"Help !!" , St Swthuns, Roedean School, Badminton and St Marys Calne

[user1486310168]

Dear All
I need help, my DD has received offers of a full boarding place at the above schools. And i am confused which one to accept. We are expats base overseas so have no first-hand knowledge of any of the schools/; what we want is for our DD to be in a top academic environment( she wants to go into Medicine). We would prefer less overseas student ratios the better. Also a big Full boarding school so DD does not feel left out over the weekends ? can anyone help please ?

I know St Swithns empties out a lot at weekends

Roedean is all but empty at weekends. Last year's Year 7 had 10 full boarders - all the rest were weekly or day.

St Marys Calne has full boarders and organises a weekend programme. It's not a "big" school though - c30 (inc day girls in yrs 7/8) and c50-60 in yr 9 onwards, I think (please correct me if I'm wrong here). 2014 ISI report says 262 boarders over the 11-18 age range. I don't have a DD there but we did look round it.

Agree with the comments made by AtleastitsnotMonday and KingscoteStaff about StS and R.

Many thanks for the responses. Just one thing what about academics, which school is the strongest ?

best

I have a 15yo at St Swithuns as a weekly boarder. I'd actually disagree with the pp, lots of them choose to stay in over the weekend. The school is good at putting on socials and stuff. They're allowed a fair bit of independence and boarders are catered for really well. Day girls have separate houses. It's very academic, the school do push the able ones. This is my dd second year there and she's loving it.
Oh and there are lots of overseas girls! Feel free to pm me with any questions :)

I will do.. many thanks all !

I also have first hand knowledge of St Swithun's and agree that it doesn't empty out at the weekend.

How old is your dd? Many more boarders at 6th form than for Y7, and Roedean has significant numbers of full boarders by Y9.

Hi,
We’re also considering St Mary Calne. DD has the same aspiration. Could U pls share your final decision n why.
Thanks!

Have you looked at Wycombe Abbey? I don't know anything about weekly -v- full boarders but it has a great reputation academically.