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.

You might want to look at Crunchem Hall. The head is a bit of a battleaxe - likes to practice her hammer throwing with the children. The class teacher however is a real sweetie.

My children's school is really quite good, but their local youth club in the North East has a decidedly dodgy history. A boy once got blinded playing paintball due to the horrendous lack of safeguarding and risk assessment and has since gone on to become a drink-driver. (Why he was driving with his sight impairment I can't imagine).

Ocies - what's the provision like at Crunchem for g&t?

Whyteleaf? A school with no punishments by adults but other pupils? Also they take away children’s money so everyone has to spend the same. AIBU for thinking that’s unfair?

The midnight feasts at most of these schools seems to revolve around tinned sardines which surely must be a dietary concern so late at night? Far too much risk of indigestion, although i suppose an unpleasant 20 mins with matey the next day does generally sort it out...

I was looking at Linbury Court for DS

They even have goldfish in the swimming pool!

I hate to disappoint you but St Clares and Malory Towers are joining a MAT this September.

Back to the drawing board then....what about Rydell High ?

Whatever you do, don't send your DS to Rugby School. The level of bullying and laissez faire is horrendous and some DCs have nearly died following poor health care. I have no idea how it's remained open.

Not sure this post is spoof or real! My brothers did go to Rugby and got horribly bullied. It genuinely is a nasty, vicious school that I would never send any real child to, regardless of Tom Brown or Harry Flashman!

I hear there’s excellent arts provision at Marcia Blaine in Edinburgh. Although you do need to be in the right ‘set’ to access it

I've heard that Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality is an excellent choice for the more adventurous girl. There's an insistence on etiquette which the discerning parent will appreciate, but also a wide-ranging and highly creative curriculum.

My friend's DS went to St Dominic's and she can't recommend it. The sixth form are given far too much responsibility for the younger boys and it can lead to some appalling bullying. She worries about the lack of adult supervision outside of classes, and there's also a problem with gangs in the lower school. Her DS insists he's a 'Guinea-Pig'and honour-bound to fight a rival gang.

I had been hoping to send my very talented daughter to the High School of the Performing Arts but I keep hearing stories about the students causing traffic chaos by dancing on cars which is rather putting me off.

If you have DC whose behaviour at school is a concern, you might try St Champion's? I know it doesn't have the best reputation, but the school has a new headmaster who brought in a super-strict, no excuses behaviour policy and it's worked wonders. Absolute silence in the corridors, no uniform infringements whatsoever, and dangerous playground games have been replaced with outdoor study circles.

What's more, all the children insist that they love the school's new approach. Such positive attitudes to learning. The way they hand on that headmaster's every word he might as well be a hypnotist!

This is without doubt the best thread that has ever been on MN. Full marks to everyone !

students causing traffic chaos by dancing on cars which is rather putting me off.

Persevere, as their dedication may well lead to fame (if not fortune). And, chaotic tho' the life of those students may be, at least it doesn't have the risk associated with the Demar School of Ballet , where the entire school was abducted by mysterious giant bubbles. What sort of life would that be?

I'd avoid the Chalet School like the plague. Girls' mental health isn't great on account of lengthy stays in Coventry. Isolation is actively encouraged by staff. They're also big on curtsying to headteachers but I could overlook that if the rest of it were favourable.

I've heard excellent reports about Madam Dragon's school. She encourages pupil-led learning with lots of practicing on your own, they have a horse, and she is capable of turning out doctors within five years of schooling.

Has anyone considered Sunnydale High? I hear the campaigning for Homecoming Queen gets a bit brutal and they really go all out for Halloween but the library seems to be thriving and a school that fosters a love of reading is good, isn't it?

My wonderful, talented daughters are having a fabulous time with dear Madame Fidolia. They don't seem to have studied any mathematics or sciences, but their pliés, entrechats and développés are beyond criticism. The eldest has her LCC licence and is making a big contribution to our household budget by appearing on the London stage (though I am not quite sure whether the production is entirely comme il faut).

Might I suggest St Bride's

The girls have all sort of exciting adventures there, including catching spies.

And one of the girls is so beautiful, I hear they call her "The Angel"

I'm considering post-16 choices for my DTs. One has a father fixation and really needs a caring male principal to hold her hand. The other I think needs a slightly less demanding atmosphere as he doesn't have much self esteem. I hope he'll make friends, get to know less privileged DCs, get invited to parties etc. I've heard good things about Borchester College, what do you think?

Well, they've sent at least one girl to Oxford to read PPE recently, and she came from a very troubled family, so I'd say give it a go. It might be wise to keep any family heirloom artworks you have securely locked away at the bank, though. Subscribe your son to a programme of weekly drug tests as a precaution.

I thought students were leaving Borchester for Cherrington? Or is that only the ones who get expelled?

What about Baxter High?, Madam Satan is a wonderful guiding light to the students, Truly empowering. Just don’t let your teens get jobs delivering pizza. They do have a habit of disappearing.

Video Game High is good option for gamers, but repetitive strain syndrome is high possibility. Very strong headteacher and a highly competitive environment.

I've heard good reports of the Jane Willard Foundation. Kind and sensible generally and the girls themselves don't encourage snowflakes - I believe they have some kind of club to deter it.

My children go to a small primary, they've recently been working on a lovely mural in the schoolyard, a beautiful fantasy scene with a dragon.

Can't recommend it I'm afraid as three children disappeared from the playground lately and were never heard from again. One of the witnesses was babbling about the mural dragon coming to life and talking about saving the land of Pelamar. Not sure what that means.

Has anyone come across Downey House? It's fairly new to the scene. It seems reasonably wholesome (and posh) with good extra curricular activities and supportive housemistresses.
However, I gather academics aren't so good, some of the girls are quite bitchy, and as they seem to only appoint female staff (despite it being the 2010s) I am concerned they are standing on dodgy ground RE the equality act 2010. Not sure they'll come out well in their next ISI inspection in terms of compliance.
(Also, what was the book with the girls Clare and Charlotte who swapped over in the night and Clare died of flu? Someone references it earlier)

YABU, without St Enid of Blyton I would never have come across the "Midnight Feast" as an actual thing!