Cheltenham Ladies College or Wycombe Abbey?

[glenmore]

Anyone out there with current experience of these schools and what sort of girl would best fit either school?

I think a young person needs a degree of inner strength and self-belief to survive at any boarding school. Some children just don't have this and should not be boarding. This is why the schools appear full of confident girls. Mostly they are and learn how to fit in with each other and develop a robust personality at the same time. Ultimately, this is why so many of them succeed.

Any update on these schools?

Is WA considerably more academic than CLC? Worry as CLC much bigger a child could get lost? Both have great teaching? Which is better choice at 13 and 11? Thanks

Chilledout - my impression is that WA is more selective than CLC. Therefore the results are slightly better - CLC also does IB in addition to A levels so hard to compare results totally like for like. Both are good!! I would be asking which has more value added? If you take the top 80 at 11+ of the girls applying, would they have got the same results at a "less academic school" - probably...who knows. I perceive CLC "adds more value" because of the broader intake and therefore it doesn't seem that a "girl gets lost"....

11+ vs 13+ - I think that is up to you and your family - is your DD ready to board at 11? Some aren't, but are at 13, so I think you should decide based on when she is ready.

On the face of it, they are both great schools...

but I don't have a child at either school (but have been round both), so I'm still thinking it through, like you. Am interested in the POV of mums with DDs at these schools.

Don't know which is better, but choose on the basis of the ethos and atmosphere which is best for YOUR DD. Even if there are equally good facilities and teaching, the atmosphere has to suit your DD's personality.
My DD is at one of them.

My DD got offers from both Wycombe and Cheltenham.

Wycombe as an all girls boarding school produces the best overall A level results but one has to take these league table results with a pinch of salt because Cheltenham also offer the IB and results do not take this into account.

If your child is bright and intelligent she will excel anywhere. The choice really depends on what methods you approve of in helping your daughter succeed.

Wycombe Abbey offers a very intense, pressure filled and competitive environment for girls in order to get those stellar A Level Results. Cheltenham on the other hand offers a strong academic pace but with a more human face and also produces stellar results.

'Our DD chose Cheltenham in the end.

Congrats NW6

Anyone with thoughts on which boarding houses are the best at either of these schools?

Thanks for raising this, my DD will be sitting exams next year and at the moment we are leaning towards CLC because of the IB results. This year 26 into Oxbridge as well - not that that is a measure of success - but I do think the focus on wellbeing has improved the school massively.
We plan to visit the open day next month.

Hello. I know this is an old thread but I’m wondering the results of your trip to CLC. What was your view on the well-being? Had the boarding houses been spruced up?

We had visited CLC recently and my DD said the boarding house is nice.

Thanks truelady12. Was that a Sixth Form house you saw? What other schools are you visiting?

My DD visited the Lower College boarding houses whilst we looked at the campus and surroundings. Met the students and they looked happy and the atmosphere was warm.

We live in NY and are really struggling with wonderful school choices. Our DD was offered places and an opportunity to sit for an academic scholarship from Sevenoaks, CLC and St. Mary's Calne at the moment. She is very bright and independent, is good with music and drama. I would appreciate any current information on the schools above and if you have a suggestion for another school for a very bright and independent girl (we are looking for 13+ entry in 2019) that is close to London. She is at Hanford School in Dorset now and really likes it.

Thank you so much!!

Sevenoaks does IB which may be a consideration, also coed whereas others are girls. Brighton College might also be worth a look.

Thank you so much!, I am really not sure, she is in an all girls school right now and loves it, but she is only 12., I do not have a strong preference. I want a warm all around school not pressurized as she is very self motivated.

As she is young and you live in NY a school with a full boarding for all boarders is best. Hanford will advise , they must.be experienced. Out of your list I would say CLC as it has full boarding, lots of boarders, IB and A levels offered and has a good reputation for music, sport and art.
It is more academic than St Mary's Calne.

I would disagree with sendsummer. Dumping an urban child in somewhere like Calne sounds dull beyond belief. DCs experience of being a day pupil in a mixed, city, part boarding school was very positive and the day pupils and boarders got on together well. The ‘must have full boarding’ is a strange MN canard that makes little sense, for all but very sporty boys.

Sevenoaks is a preferred choice for academic London kids, especially internationals. St Mary’s is seen as a gentler, and posher, option. The two schools are very dissimilar. Girls often outgrow rural environments. If you are looking to carry through to sixth form, you should really consider a school in a town. And Sevenoaks sixth form sounds fab.

Cheltenham is not Calne Needmoresleep and neither is Sevenoaks New York.

BTW OP's DD loves Hanford and you can't get more rural than that.
There is good reason for having full boarding especially for the younger years as OP's DD will have experienced at Hanford. It is not much fun to be the minority staying at school when most go home at the weekends

'full boarding for overseas boarders' I meant

Which is more prestigious Clc or Wycombe Abbey

My opinion WYcombe Abbey