Independent School - suggestions?

[Louise2004]

We've started thinking about choosing a school for our son, who is now 8, for when he's aged 11-18. Somewhere not far from London (or with good links to London) would be ideal - Surrey, Sussex, Oxford etc. - and the school should preferably be mixed/co-ed and offer weekly boarding as well as full-time boarding. Any suggestions, as well as comments on your own/your child's schools welcome! (I like the look of Charterhouse, which is being talked about in another thread, but we'd like to check out at least 5-6 schools before we make our decision - we have some time!) Thanks.

I'm fed up reading peoples anti boarding comments. I weekly/full boarded both of mine from 7 and 8. I now have well rounded 13 and 14 yr olds who obviously love their parents enjoy being at home in the hols and exeats etc. Many people comment on how well we all get along together and what a strong family we are. Nothing brings any of us more pleasure than when we all do something as a family simple things like Sunday lunch or when we go out together it doesn't have to be anywhere exotic walking the dogs, or the beach. A couple of parents have recently commented on this wishing that their teenagers were as keen as ours are to spend time with them. They also both get on very well with other children and are always popular with other parents; "well mannered" "eat everything" "looks you in the eye" etc.
It is not about the quantity of time you spend with your children it is about the quality of time you spend with them. I am lucky in that I can organise my work so that I am at home a lot during the holidays we all have fun together and talk and laugh about all sorts of things. From my own personal experience the thing that damages children more than anything is the threat/actual marriage breakdown.
With regard to boarding state schools there is one in Sandwhich Kent I think its called Roger Manwoods and as a final comment Louise2004 said she wanted weekly/full boarding there is no weekly boarding at Winchester.

Myotherhalf has written a brilliant explanation of why some of us choose a boarding school on a thread about prep schools.

FWIW, ds started boarding when he was 8. It was a difficult decision and we had a ghastly first term when he was very homesick. The school, however, couldn't have been kinder either to him or to us and if now (he's just 10) we were to suggest that he move schools or cease to board he'd be horrified. He knows how much his parents love him and why we chose that school. All the boys (even the bigger ones) hug and kiss their parents without the slightest restraint. It is also very noticeable that when any of them is having a hard time (one boy's mother has cancer, for instance; several others have parents on the other side of the world) the other boys make a huge effort to be cheering and kind. Crying is allowed and nobody teases. I just don't see fertile gound for the emotional difficulties which are assumed to go with the territory; and this is at a very traditional, boys only school

Why has this thread been resurrected after three years?

God knows I was going to ignore it but in the end I just got so cross with reading rubbish!

workstostaysane - "sorry to bang on, but cranleigh really do do shed loads of drugs". I have children there and disagree. I think the location away from a town centre and the low number of day pupils makes it slightly more protected in that regard. Dangerous to throw around wild generalisations.

Zombie