Rugby School, Bablake, Kings High & Princethorpe

[JuliaDpink]

Hello,

Does anyone have any recent/current experience of Rugby School, Princethorpe, Bablake or Kings High in Warwick please? We're currently researching secondary schools for our daughter who is in year 5.

Thanks

They're quite different. What area are you living in at the moment?

Princethorpe and Bablake feel a slightly different league to Rugby or Kings High.

Rugby is a great school. Most are boarders though I think. Friends’ dc thrived there but quite a few friends from London.

Yes @TizerorFizz a lot at Rugby are boarders, and a lot from abroad. Good school. Weird skirts.

@JuliaDpink we are on the same search with pretty much the same list. Take it you are South Warks rather than North?
Friend of a friend taught at Rugby not too long ago (within last 5 years) and how they were treated as a staff member put me off the school tbh.
Kings is too far really although everyone I know who has kids in the prep are super happy although it is quite cliquey from what they say.
Princethorpe is DH’s old school, we are booked to go and visit but I’m less keen due to it being a Catholic school
Bablake is our obvious choice, we’ve got friends with kids there and we’ve been on the open days. We all liked it but there’s something I can’t quite put my finger on that bothers me - perhaps the sheer size?
We’ve also seen Pattison’s and are planning to see Dixie in Market Bosworth.
Following with interest!

I know a lot of people with kids who went to Bablake and Princethorpe, they seemed less selective if that has any bearing.

Kings High would get my vote, especially since it moved to the new site and is co-located with Warwick School but it depends where you are in the region.

There's also Arnold Lodge in Leamington as an option. Not sure how it does academically but I know pastorally it's been great for a few friends.

My neighbours daughter is there.
We are london based and she boards.

Absolutely loves it and parents seem very happy with their choice.
I'd describe her as an all -rounder... quite bright, shes a bit sporty and a bit musical.

I would say my friends’ dc are stem and arty! It’s a school where everyone can find their niche I think. It’s a”name” school (if that matters) but I think your money gets you a bit more. Definitely more selective than 2 of the schools mentioned. Depends what you want out of a school I think.

Thanks so much for the replies.

I'm feeling really confused about secondary schools at the moment so all of these insights/comments are very helpful.

I know there is a massive difference between the 4 schools I've mentioned but I honestly don't know where my daughter would be happiest. I guess there's no guarantee of even getting offers from Rugby or Kings if they're quite selective?

How is she academically? Does she struggle under pressure? Need any pastoral support? High achieving etc? I think all of these are factors in picking.

TizerorFizz, please can I ask what you get at a school like Rugby that's a bit extra or a bit more for your money? I know that lots of people want spaces at Rugby for their children but I'm unclear about what they offer over & above other independent schools? The calibre of the teachers seems high and facilities seem good. I didn't go to a well-known school so I feel as though I'm missing something. Sorry if this is a silly question!

Hi Pamelaaaaarr, she does well academically in everything apart from maths. She doesn't enjoy maths and her results are average. She's not bad at it but apparently she's middle ability/comes in the middle of her class in terms of test results for it. Apparently (according to her school) she's high achieving for English, humanities & science.

She doesn't need any pastoral support.

She is getting better under pressure and she's steadily growing in confidence. She's definitely got a way to go with these things though. This is part of my confusion over schools. Two years ago, I wouldn't have contemplated somewhere like Rugby for her but she's changed so much. She was very lacking in confidence/resilience a couple of years ago. I assume schools like Rugby & Kings are best for quite robust children?

