Looking for advice on York private schools

[Stainlesssteel300]

Hello,
We are currently looking at St Peters, Bootham and Terrington Hall.
Bootham and St Peters seem to be very different - ideally I think we would like a school somewhere in the middle which is why we are now considering Terrington Hall.
Does anyone have children at either of these schools that could give me any insights.
I’ve heard great things about St Peters 2-8 and 13-18 but not so great about the middle school. Bootham seems to be very relaxed and maybe a bit too relaxed for us.
I haven’t seen Terrington Hall yet but everything I’ve heard has been positive, small classes and good pastoral care.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you 😊

Are you looking for schools in central York, and for secondary school too? I ask as Terrington is in rural North Yorkshire, out to the north of York, and as far as I know only runs to 13.

Are you just looking at co-ed schools? If not, you could always add The Mount to your list (all girls). Outside of York, there is also Cundall Manor (co-ed; runs to 16 I believe).

You’re right in that St Peter’s and Bootham are very different schools - where do your DC’s interests lie?

Yes, you are right about the middle bit of St Peter's. You are not the only one to think that.

I am a huge fan of Terrington. It's a fab little (very little) prep school. You'd need to plan where they go after 13 though. That's no bad thing. The only possible downside to Terrington is it's size as everything is cut quite tight with resources. There's no surplus to spend like there is in a bigger school.

I like Bootham too, but for me, I'd go Terrington and then rethink at age 11 and plan for 13+ entry at a school to suit THEM. That could be outside of York entirely of course 😁

DD went to Bootham but left in 2016 so I don’t know what the school is like now. Hopefully the same.

Don’t be put off by its “relaxed” persona. The school takes academics and behaviour very seriously. Probably not the school of choice if you wish your children to become Olympians though.

We like The Mount and would happily choose this school but I’m asking for my DS.

But for us The Mount would be the happy medium between St Peters and Bootham. It seems to have good pastoral care, smaller class sizes and although it is Quaker (which I like) it doesn’t seem as ‘relaxed’ as Bootham (smarter uniform!). Do you know anything about either St Peters or Bootham?

Our DS is currently in Y2 at a local state school, he loves football and cricket and is doing well academically. He is social and makes friends easily.

Thanks again for your help.

The Mount fucked up pretty comprehensively about eight years ago with their taking boys/not taking boys thing 😆They lost a lot of families who moved girls as well because they pissed around too much.

Go see Terrington. I think it would be perfect for you.

@Sunbelievable what’s your opinion on Bootham junior and senior school?

@Stainlesssteel300 I love the Quaker philosophy and they embody that better than I think The Mount do in the same city.

Are you within walking distance of bootham? If you are, that would tip it a bit for me personally in their favour. If not, and you'd have to drive regardless, I really would look at Terrington and then make the move at 13, which could be to Bootham as it's a fab place. They do have entry at 13 as well as 11. Equally, you have the freedom to really look around during year 6 and 7 and pick what would best suit them.

There is something to be said for being able to walk in York though!

@Sunbelievable yes we could walk to B. Terrington Hall does have a bus that picks up from York, but agree walking is preferable. Thanks for all of your help, really appreciate it.

If you can walk to Bootham then go there. It’s quite a hike to Terrington and you will find that friends will live further north than the school.

Bootham was a fantastic experience for my DD and has set her on a great path for life. PM me if you want specific info.

I don't live in York anymore, but would go for Bootham in a heartbeat. It's been a while, but the adults I know who have gone there have been extremely successful, and in careers that it would take discipline to succeed in - so don't be put off by the relaxed ethos, it doesn't seem to breed complacent adults.

My own dc are at local state schools so I don’t have first hand experience but based on the young people I have met and dd’s experience in various competitions I would go for Bootham without a doubt. The Bootham young people I have met have generally been mature, friendly and thoughtful, whereas St Peter’s seems to allow the kind of obnoxious behaviour that gets private schools a bad name- dd has been distinctly unimpressed by the behaviour of St Peter’s students in competitions and while hosting, though she does say the food is very good!

I don’t have experience of Bootham Junior - not since it stopped being Ebor at least!

