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Original poster

Which boarding school is currently best for swimming?

38 replies

chlorinemum · 11/04/2022 12:55

I'm looking for some up to date information on boarding school that specialise in in swimming for our swimming obsessed son for Y9 in Sept 23. We are currently considering Mount Kelly, Millfield and Repton. Looking for info from current or recent parents on the pros and cons of each. Swimming is big factor but obviously we also want good academics and other co-curricular opportunities in case the swimming obsession diminishes.
We like Mount Kelly but worry about the size of the program getting too big with too many swimmers. Millfield obviously has a good track record but it looks like a lot of swimmer have moved away from there recently to other swimming schools which is a bit of a concern? Repton looks good but it's a new program so not much info on it.
Any up to date info on these 3 schools would be most appreciated.

OP posts:
tavinbloom · 11/04/2022 16:18

Sitting back with some popcorn ,to see if Mk rustle up some first time posters to tell you how great it is..Wink

gogohm · 11/04/2022 16:28

Have you considered a day school close to a university with a good programme? dd had friends who went to ordinary state school then took the bus to Loughborough to train each night, one went to the Olympics!

Original poster
chlorinemum · 11/04/2022 19:32

@gogohm

Have you considered a day school close to a university with a good programme? dd had friends who went to ordinary state school then took the bus to Loughborough to train each night, one went to the Olympics!
Sadly not an option without relocating the whole family
OP posts:
tavinbloom · 12/04/2022 10:01

If you are interested in life beyond the pool,eg academics and co curricular,just ask yourself what each of those schools would look like if the swimming prog was removed...

veronicagoldberg · 12/04/2022 10:03

@tavinbloom

Sitting back with some popcorn ,to see if Mk rustle up some first time posters to tell you how great it is..Wink

Ooh! I want to know the story behind this!

tavinbloom · 12/04/2022 11:16

Last time there was an MK or Millfield thread we had six posters very keen to tell us how great MK was -for three of them that was the first and last time they posted on mumsnet,another poster managed one other post and two more posts is the grand total for the fifth poster...Smile

Legoninjago1 · 12/04/2022 13:04

I knew someone who went to Culford for the swimming - this was about 5 years ago.

Takeachance18 · 12/04/2022 22:35

Which one is closest to you and how easy to go and support - what about holiday training. Assuming not going to boarding school because of swimming, but would be going anyway. Would look at the English Schools swimming results and look at the schools that consistently do well. If going to be staying all weekends make sure there are lots of other children staying. If you look at someone like Luke Greenbank and the club he has come from, those with a good swim programme will develop their swimmers, but the school programmes are only so good, there are lots of local clubs developing children who then move at 16/18 to the top University programmes like Loughborough

MrPickles73 · 13/04/2022 13:03

I thought Plymouth College was the place to go? Or Ellesmere College?

tavinbloom · 13/04/2022 13:34

Ellesmere College swimming has been in the news a fair bit,and not in a good way..

MrPickles73 · 13/04/2022 13:43

Is Titans not a separate club?
They say all publicity is good publicity?

Original poster
chlorinemum · 13/04/2022 13:49

Thanks for your responses. Yes Ellesmere Titans was a separate club that the pupils at the school swam at but was closed down following the inquiry. They are still swimming at the school but the swimmers now are affiliated to City of Leicester which is completely the other side of the midlands so not sure how that will work out. Anyway we've been put off by what has happened, hence not on our list. Not ruled out Plymouth

OP posts:
tavinbloom · 13/04/2022 13:51

Ok,the swimming which has been based at Ellesmere College..I somehow dont think this publicity is good publicity..do you?

Edmontosaurus · 13/04/2022 13:52

I think it is difficult to tell of a 12 year old boy will develop into an elite swimmer so I would go for Repton which will give you a good balance between elite swimming and academics. I think Millfield, MK and Ellesmere College are less strong a ademically.

Have you had your DS assessed by Swim England coaches? Do not lose sight of the fact that most of the successful swimmers on these programmes are already swimming at an elite level before they join these schools.

Dressingdown1 · 13/04/2022 13:57

Millfield is ramping up their academic offering and has some excellent results. Obviously it's also very strong on the swimming side and has great facilities.. Have you been to visit the schools you are considering yet?

ninnynonny · 13/04/2022 14:06

Malory Towers?

Original poster
chlorinemum · 13/04/2022 14:23

@ninnynonny

Malory Towers?
No good- all girls GrinPlus from what I recall most of their swimming was in the sea and DS isn't a fan of open water...
OP posts:
ninnynonny · 13/04/2022 18:21

Haha Grin And there's some awful bullying!!

