Co-ed Boarding schools starting at 13+

[boardingdilemma]

My daughter is currently at a standalone prep, so we need to find a senior school for her when she finishes there (must be full boarding).

We would ideally like to keep her in the South-West (Wilts/Dorset/Hampshire/North Somerset), but would consider further afield, as we feel quite limited with where she can go. She won't consider single-sex, and is adamant she doesn't want to go somewhere that has its own prep school.

Her first choice is Marlborough, and I think she stands a good chance of getting in, but certainly can't bank on it with it being so oversubscribed for girls. We've visited one other school in Somerset, and have two more scheduled to visit.

So, basically, we're after: full boarding, co-ed, no prep, starts at year 9, south west.

TIA.

lifeisunjust I'm interested in your comment about the "entitlement culture" that you believe exists in independent school. Could you expand on that? What are you experiences of it? Do you think this is pretty universal at all independent schools?
Secondly your other comment "children of oligarchs" what is your problem with children of oligarchs? If I wrote I have sent my DS to an independent boarding school because there are no children from council estate there I suspect and indeed hope that most on here would go up in arms so why do you think it's ok to make the same kind of comment about the children of oligarchs? One of the wonderful thing about boarding school in the independent sector is that children learn to work sleep eat and play be along side children from many different background, yes it's inevivatable that some will be children of oligarchs, many will be very wealthy, many well off, but Marlborough, discussed on here, offers significant bursaries to children of the clergy, Rugby also appears to offer generous financial support, as does Eton, my DS's school now has nearly 20% on bursaries some of 100% and is moving over to a needs blind admission policy. On top of that children in the indepenent boards sector come from all over the world.
I believe that mixing with others from such varied background promotes tolerance and understanding of difference and that my DS having learnt this at his boarding school would no more write or think comments it great here because "there are no children of oligarchs" or "there are no children from council estates".

Dustylaw, I don't need a significant bursary, just a little assistance. I'm also not fixated on amazing facilities. However, most people moving from prep to top senior schools usually find they move onto better facilities. For us, instead of getting better, we find we'll be losing some facilities or they're not quite as good. Since the schools we're interested in (MC, Rugby, so far) are all about the holistic experience, then yes, I do think facilities are important. The first school we visited didn't have a swimming pool, so we won't consider it as dd is swim squad. If she goes for a DT scholarship, then I wouldn't consider somewhere unless it were at least as well equipped as her prep school. If I was only interested in her academic progression, I'd be sending her to a grammar school.

I might not have chosen Life's exact words, but I do think s/he has touched on an interesting point relating to the changing demographic in many British boarding schools. Even 10/15 years ago the majority of boarders were from - for want of a better term successful "middle class" British families - who wanted their DC to work hard, pass exams, go on to University and then into one of the professions, civil service, forces, banking etc.

But the exponential rise in boarding school fees means that many of these people are now priced out of the boarding market - particularly if they have three or four children - and are moving their DC to the big day schools where possible or, if they need boarding, are looking at the state boarding option which is still affordable. And actually schools like Cranbrook and Sexey's (unfortunate name!) are now attracting that MC demographic that would previously have sent their DC to private schools.

Private boarding schools have responded by filling their places with an increasing proportion of overseas students- not just the global super rich who have always been a feature of the market, but also wealthy Europeans whose DC may not be performing well in their home systems and who are attracted by the English language and the A level option. There is also high demand from Russia, China and the FE. This has changed the ethos at many boarding schools and means that the peer group for British MC students can be very different to that their parents may have experienced themselves and may be looking to duplicate.

This is perhaps an inevitable result of globalisation - and perhaps the new peer group will be the new "international establishment" offering on a global scale the networking opportunities that the big public schools used to offer on a national scale. But they are not necessarily a peer group whose families share the same values as most of the UK clientele. Not the fault of the children, but it was interesting that the source of monies used to pay UK boarding school fees was highlighted in last week's anti corruption conference.

I think there is a big question over the business model now being pursued. Private boarding schools are falling over themselves to provide newer and shinier facilities - equestrian centres spring to mind - to attract the global rich and in doing so are pricing out their core market. With the odd exception - Christ's Hospital springs to mind - few are sticking to their charitable foundations. And I am not persuaded by the "needs blind" narrative of some of the big public schools. Most of them do not have the money to offer this on any scale. And even the very wealthy foundations find it a struggle. Also, if you say you are needs blind but still expect applicants to sit entrance papers in French and Latin, you really aren't. Any free places are likely to go to ex -choristers who are a special breed. And the 10%/20%/30% bursary still leaves parents with a lot of money to find.

If they continue in this way, they are going to end up as international schools based in Britain - which I think would make them significantly less attractive to their overseas clientele. And potentially lead to the demise of much of the sector.

"Private boarding schools have responded by filling their places with an increasing proportion of overseas students- not just the global super rich who have always been a feature of the market, but also wealthy Europeans"
"they are not necessarily a peer group whose families share the same values as most of the UK clientele"
I'm struggling to find a problem with this. As you go onto to say its an inevitable part of globalisation and something we are going to not only accept but positively embrace if we're not going to be left behind and also more importantly solve many of the words problems e.g. climate change. DS2 has two boys out of 12 in his house/year who are not from the UK he is enjoying from their friendship and he has learnt about other cultures, he also has friends from Europe and beyond in other houses/ years groups, I think its great I couldn't care less where they come from.
"And I am not persuaded by the "needs blind" narrative of some of the big public schools"
Some are committed to a needs blind admission policy, often they are the very big names with matching very big assets which they can sell off to raise money for this bursary fund.
I do agree the building of equestrian centres ect is for the super rich who expect such things, these schools are often not an the top of the academic league tables and struggling to fill their vacancies and have to find other things to attract parents. I cant see DS2's school building such things or improving their facilities!

"if you say you are needs blind but still expect applicants to sit entrance papers in French and Latin,"
I personally don't see this as a barrier the schools will simply not expect pupils to do these in their entrance exam for example many pupils from HK already don't do the Latin part of the entrance exam.
More of a barrier is the yr 9 entry point, I cant see how that can be so easily got past.

My son is at a prep school that does Latin. He however does not do (opted out of) Latin and his senior schools(top senior boarding schools) have all reassured us this is not a barrier at all.
Also most of these schools offer a separate entrance exam for applicants who have not followed the 13+ curriculum.

SoGodhelpme, we saw Rugby and loved it. I'm finding it difficult to decide which I prefer between it and MC. We were given a tour by 2 girls and then had lunch in a boarding house with lots of them. Every single girl we spoke to was a delight! So grounded, mature and confident. Many of them had chosen Rugby over MC due to the 'London set' thing at MC (as they said).

I've been comparing both schools, deciding which bits I preferred at each, but realised that I couldn't really compare the children, as the only contact I've had with them at MC (over 2 visits) was a house tour by a 6th former.

I'll hopefully be taking dd1 for a look very soon.

OP I'm so glad you liked it. Its a very grounded school with very unaffected boys and girls. I hope you saw that they all full board except years 7 and 8. Well you've seen both now... you've got lots of thinking to do, i never been to MC so cant comment on that.