Shrewsbury School - current parent thoughts?

[handsfullallthetime]

Good afternoon,
we'd enormously appreciate any up-to-date thoughts about Shrewsbury School - from current or very recent parents, or people who have close friends/relatives there!
What do you think about the quality of academics?
Does it matter if one is not particularly sporty?
What are the typical pupils like - polite, arrogant, unpretentious etc?
For a child with parents living a long way away (ie unable to return home often during the term), how are weekends?
Basically, would you recommend the school (or not), with reasons...!
Many, many thanks indeed...
HFATT

For what age and boy or girl

Boy, entering aged 13. But to be honest, any comments welcome.

Ok intake will be mixed boys and girls at that age. The youngsters I have met are all very polite friendly. My DC Had a good first year there. Plenty on offer besides sport incl music and drama. They put a lot on for third form so they can integrate well as a year group which was good to see. Lots of sport but something for everyone not just the sporty. Weekends full as sat school and activities. It's full boarding so hardly any day students

Thanks, Overseasmum. Very reassuring. Are you an overseas parent, as your name implies, or is that now out of date? That's our current situation (we're in the UAE), so interested how well that works.
Thanks.

Hi. Parent of lower sixth pupil here, been there since third form. We have been really pleased so far; our son takes part in many things and has a packed day. All of his friends seem to be very nice young men with lots to offer.

Great to hear such positive things about Shrewsbury school, I have been given some good advice by Overseasmum on another thread but just wondered about the experiences of other parents with DD,s at the school. Would love to hear anything really. Thanks

DD started in September. Genuinely full boarding, house staff great, lots on and academically she's being stretched. So happy here!