I've seen Wycombe Abbey, Benenden, Woldingham is on the list next week, I have a daughter who went to Sherborne you can also consider St Mary's Ascot (Catholic) Marlborough... These are all good schools but totally different in their 'feel' and the way they push the girls. I really would recommend you go and take a look at a few of them because it will open your eyes and it's never too early.

thank you all. loopygoose I visited sherbourne the other day and got a really good feeling. Did your daughter enjoy it?

Take a look at "Thread for Boarders" in education. Towards the end KingscoteStaff has put a detailed commentary about boarding at Roedean.

Have a friend with DD at Sherborne - they are very happy with it.

My daughter did enjoy it. Personally I'd like her to have left with a more rounded idea of life and the people who populate the world, but I guess you could level that criticism at a lot of private schools She ended up going to a very good university even though she has mild dyslexia. My only real criticism, apart from it being a pig to get to, is that that the school gave her an over-inflated opinion of herself which meant that she didn't work as hard as she could have done and failed to be considered for her first choice of University.