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.

Also, isn't the Chalet School high birth rate to do with most of them being Catholics? No contraception... And the older ones would be pre-easily available contraception anyway.

If it doesn’t work out there is always Swiss finishing school - it worked wonders for Gwendoline Mary Lacey

SchrodingersUnicorn The book is called 'Charlotte Sometimes and one of my faves :)

What about considering Degrassi Junior High? It's a day school but really seems to encourage individuallity in students and doesn't shy away from the tough issues that teens can face.

I'd give Summer Bay high a miss though. Far to many teacher/student relationships and the safety record isn't brilliant either.

Anyone know anything about Greyfriars School? I heard they had a bad record with postal orders. Can't have my child going without money for the tuck shop!

Also looked at Erinsborough High - headmistress was odd and they only have six lockers for the whole school.

malory towers, well, unsupervised swimming, and the girls were allowed to swim when the only life saving equipment was being mended.

For the slightly younger child i heard Whyteleafe School is meant to be good. The school is run by the children i hear. I heard from my friends daughter there was one girl called elizabeth that caused all sorts of problems before realising the error of her ways and becoming a monitor.

My little Madeline gained immensely from her time in Paris at Mme Clavel’s - some of you may be of the opinion that 7 is too young to board, but with only 12 enrolled, they certainly got personal attention. And her French is perfect - as is her deportment, after all that walking in two straight lines. Alors !

My DC go to school and the only thing they learn in French class is that bloody Bing Bong Song.

Thanks @Dragonlight

But my dear, it’s clearly a most exclusive private school, even if it’s not exactly Redroofs. One has to have dear old Cookie and maids and a governess to leave behind before one can attend, unless one wants to be patronised dreadfully for being the matron’s daughter but still daring to attend, of course.

Then there’s the school those Kirrin children attend. They’re never there. Always on holiday, they are...

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...

Tinned sardines pressed into fruitcake are considered a delicacy at these affairs (not envy). As you say recipe for indigestion at the very least.

What about Weatherfield high school , although an awful lot of their students seem to .come from one small street? And there was some controversy a few years back with one of the past teachers being a bit of serial killer and also faking his identity(can't remember the details.)

My DDs are getting on wonderfully at Sweet Valley High, although one would expect nothing less, seeing as they are both a perfect size six. The older DD (by 4 minutes) looks like she might be a journalist some day!

Whatever you do ,avoid Mystic Falls !
I've heard rumours that half of their students don't make it through the academic year .

I pulled my daughter out of sixth form at Rydell High, as I felt the other students were a bad influence, and old beyond their years, IYSWIM.

Is Cricklepit Combined school still taking applications?

I've heard that Malory Towers is really rather jolly but my precious DDs aren't the sporty type and I fear the French mistresses aren't on top of their game either, which is disappointing.

For all supporters of continuity of education let me please remind you I’d the excessively stringent rules of hygiene that reside among the academic portals of St Clare’s et al.

One hint of a sneeze and you will be bundled off to the san. Should the gruff but kindly doc be called you can guarantee that said girl will be sent home poste haste and confined to quarantine for some unholy length of time.

So for those parents who value their time to solve tricky chemical equations, bake and sit in a homely fashion: beware.

( Topsy and Tim have always seemed happy despite their long tenure within Reception.)

If you have your heart set on exclusive then Benwood House for girls is an excellent option. Discipline is the name of the game along with deprivation. It's character building! Cold baths once a week, minimal covering on beds, war time fare, friendships discouraged for fear of it 'developing', a sense of community based on point earning for good behaviour and losing for rule breaking (this will of course mean being sent to Coventry by your fellow peers).

Very regimented with the exception of that scandalous affair involving that American/English child climbing down the drain pipe to meet with a boy. No relationship you understand, just loneliness and friendship. But the very idea! Rest assured that she was immediately expelled in disgrace.

I hear she ended up at one of those newfangled think-for-yourself schools and now has a career in whispers the arts.

Anyone know anything about Greyfriars School? I heard they had a bad record with postal orders. Can't have my child going without money for the tuck shop!

My neighbour's DS, William, is a boarder there.

Academically they don't seen particularly outstanding, but their food portions are second to none. Although William is a compact 4'10", he is a strapping 17 and a 1/2 stones. They seem to encourage children to take responsibility for their own health too, and allow them to visit the Tuck Shop as often as they want, relying on their common sense to tell them when they've had enough.

Excellent way to encourage personal responsibility and money management. It's amazing how far little William seems able to stretch a single ten shilling postal order (oh - and they firmly believe in Imperial measurements and the Good British Pound, too! Up the Empire! Up School! Hurrah!)

I am thinking of pulling my kids out of private and sending them to our local comp, Waterloo Road.
This isn't a bad idea at all, is it? After all, a bright child will do well anywhere.

I think the only safe option would be to give up on school and hire a governess. They seem to be able to educate children to an exceptionally high standard despite being seemingly poorly educated themselves. As an added bonus, you might find one who can coach your brood to perform professional level choir harmonies despite having no formal musical education themselves.

Certainly avoid Sweet Valley High.

I've heard terrible things about Malory Towers. Girls falling over cliffs or being found unconscious on the side of the road at all hours of the night or beating each other up so badly they end up needing medical care and operations.

Well, fortunately one of the students’ father is a world reknowned surgeon who can turn up in the middle of the night and perform surgery in the san. Although with the lack of anaesthetic, a poorly sterilised environment and with only matron’s dressmaking scissors, medicine spoons, bottles of “doses” I do worry about what the GMC would say about his credentials.

I was trying to remember the name of the school while I was reading the thread CarrotVan, but you beat me to it in any case!

I'm hoping if my DC study very hard, they'll get to the Unseen University one day.