Windlesham House or the Dragon

[Fr0thandBubble]

Trying to choose between them for DS, who will be starting in Y4 in September, weekly boarding.

DS is a bit "quirky" but is very sociable and gregarious (although can be a bit immature/silly). Academically he is OK-ish although can lack focus. Not going to set the world alight in the sporting arena either but does really enjoy sport and is happy to get involved in anything.

I don't have my sights set on any particular secondary schools for him and just want him to be somewhere nurturing where his quirkiness will be embraced and he will have fun and be happy!

Any views as to whether Windlesham House or the Dragon would be best for him?

Are you planning to move once you have chosen? If not, I would choose the school the closest possible to your home. Even when a child boards it is much, much better if it is close to home. That way you can be much more involved in terms of making it to plays and matches and you can drop things in if they are forgotten/ needed. You can also pick up easily if he is ill or very sad.

Is there some reason you are choosing boarding at Yr4? Not judging, just asking.

@reefedsail We are equidistant between the two! About 1.5 hours away.

@damnthatanxiety We think DS would benefit socially from weekly boarding and we also would like him to have much more space and more sporting facilities than he currently has access to in London. DS is really keen to board too and we feel like it would suit him - he is very outgoing and not clingy at all.

He’d been doing 4 nights boarding and 3 nights at home each week.

Personally, I think 1.5hrs is too far. I would look for somewhere c.30minutes away. He can then flexi and if he gets really tired towards the end on term (or whatever) he can sleep at home.

I'm not against boarding at all, my 10yo DS flexis and loves it. We live a 5 minute walk from the school gates, but he started begging to board from about Y4. I would build in flexibility though so boarding is a fun option not a blanket necessity.

If you live half way between The Dragon and Windlesham, have you looked at Cheam?