Dauntsey's School

[Hesp]

Hi,
I am new to Mumsnet but would love to ask your advice - we are thinking of moving outside of London and wanted to find a co-ed school, day/boarding with good academics. I like the look of Dauntsey's - has anyone any views/thoughts about this school. It would be invaluable to me to have some inside information!
Thanks.

That sounds like a good plan if that's where you want to live. So I suppose my question is, have you decided where you want to live or is that decision driven by finding the co-ed, day and boarding school you like. If you aren't fixed on that location yet, have you considered Cambridge and surrounds and The Leys?

Thank you for your message - yes, you are right we are being dictated by the school and are willing to move pretty much anywhere south of London. It's tricky finding a co-ed/boarding/day school. They are mostly single sex boarding which we really do not want. Have you had dealings with Dauntsey's?

Hesp, my children are both at Dauntseys. We are delighted with the school. It is strong academically and so much more.
Do you want your children to board? My children are day pupils and the bus service from school picks them up in our village.
Have you been to the school yet?

Hello Fadqueen - thank you so much for your message - great to hear that you love the school. I heard that there is a new headmaster? How is he doing and what are his plans for the school? We are going to see the school at the end of November. Fingers crossed we like it as we are quite restricted with our choices. We want day, co-ed. Yes, if we decide to choose Dauntseys we would be using the bus service. Whereabouts do you live? Any recommendations? Also, have you heard of good prep schools that feed into Dauntseys... we have heard about Pinewood and Chafyn Grove - any thoughts??
I really appreciate your feedback - thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me!

Hi Hesp, I have sent you a pm with a few more details on it!

Mine don't go to Dauntsey's, they are in catchment for an excellent state school so we've decided to save the budget for later. A lot of children who weren't in catchment or have parents with more money than sense from the town do go to Dauntseys, and we also have a lot of children around the town who are at Marlborough College.

What's really noticeable is how much better behaved in the shops and on the streets the Dauntseys uniformed ones are than the MC!

Also all the boys who went to Pinewood seem to have been very happy.

Thank you for your message - really appreciate the feedback.

Dauntseys is a great school. Warminster, canford ad bryanston great too. Cannot recommend chafyn unless you are looking for your child to be pushed very hard academically and driven by the proverbial stick rather than carrot. I know many who have moved there recently due to closure of their school and children in tears over negative report comments, and disillusioned by an arrogant, excessively business minded headmaster. Some have already left and others planning to leave. Salisbury cathedral school very nurturing and excellent scholarship record including dauntseys. Farleigh highly reputable and also twyford in Winchester but both are pretty full. Lots of good prep schools in area in fact. Good luck.

You cant really compare Dauntseys and Marlborough, very different schools with kids of very different backgrounds. I know families/children from both and both seem very happy with their respective choices. I have to say though the Dauntsey children are generally very bright or very sporty, mediocrity doesnt seem to cut it! Other prep school is St Margarets Calne (shares site with St Marys Senior), wouldnt recommend St Francis in Pewsey.
It is a lovely area to live though between Devizes and Marlborough and alot of families have moved here recently from London.

I am sorry pesa but I have to disagree with you strongly about Chafyn Grove. Our children are really happy there. The staff are very caring and yes, it is quite academic but what is wrong with the staff wanting to get the best from the children? Prep school is expensive and we want more than just having a nice cosy time running through the woods. Chafyn is by no means a hot house though as you seem to be suggesting. There is lots of sport, drama and art. Quite a few leavers seem to go to Dauntseys and Canford and Bryanston are also popular. There is a strong scholarship record at all 3. Farleigh is a very acquired taste and not for everyone. I have heard Twyford is a good option if you live Winchester way.

I am local to the area and Dauntsey has a very good reputation as has St Margaret's in Calne.

But of course you are looking for secondary school and St Margaret's is primary so ignore my last point

I'm a fairly new parent to Chafyn Grove and after googling it was really surprised by what I've read here! I can't comment on the old Headmaster obviously (there's been a new Head for two years) but the comments here certainly don't represent what we've experienced. We've found the staff and parents to be extremely warm and welcoming, and our children have settled brilliantly.