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?

Looks very impressive

As does this

I think we have to accept that if colleger wants to be at a "known" school then its her decision.There are so many schools out there and we have to narrow the criteria somehow. As she knows (but probabaly cannot understand) and probably others know I wouldn't touch a school with a fussy unform with a barge pole but that just me. If you compromise on things that really matter to you personally then you are starting at a school that you are slightly uncomfortable with then as other niggles crop up and lets be realistic they will then you'll begin to feel increasingly uncomfortable and then its a slippery slope to gossiping grumbling and ultimately leaving. When your paying £31000 a year you want to at least start happy.
Having defended colleger I do think you should look at Gordonstoun if that is where your DS would really like to go. I believe they do or did pay your travelling/accomodation expenses so the worst case scenario is that you get a free weekend away. If you actually go and talk to people and listen to the new head and raise your concerns you might be pleasantly surprised. The only thing I do know is that despite the grand claims they make (or used to make I haven't looked recently) on their website re: bursaries you are unlikely to get a large bursary out of them. Two people we know applied and in both cases the school admitted that althugh they met the criteria they just didn't have enough money to give out large bursaries so beware!

I know Gordonstoun well. My sister and cousin live in Elgin next to the school and I have a close friends who was a previous teacher. I won't discount it but would prefer a more academic option.

If I have to pay top dollar and most of these schools cost the same then I may as well pay for the likes of Eton and Win Coll rather than a third tier school with third rate facilities that still charge the same fees. Of course if such a school ends up being the best place for DS then I would send him but I intend to exhaust the more well known options first.

If I have to pay top dollar and most of these schools cost the same then I may as well pay for the likes of Eton and Win Coll rather than a third tier school with third rate facilities that still charge the same fees

I really disagree with this comment. I think that any school charging similar fees to the so called 'first rate' schools then they will have similar facilities - don't dismiss schools you don't know just because of the name. I very much doubt that any school charging 30 grand a year could be classed as ''third rate''. Also academically Winchester and Eton are no where near the best academically in the country - neither appear in the BBC's top 200 GCSE results for 2010.

Sorry to be so critical but really don't think you should dismiss schools in such a way.

Just out of interest which schools were you classing as being ''third tier schools with third rate facilities''?

My son is currently at a third rate school with third rate facilities and the fees are £30k at senior level. I don't just make throw away comments!

Eton and Winchester boycott the league tables but go ahead and believe that they are not in the top 10, if not top 5 year on year and have the highest Oxbridge success of any boys schools alongside the likes of St Pauls. These tables do not take into consideration that many schools opt for easier examination bodies. Anyway, I'm not going to get into all of that because I didn't even ask about a very academic school in my OP.

Sorry, I wasn't trying to pick a fight. I don't have any experiece of the likes of Eton and Winchester but I do believe that it is pretty hard to find a bad private school. But I think when picking a school to suit a child you need to take into account everything and the school your DC loves will always be the right choice.

King's Canterbury has a fantastic music department.

Just saw another thread talking about the City of London Freemen's school and it looks musical.

Also sorry assumed that by third tier you meant academically. But tbh these schools are so selective it would be very hard for them not to be highly achieving - I think the results that truely reflect on the schools come from non selectives.

Win Coll not only boycotts league tables it is as far as I know the only school to only offer the Pre U bar I think in two subjects DT and Biology. There is an interesting posting on the the education section of MM about the Pre U stating how much harder it is than A levels. This year over 51% got A* and they send an average of 47% to Oxbridge plus about 10% to the Ivy league. It may not be the top school but it is certainly jostling with a few others for the position. Obviously its exceedingly selective. And let's face it if you've seen their standard non scholarship entrance paper you can see why it does so well. Its true its equally impressive to take shall we say the less obviously capable and get them to do well
I would dispute the idea that £31000 guarantees fab facilities teachers pastoral care etc. sadly that only happens in the ideal world!

What about Radley? Seems to produce quite a few quirky characters imo.

colleger remind me how old is you DS?

BRIT School?

King's in Bruton, Somerset?

Bryanston. It's brilliant. Good academic results, also really good music, art, drama. One girl I know was allowed to do only two A Levels (one of them music) to enable her to have enough time to practice, she's now leader of a good orchestra. They put individual talent above their own results in the league tables.

Bryanston also has very good pastoral care. Every child has their own tutor (in addition to housemaster/ housemistress/ other teachers) who reviews progress etc. on a weekly basis, checks that the necessary work is being done, helps formulate a plan if it isn't being done, and who generally keeps an eye on happiness/ wellbeing etc.

The problem you've got here colleger is that everyone knows a school that they think will be suitable and you obviously cant look at them all. Why don't you post about specific schools, those that you would consider for whatever reason; "known" schools, location, academic standard etc it doesn't really matter what others think of your rationale your the one paying the money and see if you can get some specific feed back. As I've already said the age of you DS would help.

And does it have a strong music dept what about sport etc?

Just a thought would your son's music teachers be able to suggest any schools with strong music departments? Looking at websites etc schools do exaggerate their strengths somewhat!

You should look for schools which offer music scholarships - although most don't have large monetry value they often subsidise the cost of music lessons which, if your son is doing more than one set, can cost lots!

I'm looking for a school like Winchester but not one as so academically selective. It is a unique school so I doubt I'll find another one. Radley is an excellent school but its not very diverse and it's not a school with many first time buyers, if any. I don't want a school with lots of but because of Radley's closed list by age 6 the parents tend to be of a certain ilk.

My current view is to look at the well known schools to see if they may be a good fit so:

Stowe
Wellington
Harrow
uppingham - know lots of kids there and get the impression there is a lot of drinking!

I doubt any of these schools are similar to Winchester. :(

Go and take a look around them all, that's the best way of finding out what they're like and whether they'll suit your family :)

I am just wondering why, when it comes to schools, everyone talks only about results and Oxbridge? Do you think of after Oxbridge? What do they do? What do they become? My dd had a pivate tutor, he went to Win Coll then Oxford yet he is struggling to make ends meet (£30/hr!) he was no good. Many of them end up in low tier universities after going to the "TOP KNOWN" and a highy selecive school?! Something is wrong somewhere....

What is wrong? Not all independent schools are selective so of course pupils go onto all sorts of further education. Most parents who send their children to certain independent schools do not do so to get their kids into certain uni's. That is not the point of a top Public education and these schools offer much more than any university.

Here's what I know about the four you mentioned above:
Uppingham I'm really surprised by your comments the two families we know who've sent their children there are not the sort to tolerate anything like that. Both are really happy with it as are the DC's. I always thought the families who go there are conservative with a small c and very county set/Boden it does have similar dinning to Win Coll.
Wellington like you can't stand the head but the one child we know there loves it.
Stowe again can't stand the head don't think the music dept is particularly strong and in my view and from experience of others boarding houses are a bit Lord of the Flies.
Harrow I was thinking of Harrow which is why I asked your DS age looked at another of your postings I think he's yr 6. Ticks lots of your boxes the most musical from DS prep go there and it interviews at year 7 although I don't know when you register. But it's VERY competitive to get in I'm not convinced its much less academic than kings which is easier to get into and I'm know the really really quirky aren't tolerated. But all others we know there are very happy like Win Coll the house is everything.
What about Christs I believe they have a small intake at yr 9 lots of children from many different backgrounds so more likely to find more quirky children you have to be in the top third to get in and its very musical ridiculous uniform but that's only my view. Like others I hear good things about Oakham and still think you should look at Ampleforth and Kings. Hope this helps and that maybe you'll get more feedback on those you mentioned.