Keefusandbetina · 13/04/2022 22:31

@tavinbloom always slags Mount Kelly off on here, and wouldn’t listen to me when I say my daughter absolutely loves it there (I name change regularly on here but am def not a new poster!)
But my daughter is in her second year there, totally loves it. Her swimming hasn’t been amazing this year for various reasons (nothing to do with the school) but her coach is fantastic, really believes in her. The swim programme is tough going but she loves the friendships, camaraderie etc & the facilities are incredible. She’s doing really well academically- it’s not the most academic school but that’s fine for her as she’s very much a middle set girl who is happy working hard but not being made to feel like she’s failing like she could at more academic schools.
Her house mistress is brilliant, & have no complaints at all re the boarding. The swimmers don’t get a whole lot of downtime (lots of meets this term) but on the other hand it’s good to keep them busy!

Feel free to message if you have more specific questions - what I would say is that the swimmers are of a VERY high standard, and it can be a bit demoralising to be a great regional level swimmer but find you’re still at the bottom of your squad! But as long as your child is ready for that (if that’s the case of course, he might be amazing!) then its fine.

Original poster
chlorinemum · 14/04/2022 12:38

[quote Keefusandbetina]@tavinbloom always slags Mount Kelly off on here, and wouldn’t listen to me when I say my daughter absolutely loves it there (I name change regularly on here but am def not a new poster!)
But my daughter is in her second year there, totally loves it. Her swimming hasn’t been amazing this year for various reasons (nothing to do with the school) but her coach is fantastic, really believes in her. The swim programme is tough going but she loves the friendships, camaraderie etc & the facilities are incredible. She’s doing really well academically- it’s not the most academic school but that’s fine for her as she’s very much a middle set girl who is happy working hard but not being made to feel like she’s failing like she could at more academic schools.
Her house mistress is brilliant, & have no complaints at all re the boarding. The swimmers don’t get a whole lot of downtime (lots of meets this term) but on the other hand it’s good to keep them busy!

Feel free to message if you have more specific questions - what I would say is that the swimmers are of a VERY high standard, and it can be a bit demoralising to be a great regional level swimmer but find you’re still at the bottom of your squad! But as long as your child is ready for that (if that’s the case of course, he might be amazing!) then its fine.[/quote]
Thank you. That's helpful

OP posts:
Edmontosaurus · 14/04/2022 17:49

Repton did pretty well at BSC this month.

results.swimming.org/swimming/results/2022/bschamps/

Original poster
chlorinemum · 14/04/2022 20:02

@Dressingdown1

Millfield is ramping up their academic offering and has some excellent results. Obviously it's also very strong on the swimming side and has great facilities.. Have you been to visit the schools you are considering yet?
Hoping to get round them next term. We've done some virtual tours but you can't really get a feel for somewhere through a screen!
OP posts:
Original poster
chlorinemum · 14/04/2022 20:07

@Edmontosaurus

I think it is difficult to tell of a 12 year old boy will develop into an elite swimmer so I would go for Repton which will give you a good balance between elite swimming and academics. I think Millfield, MK and Ellesmere College are less strong a ademically.

Have you had your DS assessed by Swim England coaches? Do not lose sight of the fact that most of the successful swimmers on these programmes are already swimming at an elite level before they join these schools.

Yes we are very aware he is still very young but he is very passionate about it and doing very well for his age and this is something he wants to do (boarding school) so we feel we have to explore the options with him. There is of course a chance he will change his mind or grow out of it which is why we want to make sure he has other options at the school
OP posts:
Keefusandbetina · 14/04/2022 21:34

One of the things I like about Mount Kelly the most is the area - Tavistock is a lovely town, very safe and enough to do for a few hours on a Saturday afternoon. It’s on the moors so there are opportunities to do Ten Tors, D of E etc plus other outdoor activities (the prep were brilliant for trips to the beach etc but less of this in the senior school) so if he does decide swimming isn’t for him then there’s loads of other stuff - I don’t know much about the other sports but I know they do the usual cricket, rugby etc etc
What level is he swimming at now? Generally you need to be swimming at regional level by year 7 to be considered for a scholarship (though you could still go to the schools & be on the squad, just not on a scholarship) And yes, some kids who are amazing at 12 are less good at 16, and vice versa… you can rarely tell!

maeveiscurious · 14/04/2022 21:39

@ninnynonny

Malory Towers?
I heard Daryl did very well there