Which boarding school? Suggestions please.

[pombal]

We are an expat family who live very rurally up a goat track in the middle of nowhere in Southern Europe.

It’s beautiful and idyllic and the kids love it now but the local International school is crap and far from us, the local schools are even worse.

Thinking somewhat reluctantly about boarding school back in UK from Y9.

DH and I both from comps and know nothing about it.

We have 2 boys - both really good at maths, not sporty.
One good at art and likes drama and music, the other one likes science/nature, being outdoors.

We have family in Sussex and Bristol so would want somewhere south.

Any suggestions from anyone who knows anything about boarding schools?

DH and I have fallen down a rabbit hole looking at websites and prospectuses and can no longer see the wood from the trees.

The DC aren’t into team sports like football/rugby but happy enough to swim, row, play tennis etc.

I liked the look of Radley but one DC is not the man up type!!

Winchester- would suit personality wise but entrance test not possible without a good prep school methinks.

I like the sound of Christ’s hospital - am going to have a look. Is it full boarding does anyone know?

Eton and Harrow - I don’t know. One is quirky and one is really a gentle soul. Would they survive there?

St. Edward’s sounds looks good too -not as academic but if DC are happy they will achieve. I’m worried it won’t be full boarding by the time we get there.

Sherborne is definitely full boarding.

I too would worry about full boarding numbers at St Edwards,
Dedicated Eton parents will tell you it takes all sorts.
Friends bloody odd quirky DS left Harrow after 1 year hated it.
Your DS's are likely to need to be in a good prep for Harrow Eton and Winchester although all may offer alternative entrance exams for those not in a prep talk to their admissions dept.
Look at registration deadlines. Winchester restrict the number registering as they have a slightly complicated quite in-depth and very personal admissions process, once a certain number have registered then their lists are closed. For Eton I understand you can still register in yr 6 its birthday dependent, they don't restrict the numbers who register, Im not sure about Harrow.

All are oversubscribed and many strong candidates will not get a place at any of them, none have a siblings policy although Winchester always told us it tried hard to take siblings. This could be problematic for you. Mist Oreos advise parents who are interested in these schools to have a strong back up.
Christs is, some would say like Winchester, a bit of a marmite school, lots of supporters on here, I know a few who tell a different story, ridiculous uniform (IMO) and lots of meaningless ritual I personally can't think of anything worse. It would be brilliant for Gatwick it is oversubscribed with lots coming from the sate sector at yr7.

What help could your DS's get with entrance tests etc.

"Mist Oreos": most preps.

happy what worries me is that their current school doesn’t set. So DC finish their work and are then left to draw pictures while teacher helps less able.

I could take them out of school a couple of afternoons/ week and arrange extra help at home. I may well do this anyway.

I feel I could get them up to scratch in maths, English, French but for other subjects they may have just not covered the same topics as CE and I’ve no idea how you get round that.
I can’t tutor them for 8 subjects.

Talk to admissions dept many will allow non UK students to sit different entrance exams or omit some subjects in final entrance exams. We live in a globalised world now children come to top boarding schools from many different countries many are not learning Latin, their MFL skills are often poor, if they have lots to offer this wont matter.
Pre tests are often computer based VR non VR maths write a short piece about X or answer a comprehension. Schools will say they are looking for potential on the finished article.
I think you need to draw up a short list of say 4 and visit them, preferably not on an open day when everyone is on their best behaviour! Observe, ask difficult questions, observe, don't be wowed by jaw dropping facilities, the enthusiastic children showing you round, manicured lawns and swimming pools I personally think they are meaningless. Keep watching, the other pupils going about their everyday lives, do they look relaxed (you are in their homes), how do they interact with staff and each other, it should be more informal than in a day school, do you feel staff are genuinely interested and approachable meet at least 1 housemaster (HM), do you like what he says? Remember schools now have very effective marketing dept. Look at one you don't like the look of, it may help you decide what you don't want or you may look at it more objectively and discover you like it. Be open minded. As you are abroad find out what the policy is about coming out of school on non exeat weekends if you happened to be in the UK or finishing school a day early at the end of term to get a more convenient flight, Winchester wouldn't allow it, other will. This might be important to you. Try and visit more than once meet more staff keep asking questions that are important to your DSs keep observing if your don't like something ask about it. We looked at one school and learnt the most from the matron, we were late (as usual) and missed the main tour, she showed us round never stopped talking, I'm very good at getting people to talk and spill the beans I| do it for a living, (she talked more honestly than I think she realised) I thought it felt like Lord of the Flies a friend sent her DS there I was spot on he left after two terms! Watch the cleaners etc, with the pupils. My DS's HM told the boys how they treated the cleaners etc was exceedingly important, politeness and manners were a given and cost nothing, rudeness was not tolerated this reflected the general ethos of the school.

on the finished article =not the finished article.

OP, have you considered a State boarding school?

A friends children went to one due to family circumstances and it was excellent.

stateboarding.org.uk/

I second the recommendation for King's Canterbury. Fairly mixed academically but still with a high number of high achievers; excellent music, art and drama.

Rosy - are overseas residents qualified for state boarding school?

*Rosy - are overseas residents qualified for state boarding school?

Yes. My friends children attended from abroad.

