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Non-selective senior schools

9 replies

tachetastic · 16/10/2022 20:25

We are keen to give our DS all the benefits of a private education, but in all honesty he is not an academic superstar. Currently in Year 4, he is very sporty but reports from his current Prep still have him as "Working towards age related expectations" in all three of the key subjects - English, Maths and Science. "Exceeding age related expectations" in Games. 🏉🏑🎾🏊🙄

Prep will help him in preparing for Common Entrance, but I don't know if we really want to put him through the pressure of conditional offers that are reliant on achieving a specific mark. Assuming his sportiness continues I think that will make him attractive to schools, but I guess he would still have to achieve the required CE mark to get into a good school.

With that in mind, I wondered if anybody could help us identify good non-selective schools in the South/South West (i.e. schools that may use CE for setting, but not for entrance). I know that King's Bruton and Taunton are both specifically non-selective. Are there any others that we should keep in mind in case his academics do not improve? Alternatively, are there any good schools people know of that allow you to bypass the process by sneaking them into Prep with an automatic pass to senior school? I know a couple of schools that do this, though they would not be top of our list.

Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.

😃

OP posts:
TeenDivided · 16/10/2022 20:30

Embley in Hants? Co ed. Also has a juniors. Lovely grounds. No insider knowledge.

FaazoHuyzeoSix · 16/10/2022 20:37

Sidcot School in Somerset (about 30 mins south of Bristol, 15 mins east of Weston-super-Mare) could be ideal

gogohmm · 16/10/2022 20:49

Another vote for Sidcot, they stress on the bus shelter advert that they are not about exam grades. Apparently a good school, know people with grandchildren there

BadGranny · 16/10/2022 21:07

Some independent schools have Y7 entry with only a minimum of testing. Once there, there’s then no need to do Common Entrance at all. Such schools are often quite sporty as well. I know a few in the SE - pm me if you want more info.

tachetastic · 18/10/2022 15:40

Thanks. I actually drive past Sidcot every week on my way into Bristol, so I should have thought of it.

Would anybody have any experience of Sidcot vs King's Bruton as senior schools?

OP posts:
toomuchlaundry · 18/10/2022 15:49

Shebbear and Mount Kelly in Devon

XelaM · 19/10/2022 14:33

Mount House but it's probably too far for you. Lovely school

tachetastic · 19/10/2022 18:26

XelaM · 19/10/2022 14:33

Mount House but it's probably too far for you. Lovely school

Thanks. Sorry, I should have said we are looking at boarding, ideally full boarding if possible.

OP posts:
toomuchlaundry · 19/10/2022 20:15

Both Shebbear and Mount Kelly are boarding although have many day pupils too

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