Wellington college and Stowe

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I know both these schools offer boarding but does anyone know if they "empty" out at weekends ? I've looked at MN archives and still cant guage wether they do or not, we're starting to consider one of them for ds. Thanks.

Wellington gets pretty empty after sport on Saturdays. Don't know about Stowe.

Would you consider Radley? My understanding is that the school is full most week-ends. As is Eton.

We're too late for radley , we are considering these as our 3rd choice, incase things dont work out with first choice harrow, so ideally one that isnt too highly selective but still gets the best out their students and good results.

What's your second choice?

There's always the Warden's list at Radley (unless you're really late).

The warden's list sounds like a real challenge and although DS is bright he's no einstein, doesnt sound like he'd stand a chance and as its a third/ second choice we'd prefer a school that he's more likely to get into, warden's list sounds too dicey. Our second choice is berkamsted but due to various reasons we're starting to reconside it now so, third choice may well become seond.

I may be reading you wrong but I'm guessing you live near London (or abroad) and want full-boarding? You-re obviously not fussed about co-ed? What are the geographic constraints?

A friend's son has just left Stowe - he loved it. Was out maybe one weekend a month. His brother at Eton had far fewer exeats.

We are In Hertfordshire. We actually prefer single sex full boarding, but as we aren't inundated with those we are considering "some" co ed schools, but within an hour's drive.

Bradfield could be a good "insurance" option? I worry a bit about Wellington and Stowe - they seem "Marmite" schools to me. People either love them or hate them.
Charterhouse? Or is that too academic to be an insurance school? Would not have thought it was much different to Wellington in that respect.
Haileybury?
Now I'm just thinking out loud and not being helpful. Good luck.

Oundle is very much a full boarding school with no exeats but that may be too much. I don't think many of the top schools do actually empty out at weekends. The other option is to pick a school quite far from London but that has a large London contingent as they will stay at school at the weekends: Marlborough, Rugby, Uppingham, Shrewsbury.

No, not at all, you're being very helpful we are "kind of" looking at bradfield as well but dont know much about it, its seems to be rated very low by FT but goodschools guide were raving about it. DH feels haileybury doesnt offer as much as he'd like in terms of academics.

We definitely want exeats! But every weekend if its far away will not be manageable as by the time he's home it will be almost time to go back again, so ideally an hour's drive...i'm not asking for much am i , do you know anymore about stowe and bradfield ? I think wellington emptying out every saturday is a deal breaker.

Well I know two boys who have left Bradfield recently. One was the son of an OB(?) and went on to Oxford. The other was less academic and is reading graphic design (or similar) at Oxford Brookes. Both sets of parents are more than happy that Bradfield stretched the boys to meet their potential.
I've got a feeling though that the place empties a bit at week-ends.
It's tricky.

if bradfield we'll have to move pretty fast. Wondering about st edwards oxford too, hope happygardening comes along soon

My great grandfather was the first rowing blue from St Edwards. Otherwise I know very little about the school.

My gut says that your DS will get into Harrow - so I'm off to heat the oven.

We looked at Bradfield. Liked the school especially the fact that year 9 lived together but it definitely empties after school on Saturday. St Edwards used to have the rule that you had to stay in on Saturday nights so that stopped the exodus until Sunday. I am not sure whether that is still the case.

I know some prople with dc at St Edwards and I think they get exeats every 3 weeks. Chapel on Sunday is compulsory I think, but my friends often visit their dc there at school quite often. It's very sporty! :)

Yes, I think you can go home after Sunday chapel.

My son is sitting for Harrow in Michaelmas term too. It's all very nerve racking, especially as he is rarely consistent when it comes to testing!

Hi all I've been watching this post but as someone who shall remain nameless has been recently so rude and offensive I am now reluctant to post on specific questions about schools! St Edwards has approximately 750 children and about 100 are day children staying till 9 pm evey night of the week, the rest full board. It has an extraordinary high standard of pastoral care, is very sporty and more liberal than a school like Radley. There is an exeat evey 1/2 term.
Looking back through my DS's old prep school magazine (boring) for the last two years 10 went to Stowe all lived in either Kent or Sussex so must be full boarding. If I understood the mum of the one whose DS went to Oundle correctly she said no exeats because quite a few day children. The DS's old prep sent loads to Kings Canterbury this is also full boarding with exeats and a small % of day children. I never looked at it but I do know all sorts go there a seem very happy. The train link into London a recently significantly improved. The one who went to Bradfield a couple years ago was definitely weekly boarding. I hope this helps.

HG, can you explain the contrast between St Ed's and Radley. DS has just been offered a place at Radley and not sure whether we should accept. As you know, he is a bit of a square peg.

P.S. keep posting!

Happygardening thank you for your response and sorry to hear about recent happenings, take it all with a pinch of salt! This comes with MN i suppose.

I'm liking tne sound of saint edwards and their half term exeat, can they have visitors at other times tnough ? If i wanted to just pop in and make sure ds is keeping warm, happy, maybe have a cuddle

Congratulations ! colleger Radley is a good school, havent heard anything bad about it, i wish we hadnt missed the registration deadline! When did you register ?

Every boy I I know who went to Radley and every old Radlian (not sue if that is the correct term) is charming but jaw droppingly conventional; the last bastion of the Church of England. All have been happy there but I can't see it as school for the unconventional, might be wrong but thats my very strong impression. It does also take it sport very seriously they play hard.

The sport worries me especially with a boy that may be coming from a school with no sports, and I mean none!

We registered in 2007 for 2014 and were on the waiting list. I suspect we've moved up because Eton offers came out in December and so some declined Radley.