But I would recommend the senior school in a heartbeat - in my experience it turns out well rounded, self confident and conscientious young people.

From when I have experience - which may be outdated - lots of the year 7 intake came from the state sector or other schools in the area, and there was a steady stream of year 9 starts coming from the Minster School and Cundall (although the former is now closed and the latter extends to 16). I imagine there would still be a fair year 9 intake though.

With that in mind, I’d focus on the right school for now and less about senior options. There is enough movement in schools across the city and beyond that moving wouldn’t cause any more upheaval than any other junior to secondary school move.

@FatRascalsAndJam I am devastated about TMS. It was a great and a bit wacky prep school. The word "unique" gets bandied around too much by marketing departments in schools, but the Minster school actually was just that.
A lot of parents are not only angry with the way it happened but also about the closed door deal with St Peter's who now use the teeth itching phrase "the choir school for the Minster". I know families who have moved stunningly talented children out of York entirely to other choirs and schools rather than go there 😔 But I guess the powers at The Minster couldn't have made a deal with Bootham, because well, Quaker, even though it is arguably the more musical school.

Those in charge were just looking for a chance to shut the Minster school. Bloody Covid gave them that.
I would have sent my dc to Bootham if we could afford it for 3. We can't. I can advise on state options

Yup @Trumplosttheelection but hey, they'll now be (yet another!!!) cafe in the Visitors Centre they'll have in its place.

Just what York needs, another cafe 😆

I know several children who are very happy at Terrington Hall - it has a lovely, nurturing atmosphere. It's a reasonable distance from York though and very rural, and can be difficult to get to if there's snow.

If you're considering schools outside of York then I'd urge you to have a look at Pocklington School - it's excellent, much more accessible from York and goes right through to Sixth Form. All the facilities are excellent and the children I know who attend are thriving.

The CofE didn’t need to be subsidising more over privileged children in a city facing 25%+ unemployment.

@CarrieBlue if you're interested in the facts, the accounts show a self sufficient school that actually gave the Minster money in recent history, although the Minster are hardly charitable at heart themselves with the way they have ramped up their shop rents meaning independent local shops nearby have gone bust and become generic chain restaurants.

We are about to send three children to St Peter's.. Sixth form, year 9 and year 7. We have also just moved to the area.

I have heard mixed reviews about the middle school too, but figured that it's only for two years and didn't want to disrupt my younger one but moving twice.

Main reason for choosing Peter's for us was that youngest is very extroverted and super sporty. Was at a Bootham type school, which she loved, but sport was an issue.

Year 9 is quieter but likes rules and structure and needs a bit of a push academically. Dd chose it herself as knows some people there already.

I am hoping we made the right choice... 😆 Really hard to tell by just visiting and feedback as always mixed depending on the families you meet..

@Travelban there's always lots of movement between schools in York.

As long as you are not absolutely wedded to the idea that they all HAVE to be at the same school, it's easy to move one or two of it's not working - just keep on top of the situation and monitor it and move if you need to.

Admittedly, your sixth former will be committed once they start, but the others aren't.

If your sixth former is wanting oxbridge or medicine though be very, very cautious. Out of six medic applicants this year, I think only two have any offers at all? I was told that by a Peter's mum and obviously I haven't verified it, but it rang huge alarm bells as they ought to be hitting those top competitive university spots. If you have any doubts at all, keep pushing for actual figures.

I think admissions to competitive university courses have been all over the place this year though and I wouldn’t necessarily take that as a reflection on a particular school.

@TheCountessofFitzdotterel I actually think it's even more relevant to know how a school has coped with the issues of this year compared like-for-like with other schools. It's actually a good test.

Competition has been tough for medicine in particular yes, but competitor schools have had more success.

When you are talking about similarly able A* students, it's a good comparison.

Sixth former is aiming for medicine.... Worried now!!!

Can someone summarise what's wrong with St Peter's middle school?

Sixth former is aiming for medicine.... Worried now!!!

Read any of the higher education threads and medicine has been very difficult this year. Many candidates carried over from the hash up of A level results.