Best co-ed boarding school for DD?

[Alexis705]

We're considering sending DD to boarding school for sixth form and were previously considering Canford and Culford however apparently neither are overly academic.
DD is very bright but also enjoys art, music and sport (mostly water sports). We really aren't sure where to send her but location isn't very important as we live overseas already so anywhere would be far away. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

Assuming you not looking for entry for this September I would consider Kings Canterbury, the majority full board which is important if your abroad, Canterbury is a very nice city, it's got a good solid academic reputation and it's very close to the sea so good for those who like water sports. We know lots who are or have been there, all different types clever sporty musical arty quirky all bar one were very happy the very bright ones did/are doing very well.

I was about to say King's too. Good school - academic enough to challenge the bright pupils but lots going on in extra-curricular terms too.

Thanks for the suggestion of kings! It looks lovely (although DD was very cross that girls weren't allowed the same sports as boys) but it's so important that we get the right school, especially since we will be so far away, so we'll probably make a list of ten or so and go from there.

We would be applying for September 2015, I think most schools take applications from half way through this year.

For a variety of reasons the two you have mentioned would not be on my list,not least because Idont think they are either full boarding schools,and as you are abroad you need to know that a good number of children are going to be around at the weekend,try looking at places like Rugby,Oundle,both good boarding schools,decent/excellent academics and really good sport,others could be Uppingham,flavour of the month-Oakham,theres a few to be going on with

Rugby is considered by many to be the best coed boarding school for girls.

I don't know a Rugby particularly well but I suspect many could come on here and makes comments like schoolchoice. It's all about finding a school that suits you and your DD. If she likes water sports fairly obviously, although I'm always amazed at those who don't, look into the provision for her interest and as importantly how frequently she can do it and to what level. At my DS's school rather unusually there is no major sport each term So he is able to peruse his slightly niche sport at least 3 afternoons during "games" lessons instead of standing miserable on a rugby/football/cricket pitch three afternoons a week and doing it as an extra curricular activity. This is not always the case at all schools. Ditto if she wants to do a particular A level, a mother last year on MN criticised the Pre U choices offered by my DS's school but the choices are clearly listed in their website for all to view why let your DS spend two years at the school and then start moaning about no computer science/media studies Pre U. Also as you're abroad it's worth finding out if your DD can leave a day early at the end of term or arrive a day late most schools are flexible but some won't be this could annoy some I suspect! Finally be careful about the term "full boarding" my definition; sleeping at school 7 days a week is not everyones, remember these schools want you're money bar a few very big names they are struggling to fill every vacancy, they'll almost say anything if they think it's what you want to hear, if necessary get the head/house mistress in a head lock to squeeze the actual number of full boarders out of them, ask more than one person see how much variation you get. Do you research carefully, don't assume it will be there because you're stumping up 34K a year, as I always say if it matters ask.

What about Gordonstoun or Atlantic College.
I be live Royal Hospital School like their water sports too. Part of their naval Heritage!

Oakham? They have Rutland Water only a couple of miles away, so lots of opportunities for water sports. Strong reputation for sport, but good all round. It's about 50% boarders, but a proportion of those do not stay for weekends, but it's a big enough school that there's still enough of a community left. It offers both IB and A levels.

Bryanston used to be lovely, but this was a few years ago.

Bradfield is wonderful and only a couple of junctions from Heathrow. Lots of sport and a lovely swimming pool. Drama was very strong there and The Head of Music is amazing.

Also close to places for water skiing, sailing etc.

i would have thought the facilities at mill field were better for water sports than rugby

Both Bryanston and Bradfield are weekly boarding not full boarding so not really suitable for the OP.

Unless Bradfield has changed a lot since I worked there (admittedly a few years ago) it was very much full boarding. In fact, we hardly had a moment and pupils were there at weekends.

I only know it's weekly boarding because I was having lunch a few months ago with a friend who has sent her DS to Bradfield, their only gripe is that it's weekly boarding otherwise they're really pleased with it. This was not made clear to them before he started they were looking for full boarding and now they have to drive there every Saturday to pick him up. There are very few true full boarding schools left.

I would agree with HG about Bradfield. There are full boarders but the majority often go home at the weekends. We loved the school when we looked at it but actually got to email some current parents via the school and they said it had changed from when their eldest boys had started. so we had to cross the school off the list as we were overseas and needed full boarding.

