Good boarding school (outside London) for bright London boy?

[Riversiderunner]

Hello,

I'm looking into boarding schools for my son (Year 4 but I want to get organised).

Our son's bright, brilliant at English and languages, quite sporty (vg swimmer but not mad on much else) funny, popular and kind. He's slightly shy, but I'm hoping he'll overcome this - I had the same prob at his age. He hangs out with the cool kids as he's tall and funny but is secretly a tiny bit frightened of them.

Among others on our long list (we're also thinking about London day schools) are Eton, Winchester, Marlborough, St Pauls, Kings College Wimbledon, Westminster...

Any others I should think about? I want him to be pushed academically as he's bright but (like most boys) happy to coast if he can get away with it.

I'd like him to board as my husband and I both did and LOVED it,
and think he'd love it too (he's v keen). He has a younger brother and a sister but am not fussed by single sex/co=ed.

I'd love to hear any suggestions for good schools I should look into. I have the Good Schools Guide and am working my way through that, but everyone on here seems pretty expert so I'd love to hear any opinions from parents of boys who are a bit ahead of me!

Thank you x

Not sure re: full boarding or weekly. Not fussed - I did full boarding and loved it but would be happy with weekly too.

Thanks re Harrow. Will look into it. x

Winchester unlike many others doesn't offer a "main sport", my DS is not a team sports player and he's been able to pursue his chosen sport (it's definitely a extra curricular sport in most school) which he started at prep in every games session this is quite unusual. Here is what they say on their website about swimming. Sport is never going to be big at Winchester because it's optional and results are very varied.
The boys are very much allowed to be themselves and there are certainly shy one, it's very hands off parenting, it's walks very much to its own drum beat, and it's liberal with surprisingly few rules so not for all but we like it.

Thank you Happy, I've just ordered their prospectus. Everything you say sounds so nice. Love the idea of liberal with surprisingly few rules - our boy is pretty sensible and keen to learn so that would suit him (not so sure about the younger one but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it!).

thanks v much

He hangs out with the cool kids as he's tall and funny but is secretly a tiny bit frightened of them.

This all sounds far too straightforward, don't you have any limitations on your choice?

You don't say where he is right now. Just be aware that entry to the most desirable schools is more and more competitive so you'd be wise to ensure he's at a prep that really knows what it's doing (by yr 6 if poss) and regularly feeds to the seniors you think he could get into. Or a decent state school and plenty of parental attention to application and exam detail. Don't assume anything.

Was just looking at Tonbridge in the good schools guide! Sounds nice and we have a few seriously nice and clever friends who went there (who may also send their sons there too). Oddly this had not occurred to me until today for some reason but I will read up on it now.

Gruach he's at a good state primary but has had a tutor for a year or two. So am sure he's not up to private level but hopefully not MILES off.

Bloody hell I am knackered by all of this already and we're not even in a rush!

Radley?

Well for the most well known school on your list he would only need to know what's on the state school syllabus so as long as he's doing well I wouldn't worry too much about any perceived academic difference to prep school boys. (Don't know about other seniors.)

As for the rest (attitude, resilience, competitiveness, etc) it's probably a little early for anyone to tell ...

I was going to say Harrow too

You really should consider moving him to a prep school as they are really clued into all of this, and to matching boys with schools, and they would also make sure he is academically prepared more than a tutor would (even prep boys will have tutors!!). It's not too late for you to look at year 5 entry to a prep, but you'd need to be quick (it would likely be an occasional place for the good ones). You could also consider doing years 7 and 8 at a prep school and aim for year 9 entry to your secondary school of choice - not an uncommon option, especially for independent schools without a junior section. It also gives you more time to decide. Boys haven't really come into their own by Year 4, and he is likely to change and develop.

Also, if you plan for your other two DC to go to similar schools, and they are all currently at state schools, then this will be a huge jump in financial commitment - three kids at those sort of boarding schools will cost in excess of £90k a year. Even if they were currently at the best prep schools, the financial commitment would likely double. And, unfortunately, school fees go up every frigging year (). A more affordable option in London is to be a day student. You mentioned Westminster, which is academically a good school, but where do you live? There are also plenty of other good options.

Epsom College is good, and they are starting to take Y7s next year.

Look at state boarding. There are some amazing schools there; you only pay for the boarding element and it will solve your Y7 and Y8 problem.

We looked at Tonbridge and really liked it but it's only weekly boarding therefore no good for us. The head was at St Pauls for years and has created a school with a similar feel in a way.
You say you DS is slightly shy if thus doesn't change TBH I can't see St Pauls being the right place I live with an Old Pauline and know quite a few "shy" is not one of the words that springs to mind when I think of Old Pauline's. I also agree really you need to be in a good prep where you'll get good advice many you mentioned are very over subscribed in particular Eton which does not restrict the numbers registering for places or st Pauls. Also a prep will take through to the end of yr 8. Or what about Christ Hospital not for all but they start at he 7.

Just be aware that if you are looking at Eton (and I suspect some others too) you have to register them by the time they are 10 1/2 (so in Y5) for Y9 entry...

You would certainly get more help with this from a prep school, both with the "matching child to school" part and for making sure all correct procedures and preparation have been done.

Brighton College?

Tonbridge may have changed but when I looked at it some years ago 40% were day boys and the head was quite honest and said that the vast majority of boarders were weekly boarders, the boy that showed me round also said the same thing. I sure there are some full boarders but in my now very extensive experience if you want full boarding chose a school where boarders can only full board otherwise weekends are rather lonely.

If you sent boarding then ensure most pupils actually do board.

For example over half dont at Westminster. And almost no one outside overseas students board at weekends.

If there are weekly boarders it's not full boarding! (Even if some full board.)

Completely different ethos.