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Secondary education

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Original poster

Uk state boarding schools

20 replies

Lucie73 · 13/10/2017 14:07

CIrrently living overseas and have a daughter who is fanatical about rowing and a son who loves rugby, finding a state run boarding school which offers rugby is not a problem but rowing appears to be. Does anyone know of any schools which offer rowing please?? Thank you

OP posts:
LoniceraJaponica · 13/10/2017 14:13

I just copied this from the state boarding schools website

"Admission to state boarding schools in the UK is limited to children who are nationals of the UK and are eligible to hold a full UK passport, or those who are nationals of other European Union countries or those who have the right of residence in the UK."

This link might be useful

Original poster
Lucie73 · 13/10/2017 14:17

Thank you, we are all British passport holders just have worked overseas for a while.

OP posts:
LoniceraJaponica · 13/10/2017 14:26

I have zero experience of boarding schools, but have read on MN that competition for places is very fierce, and I imagine that children from armed forces families would be given priority, but I am happy to be corrected.

WineBeforeCake · 13/10/2017 14:32

Do you not get a school fee allowance?

I would (and have) moved companies/countries to get the right fee allowance.

I personally think chances of a state school boarding place to suit are pretty low as the budget of the academic and sport side of a state boarding school is so much lower than what it would cost to properly provide them. All state boarding schools I know are cutting stuff left right and centre drastically 😔 It’s sad. Schools I know well aren’t offering a range of subjects anymore, let alone the sports they used to do.

charlmum60 · 13/10/2017 14:34

Probably Gordons...hard to get into for day school but not sure about boarding ....

OlennasWimple · 13/10/2017 14:35

The main issue you would have applying from overseas is that you might not meet the criteria / come up high enough in the priority admission criteria, because your address would be too far away

LoniceraJaponica · 13/10/2017 14:36

The cuts are having the same effects on normal day state schools as well. The curriculum is getting narrower and class sizes are increasing. They are getting rid of the higher paid teachers and replacing them with NQTs.

LinaBo · 13/10/2017 14:55

Holyport College has links with Eton College, so they probably offer rowing. It's quite hard to get in for day spaces but not sure about boarding.

WineBeforeCake · 13/10/2017 15:15

@LoniceraJaponica I know 😔

The gap is widening between what state schools get to spend and what public schools are spending (talking strictly not for profit for comparison rather than the few independent schools that are for profit).

Allthebestnamesareused · 13/10/2017 16:13

Wymondham College in Norfolk offers boarding and rowing I think

hertsandessex · 13/10/2017 17:28

I don't know of one that has rowing but on the eligibility issue although they are very popular for day pupils they are much less so for boarding and if you live overseas and have a clear boarding need then I would think a good chance of getting.

Anasnake · 13/10/2017 22:24

Lancaster Grammar

Anasnake · 13/10/2017 22:27

Ignore that - only Lancaster Boys does boarding

mineofuselessinformation · 13/10/2017 22:34

I don't know if Wymondham College offer rowing as a matter of course, but I do know they offer sports scholarships.
From the last information I have, there are only 35 LEA boarding schools.
It's worth researching who does what.
My dcs have attended WC for the last 11 years. (Dc2 due to finish in two year's time, in Yr 12 currently.)
The academic achievement is very good.

FfZzBbGg · 14/10/2017 01:32

Here’s a list of State boarding schools In the UK OP. You could try just going to the website of each? I have no personal experience of this to add, except that the two I’ve heard of are supposed to be difficult to get in to so I’d study the LA admissions criteria and historical admissions info very carefully before you commit to buying a house around the corner to try to get a place, for example.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/ListoffstateboardinggschoolsinnEnglandanddWales

bellabelly · 14/10/2017 01:53

looks like Cranbrook School have started doing rowing...
rowing

TobeLaRoan · 14/10/2017 07:27

There are a very limited number of UK state schools with a good rowing programme, and afaik none of them offer boarding as well. Your best bet would be to find a relative in the Thames Valley for her to live with so she can go to William Borlase school in Marlow...

Even Holyport college which is v near Eton doesn't seem to offer rowing. If you could run to private school fees then Headington in oxford has boarders and is a big player in schools rowing.

WineBeforeCake · 14/10/2017 09:36

@bellabelly I am surprised as Cranbrook is one that has severely limited their academic options, which you would have thought would be their priority above an extra sport.

Dreamingspires · 17/10/2017 17:34

Holyport College definitely offers rowing. They use Eton's facilities at Dorney Lake.

carolinejames · 20/03/2018 04:16

Does anyone have children at Holyport. I am considering it for my son for boarding. I would be grateful for any thoughts

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