Thanks for all the brilliant suggestions. I do get the impression that some of those schools aren't overly academic although I've only looked at school websites and things so I could be completely wrong.
According to IQ test (which aren't always totally accurate, I know) DD is in the top 1% so an academic school is quite important.
She's been very unhappy in the wrong school before, partially because it was all girls and she hated the bitchy environment (she's a bit of a tomboy) and partially because the school she'd previously been at was a top ranking selective school so the work was well below her level.

You are not wrong,some of the schools mentioned are not very selective,it sounds to me like Oundle should be top of your list.

We will definitely consider Oundle but there doesn't seem to be all that much information about boarding on their website. Does anyone have a dc there or know what it's like? We also had a look at Marlborough, Uppingham and Shrewsbury so opinions on these schools would be helpful too. Thanks!

Oundle is def full boarding,the parents we know from the school have all been very happy,you should also as you say have a look at Uppingham,marlborough,I prob wouldnt,not as academic and although the head is trying to broaden its intake its london centric and wouldnt be first choice for an academic child and Im not convinced about it as a choice for girls,Shrewsbury dont know much but havent heard anything bad,know a couple that have gone and they were happy.

propatria, Just checked exam results and you're right about Marlborough and Uppingham being less academic. They still get quite good results though, only about 5% - 10% fewer a*/a grades than Oundle and Shrewsbury is about the same as Oundle results wise.

I'd be very interested to know about the quality of the boarding experience (extra curricular, weekend activities, food, pastoral care, what the rooms are like...) in any of these schools from anyone who knows.
Thanks again.

You might do better starting a new thread with the names of the schools you are interested in.

If she is very bright have you considered Westminster. Might not be water sports central as its central London. Water sports may not be so appealing in UK anyway.
Its a boys school with girls though not a coed school.

Westminster is a day school with some boarders and very few of them are in over the weekend

I can tell you something about Shrewsbury. Admittedly the information will be about 4 years out of date, and there has been a change in head in that time. But I'll tell you what I know! Might be long, sorry!

Definitely a full boarding school -no mass exodus on the weekend which would be great for you. But willing to let overseas pupils leave a day or so early if needs be to get home at the end of term (which I know with flight costs can be a great thing!)

Shrewsbury only started taking girls in 2008, and that was in Sixth Form only. From this September they will start taking girls all the way through (I'll keep my thoughts on that to myself since it's not really relevant given your daughter's age!). What it does mean is that in Sixth Form you get a fresh new cohort of girls, so no long-standing existing friendships to break into which I know some people worry about when joining a school at Sixth Form. Also because you're joining at 16, you're treated very much as a young adult and I think that's great preparation for university and life!

Academics - the ethos is very much about getting every child to achieve their potential. So for a school that isn't super-academically selective, they get a good number into Oxbridge each year (if that's a measure you want to use!). Lots of support both in problem areas, but also in pushing DC further than the curriculum if that's what they want / need. Very enthusiastic teachers, who really embrace life at a boarding school. They run the Cambridge Pre-U as a replacement or alternative to A Levels in some subjects, which is seen as a good academic challenge qualification.

Boarding - the girls' boarding houses are lovely and new. Sharing rooms in first year (2s or 3s), then singles in Upper Sixth (with en suites in one house). Sixth Formers are allowed into town on a Saturday evening for a meal out (have to sign back in at a certain time). There's (I presume it still exists) a Sixth Form bar on site, where Sixth Formers are allowed to buy a limited number of set alcoholic drinks with parental permission on a Saturday night (beer/cider/alcopops/wine). Personally I believe it's a great controlled way to give 16/17/18 year olds a bit more independence and responsibility.

Pastoral care is great; good house boarding teams, as well as a personal tutor which the students pick themselves.

Sport - no sailing as far as I am aware. But there is a scuba diving club. Students have Thursday afternoons off lessons which is time used for structured extra-curricular activities, of which scuba diving is one. Wonderful swimming pool. Very strong rowing school - so perhaps a new watersports opportunity?! Plus all the usual school sports.

This has been really long - sorry!

What I will say is that a Shrewsbury girl needs to be confident and resilient. I feel the girls very much adapted to the Shrewsbury boys' way of life, rather than making huge changes to the ethos of the school. To me, that's a great thing but might not suit all girls.

Ultimately visiting schools helps so much in making decisions, but I know that's hard from abroad! Sometimes you'll just walk around a school and know it's right, or not, for you!

Please ask me any more questions, or PM if you'd prefer!