Hi @MrPickles73, this is Molecule’s dd.
In terms of challenging me specifically in all mixed-ability A-level classes (which from my results - 2 A* 1A- evidently they managed), I don’t remember ever being given separate work, or anything as overt as that, it all felt very natural - a sign of how good the teaching was I think.
Having been state educated all the way through before boarding at Moreton (at an ‘excellent’, very high achieving comp), what I really noticed was the level of individual attention - none of my classes had more than 8 girls in, and every single piece of prep handed in, class work done etc got really good, constructive feedback. Yet, while I was getting 98% on my Classical Civilisation quiz etc, my best friend who was in that class and very arty not academic (is now doing art on one of the best courses) was getting 30% but was never made to feel like she was getting left behind - it really was amazingly well done.
I also loved all my classes because they were ‘fun’ the whole way through; even close to exams we all had a laugh, and I think it was the mix of abilities that really made for the great atmosphere. It was absolutely NOT a pressure cooker, and I loved that. Equally though, unlike at my comp being clever wasn’t something to be a bit embarrassed about - there was no concept of ‘nerdy’, or correlation between ability and ‘coolness’ - your own predicted grades were just only relevant to you.
I also got very involved in Moreton Enterprises while I was there - we had two rounds of interviews for the various positions during the taster week in Upper Fifth - and found it both great fun and a real learning experience. Not to mention that my ‘director’ position in a relevant area looks great on my CV as I apply for internships now!
I think my greatest takeaway from Moreton though is the friends I made - a few years down the line, and dispersed to various unis, I still have a wide circle of girls I talk to and see regularly, and who will be best friends for life. I think this is because of how distinctly un-cliquey it was, with, yes, one group of 5-6 ‘cool’ girls, and then the other 40 or so of us who all muddled along together chatting with everyone. This was a really noticeable difference from my previous schools, and actually made organising cinema trips etc rather difficult because there were so many people to invite!
I’m sorry this is so long - I’m clearly in 3000-words-a-week mode from uni - but as you can tell, I loved it and would advise anyone to go for a taster if only to experience it for a few days.