North Worcs/Bromsgrove area private schools

[usernametaken22]

Has anyone had any experience of either Bromsgrove School, RGS Worcester or Dodderhill Girls?

DD is in year 5 at a state primary so we’re looking for a year 7 place in 2026. We will obviously arrange to visit all three over the next few months. How did your DCs find the assessment process? How competitive are these school places?

For context, DD is a bright kid working at ‘greater depth’ across the board and is especially good at maths according to a recent parents evening. She’s also really sporty so we’re looking for the school that will be the best fit for her. She hasn’t got any additional needs, loves to learn and dislikes noisy, disruptive environments which is why we want to move her out of the state school system.

Both are brilliant schools as is King's in Worcester. You just need to compare costs and convenience such as holiday arrangements. Good luck. If you are hoping for DC to go to Oxbridge, Bromsgrove School has very few pupils get in and a large majority used to to Bath.

I think Dodderhill is more relaxed than the other two and is smaller. It is also a girls only school which might be appealing.

It doesn't have a 6th form though which might be a factor.

RGS Worcester and Dodderhill are in the same group of schools.

However, lots of parents believe that Dodderhill only has a limited time left. It is a small school and getting smaller. The prep school is shrinking and will go the same way as Springfield. Dodderhill costs the same as the Worcester school but doesn't have anywhere near the same facilities but for the same price, so unless you feel strongly about the girls school side of it, then people generally choose the larger city school.

Dodderhill is not selective at all and you will absolutely get a place. They may do an entrance exam but it will be purely for optics.

RGS Worcester is selective, technically. However, they are worried about falling numbers so are practically letting everyone in. If your daughter is academic, she will absolutely get in. It is also worth saying, if you moved her in to RGS The Grange for Year 6, she will almost certainly get in to the seniors and will have a year with her peers before 95% of them move up to Year 7.

I have no idea about Bromsgrove. However, we have just had 11 children (between two of my children's years) move over from Winterfold, which is one of the prep schools for Bromsgrove. I'm sure with a mass exodus of children, they will be becoming less selective.

RGS Worcester are of course concerned about the impact of VAT on numbers but I see no evidence of a fall in standards. It’s not indebted and needs to remain pretty selective to maintain the results it needs to secure new people each year.

I would have to disagree with regards to rgs dodderhill having a limited time. The schools are under a restructure. An rgs prep is becoming solely nursery and a number have been looking at dodderhill there for more will go into the senior. Also dodderhill is very much meant to be a small and unique setting. We have found it attracts lots of unique characters and the small classes are great.
A new head has been appointed for Sept who is hugely driven with a remarkable history.

If your child is sporty then rgs worcester will offer more opportunities.

Thank you all, your insights have been really helpful.

Hey! Sorry to jump in on this but we are considering Winterfold and just wondered if you could shed any light on the mass exodus? 11 is a lot for an already small school.

I would also be interested to know the reasoning for 11 kids leaving Winterfold if you don’t mind sharing. Thanks

My dd is at Winterfold and her year had several children go before the start of autumn term, one was relocating, several went to Bromsgrove as older siblings moved up too, a couple got scholarships to other schools, a couple went to Worcester schools as that is where they will carry on through the older years. The year group is smaller but actually really lovely dynamics and it’s not been a problem at all, it’s a fab school and suits my dd so much, we couldn’t have found a better school for her and she’ll stay until the end of year 8.

Bromsgrove is head and shoulders above RGS for sport. They’re very different schools. RGS has much more of a grammar school vibe whereas Bromsgrove has boarders including many international pupils. It really depends what you want. As Bromsgrove is boarding it has more extra curriculars and the option to board occasionally which helps if both parents are working long hours. I’ve known kids do really well at RGS and that probably has more kids from traditional professional families who may well have been priced out of Bromsgrove by the VAT. There’s no such thing as the best school but only the best school for your DC. I wouldn’t be too concerned about kids leaving Winterfold if you’re looking at Bromsgrove. Until recently Winterfold was an independent prep and the main feeder for Bromsgrove is its own prep. Which is something to consider because as Year 7, your DD would be joining the prep rather than the senior school. Some like an extra 2 years in prep but some don’t. Both RGS and Bromsgrove are good schools. Good luck !

What are your thoughts on the school’s pastoral care? I was slightly concerned by the idea of gap year students supervising activities such as the library during break times and acting in a teaching assistant type role in the prep years. Do you have any insight into how this works in practice / any concerns? Thank you.

It very much depends what you want from a school. Dodderhill has worse exam results than Haybridge for example but does of course have the smaller nurturing benefits if that’s what you prefer.

Bromsgrove is getting more and more focussed on overseas students but is head and shoulders above the others for sporting opportunities.

If your main aim is academic achievement then I’d go for RGS.

Not sure some of the info above is correct though. The poster who states that RGS attracts pupils priced out of Bromsgrove is not correct. The fees for the 2 schools are almost identical.

Are you talking about Winterfold? I never had any concerns about the ‘Gappies’. They were all delightful young adults who worked very hard, had good relationships with staff and pupils, and threw themselves into all aspects of school life eg playing in the band/orchestra, coaching sport etc.

Thanks for the clarification. My boys are starting Winterfold soon (y2 and y6), I get a very good vibe from the school, after viewing many schools! 🙂

My DD got a scholarship to Bromsgrove school many years ago. When she went They had houses They were assigned to and longer school holidays in the summer. They are very sporty. The hockey team in particular used to turn out England standard players. My DD was very good at languages and she did French, Spanish, German and Latin for GCSE'S. Sh also went to Spain for 4-5 weeks each summer to do work.at a college from 8am-2pm th n afternoons were free. She stayed at a Spanish students house and we had the same student to stay with us over Easter. Wednesday afternoons used to be sports and activities. She had to go to school on Saturdays until 4pm which they called a half day. She usually finished at 6-6.30pm depending on how much prep she had. She had a Chinese best friend who used to stay with us over half terms as too far for her to fly home. My DD was invited to go to China and stayed with her friends family and was treated like a princess whilst she was there. She went twice. She has kept in touch with her international friends and they came to her wedding.

This is nonscence. The sport at rgs is superb and the sports programme they have exceptional although requiring a huge commitment. I work at a grammar and my child attends rgs, they are worlds apart.

Also to add rgs worcester this year has proven time again that it is ranked as the highest in the region. The school is exceptional and whilst our xhild has had a few tricky moments they have been handled brilliantly and professionally.

It depends what you are referring to as the region. RGS results are nowhere near as good as KES for example.

I don't believe kes is independent but a grammar, apologies if wrong. I meant like for like.

DD had a taster day and night for year 9 at Bromsgrove and sadly wasn't at all impressed. She found there was a big social divide between day pupils and boarders, it wasn't particularly academic and behaviour wasn't great.

There is an open event next sat at rgs.

Presumably they are referring to King Edward's School (KES - boys) Birmingham (results very good), or King Edwards High School (KEHS - girls) Birmingham (results extremely good), rather than the grammar schools of the King Edward Foundation (results good).

I have three at Bromsgrove. If I had my time again I would send them to RGS which is a much more 'normal' private school. Bromsgrove is currently very focussed on attracting as many international boarders as possible at the expense of its days pupils. Very long days due to the boarding community and no flexibility to leave early if involved in activities outside of school. Academics are mediocre and not much push for those that are in the bottom half of the cohort.
on the positive side it is as a very safe environment where a wide variety of kids are allowed to be who they naturally are.

Could you consider Solihull School or is it too far I’m sure there is a bus that comes over - it’s phenomenal.