Non-Hothouse-y Girls' Boarding Schools

[MeantToStopAtTwo]

Since my own alma mater has now died a sad death, where should I be looking at for my daughters?

I do know girls from my DDs state primary who have gone there. They are not posh and are nice well mannered young women. DD1 has spent some time there with Kent Music School the facilities are excellent.

Which all-girls boarding schools would be considered a hot-house then?

Princess Helena College is lovely

Luckley Oakfield is great, is very close to being Mallory Towers. Leighton Park, as others have said, is renowned for it's nurturing environment. Both lovely, caring schools, where the children all look extremely happy.

PHC gets good GCSE results but two years ago a number of the lower sixth left after AS levels. Some went to crammers and others redid the lower sixth at another school. So it might be worth asking to see the actual breakdown of results especially in the sciences and number rather than percentages. Their A2 results for last year look good but I couldn't find a subject breakdown on the website. Their list of leavers destinations too has no time limit on it, leavers over 5 years/10 years. It is not specific. It may be that they have sorted out all the problems of a few years ago ( I really hope so), as I had a friend whose DD was part of the group that wasn't so lucky.

Stonar?
Royal High, Bath?
Prior Park?
Monkton Combe?
St Mary's Calne (too hothousing?)

MeantToStopAtTwo - Westonbirt is my alma mater and I would highly recommend it.

It was good when I was there, and as I remain actively involved with the school through the alumni association, I know it has got even better over the last decade.

A school with great results but not a hothouse.

Westonbirt got me into Cambridge, not by 'hothousing', but by having me believe in myself and my abilities.

It has obviously been some time since I was there, but if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them as best as I can.

Hi. I am considering Leighton Park for my 2 sons, any advice? I love the school, the new head and the feel of the school but I am not sure. My sons are both highly able.

We are going for Heathfield Ascot - tiny and wonderful pastoral care.

My DD attended Roedean by default when it swallowed up... I mean merged with her old school. Agree about it being out if fashion with UK parents. Very large international ellimemt particularly in sixth form (80%+) The big issue is the fees which are ridiculous, however the facilities & teachers are fantastic. HT teacher extremely keen to make it a more 'local' school, but with Brighton College on their doorstep, most select this. Academic standards are strong at Roedean. Not a hothouse, but you need to be bright to succeed here. Great for a girl who likes to be busy.

Don't overlook it if you can afford it. It's worth a look.

A good number of local girls are now attending Roedean and have heard from friends with DDs there that they really thrive academically and in the specialist areas of art, music, sport, dance, drama etc. They enjoy a wide range of extra activities, have great staff and a family feel to the school.

Reading all these makes me wish I had been lucky enough to go to boarding school

Apologies for hijacking the thread OP, I shall now go back to my council estate hell-hole and dream of an idealist Enid Blighton childhood

"The big issue is the fees which are ridiculous,"
I doubt your get proper full boarding significantly cheaper pretty much on the same level as other well know names.

I am looking for a good independent catholic secondary school for my daughter in Sussex/Kent. Anybody heard of Mayfield St Leonards, good or bad ?

Definetly send her to Westonbirt if she is quiet, I go there and wouldn't talk to anybody when I first arrived and now I am the loudest and you really make friends for life and you know everyone so you feel like family.
I'm really confident now inside and outside of school and thats because of westonbirt.