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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

[ Help! ] Royal High School Bath

15 replies

star2013 · 07/12/2013 00:11

My dd has received a boarding offer in year 12. It seems that this is a nice school but the ranking is not high. Need to confirm few days later. Any advice please?

OP posts:

Sunnyshores · 10/12/2013 21:11

I assume you visited? What did you think when there?

The girls in DS's year group chose King Edwards instead, although I think in part that was because they had brothers going there. An educational hothouse and proud of it - not my choice at all.

Anyway, I have met the Head, she seemed very nice and forward thinking. I got the impression it was a school which catered for all sorts of girls, did alot of things, great facilities, but maybe wasnt renowned for any one thing. Not that thats a criticism.

happygardening · 11/12/2013 06:11

It's a really happy friendly school and the girl I know there is really thriving. The location is good as well close to the town and country so ideal for 6 th formers. There is is a boarding house for 6 th formers with a surprisingly high number of full boarders because there's lots of international students. Results on paper may not look brilliant but they are keen on getting the best from their brightest. I personally wouldn't say facilities were great in comparison with big name boarding schools but this is reflected in the fees.

rogertaihk · 11/12/2013 06:41

Hi! I am from Hong Kong and my DD has just been offered by RHS Bath a Y9 boarding place to be commenced in 2014. Is there anyone can share with me their / their children's expereinces with that school. I need to confirm the acceptance of offer by next Friday but my DD is still waiting for other common entrance exams for St. Swithun, CLC and Headington.

happygardening · 11/12/2013 06:53

I would check how many full boarders there are at yr 9 not that many I suspect and schools can be very cagey about the actual numbers. There is no Saturday school so it could be a long and lonely weekend for your DD. As I've already said the on site facilities wouldn't match schools like CLC by any stretch of the imagination.
St Swithans is also mainly weekly boarders, ditto Headdington.

rogertaihk · 11/12/2013 07:11

Thanks for your prompt reply and your comments on these schools are very useful to me. I hope there are not many boarders from Hong Kong as I really want my DD to have more exposure to different cultures.

Original poster

star2013 · 11/12/2013 07:32

@ Sunnyshores, thanks for your comments. I haven't visited the school yet. But what I got the impression is they are very positive, supportive and cheerful.
@ Happygardening, yes they are very friendly! maybe comparing with the other big names they don't rank high. However, they are strong in humanity subjects. That's what I'm looking for to my dd.
@ rogertaihk, according to the school, 95% are full boarders among all boarding girls.

OP posts:

happygardening · 11/12/2013 07:48

In the 6 th form there are girls from many different countries.
I've PMd you.

happygardening · 11/12/2013 07:52

95% are full boarders but most are 6 th formers I believe that this year they've lots into the 6 th form.
It is a happy supportive and caring school the few girls I've met are really lovely and talk very highly of it.

rogertaihk · 11/12/2013 09:57

@star2013 : Thanks for your information. My family did pay a visit to RHSB this July and we had very good impression on the school. Both the staff and students were really approachable but yeah, not quite good in its facilities.

Original poster

star2013 · 11/12/2013 22:37

The facilities... Do you mean they are aged and torn? Or insufficient?

OP posts:

rogertaihk · 11/12/2013 23:45

It is a relatively small campus without good size outdoor pitch or covered playground. There is no swimming pool and their common areas are not enough. But they have a new and nice dorm for the 6th form. It is better to pay a visit to the school may be your dd would love the school and the city. I think her impression to the school is very important as well.

Original poster

star2013 · 12/12/2013 00:39

Is that so? My dd would be very disappointed because what we can see from the online images of RHS: the campus is really big, especially the junior school. Did you visit the whole area? Our family will tour around the school in this coming summer. However, it maybe too late... Good School Guide has made insight review on this school. Your agent should have the latest copy.

OP posts:

rogertaihk · 12/12/2013 01:26

During my last visit, my family was only arranged to tour around the senior school. In my understanding, the two schools are quite far apart from each other - maybe I am worong. Although the size and facilities of RHSB are not that up to my imagination of what a UK boarding school should have, I really think the atmosphere of the school and the environment of the city are excellent and the academic results of its 6th form, be it IB or A Level, are better than its GCSE results.

Original poster

star2013 · 12/12/2013 02:18

Thanks!! These merits are my focus. Actually, we have also got the offer from another school (with much higher ranking!) but most probably we won't take that one. When will your dd sit the entry exams for the rest three schools?

OP posts:

rogertaihk · 12/12/2013 02:58

All three exams have been scheduled for Jan.

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