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Secondary education

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Original poster

Looking for an amazing SE boarding school....

38 replies

Ruggles · 18/11/2017 21:00

We're just starting to look for schools for DS1 who is in Y4. I know it's early, but we want to take our time looking before registering in Y5 ahead of pre-tests. He's at a large non-selective prep school and middle of the road academically, loves sport but not sporty, quite musical and interested / enthusiastic about lots of different things. We'd like to find school which is a bit like Brighton or Win College, but less academic. It's difficult to explain what I mean, but a school with wide horizons, a commitment to excellence and open-minds appeals. We don't like the idea of 'fulham type schools' and wonder if there are some that less obvious that we haven't considered.

We live on W Sussex / Hants border and happy to travel 60-90 mins. Would really appreciate any thoughts or ideas.
Thank you. :)

OP posts:
ohdostopfiddling · 18/11/2017 21:07

Claremont Senior School in East Sussex? Has a boarding house

Original poster
Ruggles · 18/11/2017 21:16

Thanks Ohdo, I'll have a look

OP posts:
MidLifeCrisis007 · 18/11/2017 21:23

Bradfield or St Edwards.

Zodlebud · 18/11/2017 21:54

Haileybury, although might be a bit too far for you.

Original poster
Ruggles · 18/11/2017 21:59

St Edwards sounds perfect - worried it's a bit too far at 1:40 mins, but looks v interesting... Off to look at Haileybury too. Thanks

OP posts:
shushpenfold · 18/11/2017 22:00

Cranleigh?

happygardening · 19/11/2017 08:12

What’s sort of boarding are you looking for?
Full weekly flexi?
I too second St Edwards. It’s a boarding school with day pupils which is better than the other way round if your looking for boarding, 80% of the school board, a mixture of weekly and full boarding (currently), and lots of everything sport art music drama etc, generally happy relaxed children, bright children do well the less able are encouraged, it offers the IB and A levels which I also think is good and it’s more liberal than many others. Being in Oxford there’s things to do outside of school and this widens it’s horozons as well.
Having said this what does your prep school head say? He’ll know you DS the best and therefore what schools would suit him best.

AlbusPercival · 19/11/2017 08:15

I think Claremont would be too far

happygardening · 19/11/2017 09:00

It also describes itself as a day school with boarding approx 1/6th board.
What about Eastbourne? I don’t know that much about but someone I vaguely know works there apparently she likes it.
Years ago when my DS’s were at prep school we were always told it’s a very caring school.
Really OP not only do you need to seek advise from you Head you also need to visit a few to get a feel for them and decide which one suits your DS and you the best.

Original poster
Ruggles · 19/11/2017 09:39

Thank you so much for your replies. Lots to think about.

Cranleigh is on our list and v popular locally, but a big reputation for sport and SW London parents...

I think Haileybury is too far, esp as most of journey would be on the M25.

Happy - we are not sure what we want to do boarding-wise. DS is very keen to board, but we'd keep him local if we found the right school. DS2 is younger, but says he's staying at home! We live in a rural village with very little public transport, so unless it's boarding, we're relying on school buses. We're keen to encourage independence and like the idea of a school in a town or city with all that offers / brings. St Ed's sounds really great for us. Only concern is distance from us. Do you have DC's there? For us it would be full boarding as we don't want to spend every weekend driving. Does it empty out on a Sat night? What is the catchment area?

Thank you!

OP posts:
Original poster
Ruggles · 19/11/2017 09:44

Happy - just saw your second message. Our head is keen on Canford, Cranleigh, Marlbourough and Sherborne. We mentioned Bryanston, but he didn't really comment. He doesnt' really like the day school thing. The Dorset schools are prob too far for us. I will have a look at Eastbourne. :)

OP posts:
happygardening · 19/11/2017 11:29

Bradfield, Cranleigh and Bryanston are definitely weekly boarding (we've friends at all three). Friends love the first two but complain they are definitely not full boarding, another friend pulled her DS from Bryanston because it was not full boarding too much weekly boarding meaning pupils go home on Friday and come back on Monday.
Canford according to a friend with a DS there has compulsory weekends in but 1 in 3 weekends I believe).
And I agree Dorset is a far journey, some years ago the friend with a DS at Bryanston, in a desperate attempt to amuse him at the weekend came to see us one Sunday for lunch we were at the time living in the next country took them over 2 hours to get to us.
Marlborough is definitely full boarding with a small number of day although not super selective not far off and not liberal.
I know St Eds well PM me for more info.

