Millfield

[buzzed]

We are looking at senior schools for our ds. He is very sporty and our prep school head has recommended Millfield as a school that's very good for sport. However, ds is also quite bright and we've also heard that it's more of a school that suits non-academic people/does not focus on the academic side of things as much and have heard some very polarising things anecdotally (either very positive or very negative). Would love to hear other people's experiences with the school. Thanks!

My friend had a very bright kid go through, who was also sporty. Had an academic scholarship. It caters for the full spectrum, but does have children that need quite a bit of support. There are loads of sets so the work will be pitched accordingly.

I agree with Trinity 0097. There is a wide spectrum of ability. They are set from the beginning.If you look on their results page they show overall results and then their top 100 students for GCSE and A level results which will maybe answer your question. It is a massive school but small classes. My DC left with good results. So I would definitely recommend that you go and visit.

I have nothing useful to contribute on modern day Millfield but want to say that it was considered a sporty school rather than a highly academic school over 30 years ago. Interesting how the public schools tend to keep their characteristics over time. Friend of mine who was sporty went there; I went to Bryanston which was defined in the good schools guide as 'good for oddballs'. Says a lot.

I think very many top boarding schools are spotty! They pride themselves on it. This is not a characteristic confined to Millfield so I would have a good look around.

Millfield is VERY sporty. And has lots of very high achieving (in the sports world) amongst its numbers. My daughter swims and the Milfield swimmers she competes against are fantastic, Millfield frequently have swimmers in the British National Swimming championships competing against Bath and Loughborough Uni. My friend was there a number of years ago on a swimming scholarship and there were very very high expectations of her. I cannot comment on the academic side, I would assume a clever child would do well there but it wouldn't be my first choice for a child who wasn't serious about sports. I think it's rather large too, not sure about class sizes?

Mycarssmellsoflavender and I must be fairly similar in age. We used to play Bryanston at netball and loved their team teas, which were always amazing compared to our school's pitiful offering. Millfield was always known as the school for sporty but academically challenged people back then. Probably hugely unfairly, but that was how it was seen. Can't comment on the modern view though!!

Harrow is very sporty. Wellington, Rugby, Stowe, etc all have great sport. It may depend on which sport. Rugby? Swimming? Athletics? Tennis? Cricket? Judo? etc etc. Most children by the age of 12/13 know what sport they are really good at so I would see what a variety of schools offer in the sports he is interested in.

Millfield is a great school. It nurtures every child; be they academic, sport, music, dance etc. There is a myth that Millfield is not academic. The students I know work very hard, feel well supported and acknowledged they have all the tools to achieve.