If I like Wellington College, where else might I like?

[ooerrmissus]

Hi

Hoping for some thoughts from people who have been through this before! DS1 currently in Year 5 at small prep, doing well academically, working a good year ahead in maths and english, flying in French, excellent in science. Hates sport. Avoids drama. Is learning piano and drums but nothing special musically. Real computer geek, teaching himself computer coding in his spare time. Has mild Aspergers which mainly affects organisational skills.

We have looked at Wellington, loved it, think it will suit him really well. Lots of tech, (i.e. studying robotics in first two years), IB so flexible study-wise. Boarding but not too full on as he needs downtime.

Head has also suggested Marlborough, does anyone know anything about it? Any other ideas? I'd like to have a back up plan in case he doesn't make WC for whatever reason!

Thanks in advance!

[ooerrmissus]

Thanks Flapping I think I know the Norfolk one you mean although the name escapes me. I am determined to find a sport he enjoys, he quite enjoys riding but isn't brilliant at it. Very good for his posture though. Next on my list to try is golf. I will add sailing on after that! One day something will click!

[Flappingandflying]

There's a lovely school in Devon which specialises in sailing and another one in east anglia. I only mention it because my sport hating, AS, very dyspraxic son can sail like a dream and is really good. I'm really sorry, I don't know the names but I am sure a bit of googling might work.

[ooerrmissus]

Thanks Dragon I'll add that to my list.

Looks like we are going to be busy going to open days for a while!

[DragonRojo]

Leighton Park is certainly not big on sport. The more sporty children do play competitively but there are plenty of others who do as little sport as possible and they are not made to feel odd about it.

[ooerrmissus]

Bootham is the Quaker school in York, it had a lovely feel to it but the boarding is desperately in need of an overhaul.

We are also going to take a look at St Peters in York.

[happygardening]

Isn't there also a Quaker school in York? Sounds like it would be a bit closer than Leighton Park.

[summerends]

Just to add one to the mix if you are further north, Shrewsbury.
Although there is strong sport I know of one boy who has AS, is non sporty dyspraxic and geeky who is very happy there. Rowing and running are strong which I notice that the non sporty boys seem to gravitate to in later years (bit of a surprise really). It is a school which does seem to have a mix of talents and academic aptitudes.
I'm not sure about the computer science there though.

[geebie]

If you liked Bootham, have you thought about Leighton Park, also a Quaker school, actually very close to Wellington geographically, so in the area you were looking. Sport is important but non-sporty kids aren't out of place by any means, and loads of fab tech stuff going on. Definitely worth checking out!

[ooerrmissus]

Sorry for the terse post my keyboard has just broken!

He's just the least coordinated child I've ever met. Always has been. To the point he was assessed for dyspraxia: he hasn't got that but he's borderline. Add to that the fact that he doesn't see the point of it and he's pretty reluctant. He does it because he has to and I think when he's not being expected to achieve too much he doesn't mind it too much but he's never going to be a sportsman. As his head of sports told me last week!

Oundle looks promising and I'll check that out. Thanks

[ooerrmissus]

Yes Oundle has just appeared on my radar, I'll have a look.

It's the actual exercise he hates I think! He hates indoor sport too.

[happygardening]

I'm told Oundels science dept is outstanding, do you think he might enjoy rugby more at secondary? I guess he's not likely to make it into the 1st, 2nd 3 rd or even 4th 15 so any team he will be in is likely to have a level of playing skill and interest similar to his so he might find it less daunting than he would at a small prep where he could easily find himself playing against a bigger prep with stronger team. There will also be significantly less matches if you're in the lower teams few school can regularly put up more than four teams on a regular basis. Or is it teams sports/games in the freezing cold wind and rain he dislikes?

[ooerrmissus]

Sorry HG no can do the Catholic thing!

[ooerrmissus]

Patricia909 Yes I appreciate it seems odd. There isn't a school within easy day to day travel of where we live which would suit DS1 (there are some very good schools, but not right for him).We started looking further afield, and then further, and then further.... The ones close to us tend to be the tough outdoorsy running on the fells type which would be totally wrong. The one exception is Bootham which we loved but the boarding is pretty grim. Odd that you mention Bedales as the head of Bootham used to be there.

I appreciate what you are saying about the travel however the alternative is 12 hours a week in a car for him, and twice that for me!

It's interesting that most people seem to have focussed on the non-sport side of the OP and not considered too much the AS/ tech side- HappyGardening excepted. We liked Wellington due to the emphasis on Maths science tech etc.

On the AS , it is fairly mild and as I said mostly causes an issue with organisational skills. If all goes according to plan he will start weekly boarding in Year 6 so he can see how it goes in a smaller school and closer to home for a couple of years. If it's a complete disaster we will have a rethink. And possibly move house.

[happygardening]

Here's the link to Bedales computer dept but it is a weekly boarding school so not really doable from the North.
I agree though something closer to home for a boy with mild AS does sound like a good idea. I was wondering about Oundle but rugby is compulsory so that's not much good. Ampleforth? they seem to imply rugby is optional, friends sent their mildly AS DS there and he's very happy. Of course you've got to do the catholic thing although you don't have to be catholic I understand I personally couldn't do it.

