South Oxon/Berks independents advice - girls schools

[sallyseptember]

I am interested in recent/current experience of schools such as SHSK and the Abbey. Any thoughts appreciated.

DD is in a younger year at SHSK and loves it. It’s a great bunch of girls. The academic standard is high but there is lots of other fun stuff going on in sports, music, art, drama etc.

It’s important to note that it is not an isolated girls school. There is plenty of interaction with the boys’ school down the road to keep
some balance. My kids use the shared bus service which adds to the interaction. But girls are free within the school to pursue their interests inside or outside the curriculum without worrying what some bloke thinks.

We’ve also experienced the strength of the pastoral support when DD had some settling in issues in her first year. That transient aside I’ve seen her confidence grow and her interests diversify.

I have a DD in Y8 at SHSK, who started in Y7. She came from a co-ed Prep school, and is extremely happy at SHSK. Her confidence has grown hugely and the absence of boys is definitely working for her both academically and pastorally. The Pastoral care is good, and the girls all seem pretty harmonious. Minor niggles have been taken seriously. The girls are noticeably less 'grown up' than the same age girls in her old Prep school, which to my mind is a good thing. I don't see the school as 'pushy' per se - I think it's more that they select girls who are very able and motivated to succeed, but the workload is heavy, I think, especially when combined with the extracurricular commitments of music, sport or drama which most girls seem to have (and enjoy). I like the fact that academic achievement, music, drama and sport are all equally valued. In the lower years, there is very little interaction with Abingdon boys (other than the bus). Most of the 'joint' activities are actually only available to academic or music scholars which I think is rather misleadingly portrayed by the school, and I have been disappointed by this. My only other real disappointment is the obsession with rules/regulations/safeguarding. Obviously we need this stuff but just occasionally in life you need to chill a bit and 'et your hair down (literally!). There just doesn't seem to be as much letting off of steam as I see in other schools and I wonder if all the girls' hard work should be rewarded with a bit more fun... Just my opinion, but at the end of the day, they seem to produce fantastic results and very capable young ladies who have no doubt that they can do anything the boys can do at least as well, probably better!

Hello and thank you for your comments. I am interested in what the 'joint' activities would be and are academic or music scholars treated differently?

Interaction with the boys school is mainly on the bus journey to school, once students reach 6th form there are a couple of joint lessons and in senior section drama productions are combined with Abingdon. It is very much a girl's school and girls are encouraged to think big. Lots of emphasis placed on STEM subjects and this can make girls who have interested in other areas feel less valued.
Great facilities, good teaching, good range of clubs, but can feel elitist with focus on excellence rather than personal development (although I guess that is what many people choosing this type of school are seeking). If your daughter has a strong sense of self belief and a willingness to participate vocally she will thrive. It's not necessarily an environment for the more self conscious as they tend to feel overlooked. Lack of social events probably exacerbates this pressure cooker atmosphere.
A school with many strengths, but no school is perfect.

One thing worth noting is that SHSK has handled lockdown schooling brilliantly. Communication has been good, lessons switched seamlessly to online teaching, there were challenges, group chats, projects and concerts. Feedback was acted upon swiftly and girls felt supported. The online timetable gave the girls a routine which they needed. I think they loved the lie-ins and having lessons in their pyjamas!