Fffion · 19/11/2017 16:30

Hurst?

autumncolour · 19/11/2017 17:43

What about Bedes? They have a lot going on (have a look at the support for space science - and maybe also the animal management centre?) and are good at supporting a wide range of abilities. Might not be towny enough for you.

Dancingdreamer · 19/11/2017 20:28

I would just like to understand what people mean by the comments that Marlborough is not liberal. I have seen this mentioned a couple of times on threads and think this must date from some historical experiences.

We were very concerned about comments on Mumsnet about Marlborough. So much so that we very nearly didn't visit the school when looking for a 6th form place for my DD. She was however insistent that we went to look. We found a very different school to the one often portrayed on here and my DD has been incredibly happy there.

happygardening · 19/11/2017 22:24

Compared to Win Coll or St Edwards and contrary to what many say in here Marlborough isn’t liberal, there’s nothing wrong with this unless you’re specifically looking for a very liberal school.
There’s often stuff on here about drugs etc being a concern at Marlborough but this isn’t true as I know that they regularly randomly screen their pupils for drugs and come down hard on any found to be positive. Any pupils getting drunk, which is not uncommon at boarding schools, then parents get fined, least they used to.

Original poster
Ruggles · 20/11/2017 11:27

Thank you everyone for your replies - it's all very useful.

I hadn't come across Bede's and will do so more research. Hurst is much closer to us but I don't know much about it and would love to hear more. I know there's no Saturday school, but what happens about Sat matches? Do you pick up on Friday and then go back again?

Our Head was very positive about Marlborough, although flagged this as DSs 'aspirational' school'.

OP posts:
Mary21 · 20/11/2017 16:50

Was also going to suggest Bede,s . Family member doing very well there and apparently very good pastoral care.

Bekabeech · 20/11/2017 18:41

If people are going to be wary of Marlborough - I would also suggest being wary of Cranleigh, I have heard stories which would make me wary especially of a boarder. But I'm not sure how much the same could be said of any boarding school (but I hope not).

Wincollparent · 20/11/2017 20:05

Is Ardingly College 'a Fulham type' school ?
Does n't that do weekly boarding?

BeachysFlipFlops · 20/11/2017 20:15

Presume you’ve looked at Seaford? There’s been quite a change there in the last 3 years, now oversubscribed.... but it might suit you if you want one boarding and one day, as the coach system is pretty good....

PaperdollCartoon · 20/11/2017 20:17

Wellington. Amazingly rounded, educate the whole child ethos.

Dancingdreamer · 20/11/2017 22:47

Ok thanks for the explanation Happy.

For those who are interested, Marlborough certainly do drugs test but only where they have reasonable grounds for suspicion. I don't know of any parent who has been fined for a drunk DC. The school threaten to charge parents if a DC needs to be cared for in the San because of drinking to excess but I have never heard of anyone needing to be admitted. Minor excesses result in being grounded. They do come down hard on any drinking in rooms or consumption of spirits. The students know the rules however so generally comply with them.

Enidblyton1 · 20/11/2017 23:16

Presumably you've looked at Bedales?

It's a much more rounded school than its reputation suggests. I know two (v academic) teenagers who have done very well there. Whilst I wouldn't send a super sporty boy there, the sports provision is good for anyone who enjoys sport, and it's excellent for music/drama/art and outdoor work. I would take a look if you haven't already.

happygardening · 20/11/2017 23:35

Dancing I've PMd you!
Kids getting drunk in boarding schools is pretty common, boarding schools cannot supervise children 24/7, many have lots of money in their bank accounts and will either purchase alcohol for themselves, or bribe older pupils or even the homeless to buy them alcohol. Some go home and drink it or steal it and bring it into school and I've even seen parents buy their kids alcohol and let them bring it into school.
Nearly every boarding school (Marlborough included) will have a drunk pupil in their medical centre most weekends. IME most of us as teenagers have got hopelessly drunk at least once, usually having drunk something vile and super sweet (mine was Baileys 30 + years ago, I've never drunk it ever again), you vomit really badly, wake in the morning feeling like shit, get told of by your parents or in this case school and your parents and if you've got any sense don't keep repeating the same daft mistake. I believe this is how we learn.