Admission to state boarding schools in the UK is limited to children who are nationals of the UK and are eligible to hold a full UK passport, or those who are nationals of other European Union countries or those who have the right of residence in the UK. Please note that the holding of a BN(O) passport does not make the child eligible for a state boarding school in the UK

Depending on where they are in Hampshire, Kings Canterbury could be too far for the relatives. I don't think GPs in Romsey are going to thank OP for a schlep round the M25 every exeat. I'm also not sure it is 24/7.

Logistically, Charterhouse might work for the Hampshire relatives. I'm not sure how full that stays at the weekend either.

As it so happens, I think Sherborne might not be a bad bet for you. It is a rugby school, but there are also plenty of gentler boys not into the meathead sports. It's about 1.5hrs from both Bristol and Southampton airports and very definitely full boarding. It's not particularly selective, but does get good results out of the boys. As PP said, the new Head is really great.

PM me if you want more information- I have the inside take.

Charterhouse definitely isn't full boarding a friend works there shes free at the weekends. Kings was full boarding someone here said in the last year it still is, but you should check but i do agree a really crap journey.
State boarding schools usually have boarders very much in the minority adn full boaders even more so. They are basically day schools with boarders, over the years I've lived near and know kids at two. There's nonthinking wrong with this per se. It''s just a completely different model (and price) to a big name full boarding only school which is a 24/7 school/community of pupils teachers and other staff, which is what a full boarding only school is, with all staff often living on site, very involved in house life or available in the evenings etc and extra curricular activities, day to day life going on often till 9 10 even 11 oclock at night. Everyone is in the same boat. For me if I was considering full boarding and had the money to pay for it and lived abroad that's what I would want.

No idea what it's like now OP but I did my sixth form at Kingswood in Bath.

Even back then it was mixed all the way through the school and definitely full boarding - we had lessons on Saturday mornings (and a free afternoon on Thursday!) and the handful of day pupils were known as day boarders, expected to be in school on Saturday mornings and picked up after supper and prep in the evening.

As it's on the outskirts of Bath it should be easy to get to from Bristol airport.

It was a nice friendly place, not too sporty but did well academically and had a good range of subjects, activities and things to do.

Ok. So first off you are going to find it wet hardto find a place in a decent school at year 9. You need to train your children for the 13+ to get them in to the decent ones. On top of that you need to decide whether you care about single sex vs mixed schooling. Then you should consider the whole sports thing. The vast majority of boarding schools are quite sporty so if you want sonething that is not you will have to opt for something that has a reputation for swottiness (e.g. Tonbridge or Habidashers) or creative arts (e.g. Charter House or Bedales). Or you may want to focus on schools that offer the IB (far higher quality of education than A levels).

My DS is a day boy at Bedford school. It still has a significant number of full boarders - especially from Y9 onwards, plus quite a lot of weekly boarders (generally from London).

There seems to be a fairly equal emphasis on sport and music/drama. It is academically selective, but I wouldn't class it as a super selective school IYSWIM.

It's not especially close to your family, although Bedford is at the opposite end of the Thameslink line to Brighton, and easily accessible from Luton or Gatwick.

So much info on this - fascinating thread.

Just btw Marlborough entry at 13+ involves a pre-test in Year 7 not 6.

Personally in your situation I would pay for extra tutors and get them through to gcse. I would then look at a good boarding school or state sixth form like peter symonds (Winchester - takes boarders) for their a levels which are what are important really. You don’t need to be at the ‘best’ school to be your best - I went to a rubbish state secondary and then on to oxford where I got a top degree - my parents just taught me to work hard and revise for my exams.

Please don’t underestimate how lonely and upsetting it would be for them to be stuck in a different country to their parents at such a young age

themummy76 I agree with you and it’s not something to be undertaken lightly or something we will definitely do.

A lot of other ex pats here do what you’re suggesting and use tutors to GCSE but often the children struggle to adapt back to life in the uk at 16 or 18.
I don’t know why but I suspect it’s because of the way the schools prepare them here.

They can get grades with help and tutoring but don’t have a well rounded education, lack critical thinking skills and the ability to express themselves.

Happy thanks for your exhaustive posts and to everyone else’s suggestions. I’m looking into them.

Christ’s Hospital is full boarding with a handful of pupils that are day ones in each year (recent development)

Lots of sport in year 7 then it eases off! They have a pool, handball courts- can’t remember what else for non-traditional sports. They do clay pigeon shooting and it is so cheap! Wall/rock climbing, cadets, scouts - they have a sailing club too.

Drama and Music are huge, uniform is free too

Surely most schools allow children educated abroad to do a truncated Common entrance - generally just maths, English, science and French? Definitely ask them.

And in which case Winchester could work because the year 6 pretest is mostly by interview with a bit of maths (10 mins ish) and English/vr, also v brief. How old are they??

OP - Eton takes all sorts.

However, there are a number of hoops to be jumped through re entry requirements so you would need to get onto that.

It is an absolutely fantastic school.

Op, I mean Eton takes boys of all different temperaments and caters for all interests.
The academic standard for the entrance exams is high.

If you’re looking at Sussex there are good choices.
Brighton College does well at virtually everything and is popular.
Lancing/Hurstpierpoint/Ardingly are next tier down.
Christ’s Hospital is competitive, good for music but quirky and not for everyone.
Moving over to Hampshire borders you have Bedales - bohemian, very rich, good for arts and music.
Wellington on Hants/Berkshire borders is similar to Brighton College but with better facilities and a wider appeal.