How to choose - Stamford School and Monmouth School

[carrietse]

Stamford School and Monmouth have offered my son a year 9 full boarding placement starting from September 2013. Since we are not living in UK and don't know much of these schools. It would be grateful if anyone could kindly advise me how the local people consider these schools. Thanks in advance.

Sorry don't know anything about Monmouth. Stamford school is situated in a market town, gets reasonable exam grades ( 67% A* to B at A level) has good music and sport. Our DCs went to the junior school but then we moved. We do have friends that have been through the senior school recently.
My thoughts relate to the boarding side of the school it might be worth asking about the exact numbers of full boarders. The ISC website
www.isc.co.uk/schools/england/lincolnshire/stamford/stamford-school says that there are 84 boarders over 7 years but that this includes weekly, flexible and fixed 3 day boarders. Also Stamford has its main intake at age 11, so again it would be worth asking how many full boarding boys will join at 13 with your son and what they do to integrate them. It can be difficult to be one of only a few full boarders at the weekend especially if your parents are overseas.
Good luck with your decision.

Have a look at www.isbi.com. They list independent schools and give lots of details about them. They also have testimonials from some of the schools listed so you can get an idea of what parents and pupils at the school think of it.

Sorry no experience of the schools mentioned but I would add the importance of boarding numbers. If most are weekly/part time boarders there may not be a strong cohort at weekends for your child? Look at the figures & find out what happens at weekends, what trips are available etc. My son was a weekly boarder from year 9 & a large number of UK based pupils went home Saturday afternoon, however there was an equally large contingent from overseas so always lots to do if he did decide to stay. I'd also ask yourself which school do you think your child will prefer when he's 15? They change so much in two years & the last thing you want is an unhappy child.

All the best OP!

I'm currently looking at boarding schools for my eldest DD.

Have you looked at the schools near to Stamford? Oakham, Oundle and Uppingham are all very close to Stamford and they all have a lot of full time boarders, not just weekly boarders.

Dear all,
My son is waiting for the result for West Buckland School, may I have your comments on this school,,,thanks

Don?t know anything about Monmouth but I?m very familiar with Stamford. My DD goes to Stamford Junior School and she is very happy there. I also have a niece and nephew who went to Stamford School for girls and Stamford School. The schools have a really good reputation in the local area and the academic results are excellent. My niece and nephew have both gone on to university since. Having lived all over the UK, Stamford has a lovely community feel and is a beautiful family town. HTH.

One of my nephews went to Monmouth and loved it there. Didn't get the world's best A-level results but then he was never the most diligent student - however, he's bright, keen and switched-on, and I'm pretty sure he'll be able to pick up every opportunity that comes his way. I get the feeling Monmouth isn't top-flight in terms of academic scores, but compensates with pastoral care, sports and extra-curricular activities. My nephew is strong on engineering and will probably learn more through work placements etc. than by purely academic study.

May I ask that what is the result at last, because I also want to apply this school for my son.