Shiplake College - girls VIth Form

[user1470721050]

Hi all

just come from Shiplake College open day. Daughter is keen on rowing, so would weekly Or termly board. We don’t know the school well - any thoughts on pastoral care and academic side most appreciated - she’s looking maths/physics/geography A level and probably destined for Russell Group University on current form.

OH in particular didn’t warm to it, but hard to make a decision when we live out of the area.

All thoughts most appreciated.

It’s essentially a boys school with girls in the sixth form so is always going to have a more masculine vibe. It is very well known for the pastoral side but less so for academics. Don’t get me wrong, a bright child would do very well there (and I am a strong believer that if your child is at the school that makes them happiest then that’s the best place for them not the highest in the league tables) but it’s perhaps not a natural choice for a very bright child.

If rowing is the main focus then St Edwards’s (Teddies) in Oxford is a natural choice in a reasonably similar area. Headington also row.

Thankyou! Lots of food for thought!

Pangbourne also in the same area with lots of rowing. Would choose any of the above listed schools over Shiplake for academics.

My oldest two dc did high-level junior rowing, and I don’t recollect any girls’ boats from either Pangbourne or Shiplake at any of the big competitions. Headington and LEH are the big names in junior girls rowing, with Teddies (st Edwards Oxford) if you want mixed. All of those have better academics than shiplake as well.

You don’t go to shiplake for the academics. Would second Headington as a better option.

Another vote for Headington, their rowing is very good.

We are looking for a weekly boarding school close to London for our son at 13+. Looking for an all round school, as our son is definitely happier on the sports field then the classroom! Looked around Shiplake, but due to COVID restrictions couldn’t meet any of the boys, so haven’t really got a feel for the type of boy a Shiplake boy is?? Facilities all seem great and briefly met the relatively new head, who came across well. Just wondered if anyone had any recent feedback on Shiplake.

Shiplake is now the premier rowing school in the UK. Head coach is also UK coach. They have a new girl's coach and the girls boat will be at Henley this year. One of the girls just got a rowing scholarship to Princeton (she was offered both Harvard and Princeton). The maths and science depts are excellent and last year rowers went to Bath, Durham, Exeter, Edinburgh (my friend's son was one of these). Many very academic students are choosing Shiplake for A levels because of the rowing. New head seems excellent. If she wants rowing Shiplake is now the very best there is.

Hi. Also looking at Shiplake for rowing daughter for 6th form. Also Reading Bluecoats. Politics, Economics and Spanish. Any views appreciated.

Shiplake are rowing champions, having won the National Schools Championship today.

They seem untouchable for rowing at the moment. And as they are becoming fully coed, I think it will feel less masculine in time.

If it wasn't for a child interested in rowing especially, yes there are better schools. But for someone who loves rowing...