A-Level boarding for clever, quirky girl

[MzMonkey]

Hi all

Wondering what A-level / IB colleges you would recommend for our daughter who is on the gifted register for English and a good all rounder.

Top picks at present are United College (Atlantic or Adriatic) or The Mount in York.

Been in Woodcraft since young, very into ethics, philosophy, attends human rights club... not very sporty but loves music (mainly listening. some piano). Says she is "pansexual", ie but not keen to be labelled. Needs to feel comfortable to be able to have romantic interests develop with either gender, without being made to feel ashamed.

We are a fairly alternative family (I went to a Summerhill-inspired school, and am studying / practicing Buddhism but ended up at a very straight ladies college). We want her to be able to progress academically and still be happy and grounded... and able to fit in just about anywhere in later life. Oxbridge or Russell Group most likely after gap year.

Probably not keen on Bedales, Sands, Brockwood Park, Michael Hall... probably looking more so for the kind, soft, balanced end of mainstream academic. Hoping for a decent bursary, if at all possible

All suggestions most welcome. Thank you!

Looks like you've answered you're own question; either The Mount or UWC Atlantic?

The Mount's a girl's sixth form and UWC in a rural location.

Although UWC has great principles, I'd be inclined towards The Mount 'cause York's more interesting and I like Yorkshire.

Thanks BobbyGentry. That really helps. Looking for one more to throw into the mix. Any other suggestions dear people?

Have you thought about Bootham?

If you're considering the Mount any reason not to look at Bootham? Same approach but co ed. Or any of the other Quaker schools round the country.

I don't know Atlantic College but I think the other two would very much suit the sort of young woman you describe.

I've never heard of Atlantic College sorry but the Mount is an ok school, quite small though. DS knows a couple of girls who are in the sixth form and it does seem to be a love it or hate it school. It is very inclusive though. There are a number of quaker schools in the country though (three in Yorkshire including the Mount) and as far as I know they are all very good. In terms of academics I do believe they are at the lower end of academically selective, if at all, so don't be put off by league table results as in general they will have a broader range of ability than a number of schools and because of that do very well by their students.

Thanks all. Loving the generosity of spirit here!

We are now becoming more aware of:

• weekend boarding - who's going to be there on weekend. Our daughter would like to board all week and come home at holidays mainly, she thinks!). Locals go home and foreign / ESL students stay on weekends... will there be enough kindreds?

Mount (for example) looks like it might not have enough still around on weekends and Brighton is too far to weekly board.

• weekly boarding - perhaps she will need to be closer to home. We live in Brighton and are here to stay, although I guess we could consider living in London for two years if she was not boarding. North Collegiate looks pretty full on, but can't help but be interested. Kind Alfred also appealing and we have a friend there already.

With this in mind, we would like to discover A-Level / IB boarding schools that fit the bill in the London / South-East area. Or day schools in London.

I guess there are many, but struggling to find the same kind of ethos Atlantic and Mount have.

Any thoughts?

There is a Quaker School at Saffron Walden which might fit the bill.

St Christopher's, Letchworth is another one.

I read you OP but had in ideas as your requirement is very unusual. Now I've read your last thread and feel a little confused TBH. What are you looking for? Full boarding: generally you only come out on Sunday often after some sort of religious worship, weekly boarding, day school in London.
Frankly your going to struggle to find a boarding school full of like minded girls. You will find quirky children in many schools but they are going to be in the minority, it's how they are tolerated that should matter. You also want a bursary so your are asking for a lot. You might have to consider a scholarship with a means tested bursary, the sort of "kind soft balanced end of mainstream academic" education may not have big bursary pots. Generally those that are well known academic big names.
What about Westminster? They take girls in the 6 th form and have boarders, easy commute for Brighton, known to tolerate the quirky and Londoners are of course generally tolerant of all, academic, outstanding Oxbridge success, no bursaries for boarders that's the only problem but they do have day children as well.

Sorry bloody auto correct, trying to say: I read your OP but had no ideas.

Thanks again. Will look into these. Forgot to mention we are from Australia originally so haven't grown up in this system. Lots to learn. Happy to hear all perspectives.

If you're looking for a bursery you could try Christ's hospital. It's in Horsham and is full boarding.

Very musical and very tolerant (from what I've seen), lots of children from a wide variety of backgrounds.

I's also close enough to pop up and watch play/concerts or just take them out for lunch on a Sunday

I thought of Christ's when I first read the OP original post. But it is as far as Im aware full of what I describe as meaningless ritual and tradition I accept many love it it's just not my thing. I suppose after thinking about the OP's daughters requirements I discounted it but definitely worth a look. I think she'd certainly get a broader selection of children.

Yes Christ's Hospital was on the long list and has been recommended by a local friend who is very qualified to comment. Anyone else know anything about it?

My son is in the third year there, and my colleagues son is just about to take his GCSE's. It is a very marmite school, the kids like the traditions on the whole, and my son is very happy there. It is bonkers though, but hey, it's a very different school to any others, in ethos as well as the traditions.

I wouldn't send her to Christ's unless she is a self-starter.
I can't think of what the meaningless ritual(s) would be...? I've compared school days with pals from Eton, Kings Canterbury and Marlborough and we've all had similar experiences. I had seven happy years there.

I don't know either school so this is not a reflection on them, but I would not in a million years send a teenager who identifies as pansexual away. IME boarding schools are very conservative conformist places. She'll be entering already formed peer groups at an age when they're all intensely self conscious and self aware. Few pupils stay at the weekends anywhere.
DD1, who sounds quite like your DD (I don't know about her sexuality) had a miserable time at boarding VI form; she's now at day school with tbh quite similar peers as she had at B S and is very happy. The trouble with Boarding School is if it goes wrong, it goes really wrong 24 hours a day.

I think Atlantic would fit the kind of 'quirky' but clever type you describe your daughter as (we're talking about the one near Cardiff, right?). The problem is that they seem to demand a huge amount of commitment and dedication to social and ethical causes in advance, and I'm not sure that simply going to a human rights club at her present school is enough. My impression is that Atlantic would be looking for the people who start their own club and then coordinate events etc: Malala Yousafzai would be their ideal student.

I considered it for DD1 and then realised that I wasn't happy with her living in a boarding environment (and we're not in the UK so it wouldn't even be in the same country). And my impression of the bursaries is that they're pretty much reserved for candidates from less privileged backgrounds (and fair enough too), so if you're wealthy enough to consider other private schools, you're unlikely to get anything much in the way of a reduction.

A friend of DD1 did apply a few months back and didn't even get as far as the interview stage - and this is a girl who is entirely bilingual (German-English) as well as speaking excellent French, comfortable in many different environments, confident and an independent thinker, academically excellent - but she didn't show enough 'social commitment' to get the interview, apparently.

I think a Quaker school would suit a girl who describes herself as 'pansexual'...

MsMonkey: I went to Atlantic College (albeit some years ago). Am just running out the door but will try and post about my experiences later.

I'd be interested if your opinion as an ex-student matches my impression from outside, Red Queen.