LivingLaVidaBabyShower, thanks so much for this. Do you know what made your neighbours choose it over other options? Also, do you know if your neighbour's daughter is friends with any day children? I'm not sure how much of a divide there is between boarders and day children. Thanks

What about Shottery? Aka Stratford Girls Grammar? If she's academically able, could she sit the 11+? I've assumed you're in that area based on the schools you've listed.
If you are south WARKS, there are other private schools that are worth a look too. Sibford, Bloxham, Kitebrook but only goes to yr8 I believe.

user1471530109, thanks for replying. Stratford Girls Grammer looks amazing. We are just inside the catchment area and I would jump at a place for my daughter there. I just don't know if her maths is good enough though... I haven't heard of Sibford or Kitebrook. I'll take a look at where they are. I've heard good things about Bloxham. I need to check the distance again. I think it's about 35/40 mins from us so a bit far for a day place. Thanks again

Notebook is a prep I think. Sibford is a Quaker school and we know a DC who went there due to dyslexia.

@JuliaDpink Rugby is a school that people will know. It has a history and is certainly somewhere that’s known widely. The others are not. It really depends if you value that or not. Day schools will probably have more parental involvement. I think what matters is what your DD will get from these schools. Will she thrive there? Take up what’s on offer - make the most of it? Or would she be better with mostly local friends and a different vibe?

Years ago, we looked at Bloxham and thought the girls were an add on. Hopefully no longer.

I looked at Warwick prep feeding into kings high for my daughter as it was the school I attended, but it was a pressure cooker for grades then and is even more so now, The facilities and opportunities are amazing - but from recent experience unless your DD is going to be top of the class it's a demoralising experience.

This was confirmed by speaking to the SENCO at Kings - my DD has ADHD and whilst she has the IQ to get in, would be firmly in the bottom sets and whilst of course someone has to be , it's not a fun place to be, and I though a smaller more nurturing school would suit her.

Realistically Stratford girls grammar is extremely selective and unless your daughter is the most academic in her primary she won't get in.

There is a value to having local friends so this is something I'd also look at. My daughter is at Kingsley in Leamington Spa and thriving there - it's in the same foundation as Kings High and they increasingly do joint activities but it's a much smaller school with much smaller class sizes and a much better fit for my daughter.

I have friends with children at King Henry's in Coventry who are very happy there, so maybe that's worth a look.

My daughter is at Kings and loves it. She’s very academically able, and I think it would maybe not be so good an experience if she wasn’t.

Friends of mine, whose child left Rugby in 2023, were not at all happy about their safeguarding. It shouldn’t be a difficult thing to get right.

Hi Ineedanewsofa, it's tricky isn't it?

I hadn't heard of Pattisons or Dixies. I'll take a look at those.

I feel the same way about Princethorpe as you. The fact it's a Catholic school puts me off. I think I would be super keen otherwise. I have looked around and did like it. I have also heard really good things about it from parents with children there at the moment.

That's interesting about the person you know who worked at Rugby. I have heard really mixed things about working there. Obviously they did make it into the national press over an employment tribunal in 2024.

I have heard the same as you about Kings. I too have heard it's cliquey. I wonder whether that's true though...

LizziesTwin, ugh that doesn't actually surprise me about the safeguarding at Rugby School. I have been told they have been very slow to move with the times from a safeguarding perspective. I thought I had maybe been misinformed about this because, as you say, it isn't a hard thing to get right. However, if recent parents weren't happy then I guess there is truth in what other local parents say.

That's great to know magicalmrmistoffelees. What are your thoughts on Kings being cliquey? Is there any truth in this? I liked it a lot when I looked around.

@JuliaDpink It’s unlikely all parents at a school think safeguarding is poor. There’s a legal framework schools must have but parents don’t always understand what safeguarding actually is. And importantly, what it’s not. Many never read policies. I suspect the majority of parents at most schools are happy.

Princethorpe is nice but in my experience, they pretty much take anyone, same as Bablake.

Have you considered Kingsley? Not catholic and not selective but more in line with princethorpe

I have a daughter at Kings’s (plus boys at Warwick) and agree with most of the comments. It’s definitely an easier ride for girls who are academically able. The school tried for a friend’s daughter who is dyslexic but she ended up moving as it wasn’t right for her. Pastorally, it is excellent: my daughter struggles with confidence and has several things going on at home, and they have been incredible. There are cliques but they’ve never been an issue. DD has a lovely group of friends and the extra curricular activities are also excellent.