Independent schools for the quirky/odd/non-conformist/downright difficult!

[Colleger]

Says it all really. If music school doesn't work out then we need to register at a school that will cater for a boy who is bright but only interested in academia when it suits him plus the personality above! I have to assume he won't get into Winchester and although Bedales would fit like a glove I do not want to accentuate the above traits! But let's not argue about Bedales!

Any advice?

Frensham Heights?

Was going to suggest Oakham too or maybe Bootham in York

St Edmunds Canterbury? More laid back than Kings.

Colleger, sending you a pm

I know St Edmunds Canterbury well it's bland and full of nice middle class children who can't pass the Kent Test (Grammar School entry exam) its a kind school but the music department has recently been eclipsed by Kent College which is opposite neither have many boarders.
Lots of DS's friends went to Kings Canterbury it seems to take all sorts the clever but lazy the not so clever but hard working the lone wolf the quirky the just not very clever and the seriously bright we must know of about 60 - 70 who've been through only one hated it. I have never looked at it but I suspect it might be worth a look.
The other one I know that does cater for the seriously quirky is Ampleforth if you can live with the RC thing I personally couldn't i do understand you dont have to be really strict RC.

And Colleger will like the fact that "Ampleforth is what Eton was...a school for Catholic gentlemen".

I thought Bootham was selective..maybe not, but that would have been my suggestion.

Brentwood is absolutely fab for music. Selective but really not excessively so. A big school so lots of choice for friends/ personality types and co-ed but teach girls and boy separately till 6th form.

Here are some more to think about! For DS1 who is certainly quirky eccentric frustratingly lazy at times but also charming at times too and now very happy in an excellent state comp an ed. psych suggested St David College somewhere in north Wales don't know much more than that and one of his friends very bright but odd is very happy at Gordounston which has a new head so the academic side might improve bit of a schlep but good plane links lots of outdoor activities but I believe to get the most out of it you have to be a self started.

Not Gordonstoun!!! I have been battling with DS for years about this school! He desperately wants to go, other than music school, and I know he'd love it there. Academics are poor - A'level results recorded more than one U! My concern is that he will happily ease off the academics and fall in with the rest. He was close to top in his academic prep and is now doing poorly in his non-selective, due to boredom and attitude!

I know four at or who've been at Gordonstoun all were bright one super bright. Three did or are doing really well; fantastic A level/GCSE results one was the U grades! You have to be immune to cold weather, like an outdoor life, highly self motivated and keen to put yourself forward if you going to get the most from it none were particularly musical. As I've already said there is a new head whose bound to push up the academic standard. Its definately better than Milton Abbey and the like.

Gordonstoun is a lifestyle choice. I wish I had gone and if we were mega rich I'd send DS as he'd have the best time, but may need bank of mum and dad if he got U's!

King's Canterbury has a brand new Headmaster and rumour is that there will now be a very strict line taken on the academic side. May not be true but I would also be concerned that an average child might end up 'bottom of the 4th' quartile all the time, which wouldn't be fun. Saying that, it is not fazed in the slightest by quirky types so would be good on that side.

Colleger: you seem to dismiss some schools and you don?t even comment on them, Leighton Park for example. You don?t come across very traditional from some of your posts!?

Lynette, I think Bootham is non selective up to GCSEs and then for A level you'll need B's to get onto most of the courses. It's worth a check though.

Oundle?
I real mixed bunch of pupils go there from DS' prep.

What about Bryanston?

What schools have I dismissed? And just because I haven't commented on certain schools does not mean I haven't gone off and had a look. I'd never heard of LP so couldn't comment on it!

What do you class as traditional then?

I think the "always boozing or sniffing" comment does rather set a dismissive tone based on gossip. Yes, there are intermittent drug problems in schools, but they crop anywhere, unpredictably.

You seem to want a "known" school, easy to get into, but still academic. You also seem to have dismissed (unseen) Gordonstoun - the school your DS wants to go to.

His current troubles are likely to be down to the ethos and peer group in his current school, not necessarily the entry mechanisms. (The peer group - possibly the biggest influence - is the thing you cannot predict nor select upon). Finding a school he wants to go to, especially if boarding, is important. Dismissing schools on academic reputation isn't going to do anything for your DS; given the qualities you list in the title, I'd suggest you either follow his interests (at least looking at the schools with an open mind) in the hope he will flourish at his school (in any way, whether academic or not), or just enroll him in the local crammer to get the grades you appear to attach more attention to.

I would second Gordonstoun and the school would advise on help with fees.

RGS guildford, my son was here, he wasn't quirky but wasn't rugby playing lad-ish type and thrived. Know boys there who are more accentric and are accepted and valued and they come out of sixth form unique characters with the rest of the year group really acknoledging the different personalities and seeing each boys characteristics in a positive light.
It is very academic and hard to get a place, also a day school but traditional and very much a boys' education.

Did you take a look at Bootham OP?

With any of the schools that you are considering I would seriously take a look around and get a feel for the places. Most schools have open days etc on weekends so that makes it a lot easier, especially as they are dotted around the country.

There are a number of other schools(in UK and abroad) which operate on similar philosophy to Gordonstoun as part of the Round Square organisation

Colleger:IMHO You do seem to judge schools on whether they are well known or not, more than whether they are suitable for your child.... You like the Harkness Method YET you refuse to consider WC because of Dr Seldon . I have to give him at least one credit; he is turning a school around. Yesterday I went to the Fire Works at WC, spoke to few young people and watched the interactions of the rest and I must say I liked what I heard and what I saw....i really don't mean to upset you.