to be concerned about St Clare’s Ofsted report

[Alanamackree]

According to my dear friend Mrs Blyton, this is an excellent boarding school for girls. Am I being unreasonable to be concerned about rumors of rampant bullying, a French teacher who verbally abuses and humiliated her students, an unqualified substitute teacher and suggestions that the head may have covered up the attempted abduction of a student?

I’ve been considering Malory Towers as an alternative but I’m not sure that’s the best place for dd either.

I am worried about my DS Nigel who is at St Custard's en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Molesworth

I was looking at Linbury Court for DS but I’m not sure about the extra curricular activities. The Form Oners and early bedders guided missiles Society worries me.

My friends children go to Grange Hill ,terrible school!

Well at Mme Gazelle's academy, the staff ratio on school outings for preschoolers seems pretty dire. And I'm fairly sure there's no risk assessments done. Definitely 'requires improvement' for Peppa and friends' school.

Springfield Elementary seems to be failing my friend's DC - let's call them Bart and Lisa- they've been going there for years and have still not graduated to High School. Lisa is a talented saxophonist too.

X2boys, or can I call you Fanny ? You and your nephew Dick always get along - I suggest you meet up when he’s over your way and get him to persuade your scientist DH as to the benefits of such schooling.

There’s a Select Seminary for Young Ladies in London run by a Miss Minchin. Seems to be highly regarded by the ex-pat community. I’m thinking it might broaden her horizons.

Drearcliff Hall is an excellent choice IMO, maybe avoid the underground sewers.

Don’t even think of sending them to Springfield Elementary. There’s one student there who is a horrid little hellraiser

Miss. Peregrine ‘s.

@Alanmackree I’ve heard dreadful things about the girls at Miss Minchin’s actually mixing with the servants! If your DD is going to be a boarder anyway then would you consider a school overseas? I hear Beauxbatons Academy turns out charming young ladies, I even heard of one who married a very dashing banker...

My great grandmother went to Lowood. They had burnt porridge for breakfast, and punished girls by making them stand outside in all weathers. The girls were trained to be governesses, and there was always a possibility they might marry their pupil's father, provided he didn't already have a wife in the attic.

I share your concern. However, I must shamefacedly admit that I had sent mine to St. Clare's after they'd both been deafened by the small firearms part of the curriculum in the School for Spies that was so strongly recommended by that well known guide to schools, Mandy .*

Bunty seems to favour St. Elmos - does anyone (other than someone with the name, Mary) have an opinion?

*I can find no support for this on Google but I'm sure this was a short-lived series in Mandy or another girls comic.

clan my brother was at Linbury Court! Father wanted him to go to a seminary as he did, but DB was sure he didn't want to go into the clergy, so he went to LC instead. Had a terrific time, though his best friend got into some eye-opening scrapes!

I’m surprised none of you have mentioned Kingscote. Although there is one family who dominated the Christmas play - I’m not sure anyone else’s DDs got a look in.

Your DD would surely benefit from the bracing air and sturdy moral codes of Hillsover, especially if she has a younger sister to accompany her. Expect her to return with firm ideas about unladylike conduct.

For those who find the school holidays a severe trial, it might be worth looking at the permanent boarding option at Dotheboys Hall - boys only at present, but might be worth asking if they'd take a girl. The head, Wackford Squeers, has a very open admissions policy and is always keen to expand the school roll to replace those who have gone on to a better place, in his own words. Slightly odd way of describing his school leavers, but in these days of identikit teachers it's so refreshing to meet a true character! I understand he places great stress on discipline and experiential learning is a great feature*. Mrs Squeers oversees the domestic side of the school and is a keen devotee of traditional folk medicine to keep the boys in good fettle.

[We go upon the practical mode of teaching, Nickleby; the regular education system. C-l-e-a- n, clean, verb active, to make bright, to scour. W-i-n, win, d-e-r, der, winder, a casement. When the boy knows this out of book, he goes and does it. It's just the same principle as the use of the globes. One of my favourite bits in all Dickens.]

Dotheboys Hall is where you want if you consistent discipline for your sons! There is a tendency for a few of the weaker boys to die off each term, but that is Nature's Way, and it improves the gene pool. I believe that Mr Darwin sent all of his boys there.

If you have DDs, I recommend Lowood - occasional outbreaks of tuberculosis, to be sure, but a strong religious element which ensures that the souls of the Young Ladies are well looked after, and a plain but healthy diet, rich in gristle, to reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

Both of these schools guarantee that you won't be stuck with "fussy eaters" or any such nonsense, either! Healthy mind, healthy(ish) body, and the little buggers can stay there over the holidays for a small fee.

A lot of children even end up with teaching/handyman posts in the school after they leave, too - so that's their futures sorted out as well!

Our DCs went there aged five, and they are now in their thirties and we've only had to see them twice in the intervening years! Definitiely recommended!

If you end up settling on Whyteleafe for goodness sake don't send monetary gifts, and make sure you say the same to any friends or relatives who might! The children are forced to hand in any cash they're sent to be equally distributed among all the pupils, so it would really make much more sense to ask family to make bank transfers instead (unless suggesting that would make you a CF?)

Cross-post Bittermints - I had to get a wee half-way through my post and didn't realise you had added yours in the meantime. Sorry about that.

No worries, Schadenfreude, I enjoyed your post very much!

I wouldn't recommend Malory Towers. My lovely niece Gwen developed a terrible phobia of water after going there. She also kept having her best friends stolen from her. Some of them were lovely girls with titles and everything.

The Chalet School is wonderful, despite a rather weird past pupil who can't seem to stay away from the place.

Cheers Bitters

Miss Pinkerton's Academy is pretty good -
though I own to a few misgivings about the girl teaching French, a Miss Sharp.

Any thoughts on Deepdean? I was a bit concerned about the high murder rate but on the other hand DD says there’s a good chance of going to Oxford from there so maybe it’s worth the risk??