[Patricia909]

Just wondering why you have decided on a boarding school in the South for your DS when you live up North. Are you looking for full boarding? I would have thought that might be quite challenging for a boy with mild AS. If you are thinking of weekends at home, it will mean him spending a lot of time travelling which can get quite wearing.
Surprised that your Head has suggested Wellington for a non sporty boy. Does he have close links to the school? Westminster does cater for non sporty but is really weekly boarding in the first few years. Have you looked at Bedales? But again few full boarders in the lower years. Can your Head not recommend a school in the north which would allow him to come home at weekends?

[wandymum]

Ah, must have changed since DS' day happy - he definitely wouldn't have done sport unless forced to but has happy memories of winkies and, rather bizarrely, scuba diving.

[Eton2017]

At Eton each term, sorry, half, has a choice of major sports, of which each boy must pick one. Can I do a link? Yes!

[happygardening]

wandy at Wn Coll sport is optional after the first couple of terms, according to my DS many do no sport at all.
I just can't help but wonder if a computer geek is going to be very frustrated with not even being allowed a lap top for nearly two years. Win Coll has many sterling features but it's ICT dept is not one of them. Obviously boys do "computer coding" in their spare time but I strongly get the impression that boys are not encouraged to spend too much time on the computer, the school fire wall system is pretty strict so your DS would have to acquire something to bypass it. I would have thought none of this is ideal for the real a computer geek.

[happygardening]

I was wondering about Eton but decide if rugby was compulsory or not at it's described as a "major sport".

[wandymum]

As others have said sport is pretty all pervasive at boarding schools so I think your best bet is to aim for one of the super academics.

Your DS will still have to do some sport but at places like Eton, Win Coll, Westminster, SPS academic prowess earns you more respect than sport.

I agree with Summerends that he is likely to indulge his inner computer geek in his own time anyway.

DH is a huge computer geek and was very happy at Win Coll many moons ago. He spent his free time merrily coding in his study but also very much enjoyed CCF etc... when pushed to take part.

[Needmoresleep]

Pity about Westminster as their approach to sports really works. Its time tabled two afternoons a week but with a huge choice. Lots of non-sporty kids, and Westminster tends to attract the less sporty, find "their" sport and the school excels in things like rock climbing and fencing. Sporty kids then stand out and have an easier passage into a first team than they would elsewhere, with the resulting qudos. Every so often they get a good crop of hockey players, footballers or rowers and have a winning team or boat, which will be publicised more than in a school used to sucess. They also encourage participation through lots of house competition in different sports, with the house netball cup being particuarly fought over. (Rules require at least two girls in a team!) Plus their new gym is open in the evenings so day pupils too will meet up there after homework in the library.

Sixth form now seems to have more full boarders, and the lure of a good Sunday brunch will encourage some of the day pupils in to hang out with friends, but as you say its weekly boarding till then. I understand they are working hard to improve their computing offer. Previously computer geeks got together in some form of computer club, but the school apparently recognises the need for something higher level and more rigourous. The school is very used to AS and disorganisation and have good SN support.

There are several exeat weekends in any given term, and Westminster is well placed for most train stations. Would a mix of you coming down or him returning home with perhaps a couple of weekends of staying with friends work?

[ooerrmissus]

Sorry cross post there. Westminster I have looked at but since we are up north it wouldn't be practical. Eton I did look at and will look again; I know the own room was a definite plus!

[ooerrmissus]

Thanks everyone. Some good ideas there.

I don't expect him to avoid all sport for 5 years, much as he would like to, but as PP said if a school only values the sporty kids it's probably not going to be right for him. DS1 recently did very well in a national science competition and the boost this has given him, and the respect he now gets from his peers, has been lovely to see. Previously he was a bit written off (by the other kids, not by school) because he isn't in the sporty gang. So somewhere that gets involved in that sort of thing would be great.

[Eton2017]

OP, if Win Coll looks fab to you except for the IT, I wonder whether, like us earlier, you may have ruled out Eton based on reputation without proper consideration? They do have compulsory sport, unlike Winchester, but there is plenty of choice and rugby is never compulsory. Football is the alternative in the autumn; in DS's view that is far less objectionable. Own room supports need for down time. They all have laptops from day 1, though I don't know what there is in the way of robotics etc. as that isn't DS's passion. I do know they are starting to offer Computer Science GCSE (i.e. the one that actually does some proper computer science rather than learning to use Microsoft products). Worth considering if you haven't?

[WantAnotherHoliday]

If he's as bright as he sounds, have you considered Westminster? No rugby and probably less focus on sports than most boarding schools (and yes, it's mainly a day school but the ethos is that of a boarding school. Won't work if you need more than weekly boarding though). They have a wide choice of less traditional sports - table tennis, rock climbing, badminton, gym fitness, yoga... Maybe he could find something to enjoy, which would benefit his long-term health too.