St Swithun's 2018

[toughgetsgoing]

Have read mixed reviews on the school on here but they seem a bit old some of the threads, after more up-to-date info about the school and the environment. Looking for September 2018 we're expats coming from HK for 13+ and we used to live in Alresford. Thanks!

DD also applied to Godolphin and Downe House. She's fairly academic and plays the flute and harp and netball and lacrosse at her international school.

bump!

St Swithuns is more academic than either Godolphin or Downe House but not as much as KES in southampton. They are pretty big on netball and lacrosse (2+ hrs/week) & encourage co-curricular activities. There is also a lot of positive behaviour guidance.

Heathfield at Ascot is on the up academically and plays lacrosse. CLC play lacrosse. St Swithuns is about the same as DH and CLC really. Academics vary year on year and depend how you measure them! It where a girl is happy that counts for a lot more. Presumably you need a harp teacher? This may be more of a problem one would have thought.

My daughter started recently and is very happy boarding there. She came from a pretty pushy and academic London school and finds the pace fine. It is well set up for boarders, weekly and full I would say. Headmistress - in my experience - is very good. Do PM me if you want more up to date info. Very sporty and musical. There must be a harp teacher as I went to a concert at Christmas which was amazing - and at least one, if you two, girls playing the harp!

We have been living overseas for some time and our children have travelled with us, attending international schools. We're due to return to the UK when the elder two (girls) are at the end of Year 12 and the end of Year 10. Clearly this would not be ideal so we're looking at sending them to boarding school to avoid difficult mid-GCSE and mid-A Level moves. Both are doing fine academically and love sport, music, art etc. We're looking in the Hampshire area as have family links there and would be grateful for advice on Godolphin, St Swithuns, Hampshire Collegiate, Bedales and any other schools within reasonable striking distance of Winchester. Thank you!

We do not need a harp teacher.

it all depends how academic are the girls. St Swithuns is not very pushy or academic. the overseas boarding girls (lots of asians) are very competitive and get into oxbridge, etc.. good sport and music. best is to visit the school and see if the feeling is the right one. stronger on humanities than STEM.

Margarita if you are not happy you should change school. Sure you can find a school where you fit. I heard lots of girls left in L6 and even U6. no point of being unhappy.

Anymore feedback on St Swithun's please? We are interested in applying next year and interested to know what it's like, which type of girl is a good fit.

Went to DH from international school 15-20years ago - had a good time. St Swithun’s had a good lacrosse team - probably our main local rivals.

I started age 11 so i liked boarding and made good friends. If I joined at 16 having been at a mixed urban day school though - I think I personally would have found it harder to adjust to the rural isolated single-sex setting.

you should visit the school and see if you like the girls as your DD will become like them. It is not very academic. results seem to be driven by high achievers from asia and day girls on tutoring when off school. but sport is good and also music. so it depends what you are looking for. for very academic girls may be not the right environment and it is really a day girls school more than boarding. would also check teachers' turnover, size of 6th form and how many girls leave after GCSEs. chemistry dept had a disaster with girls not making the grades and having to set for insurance options at univ.

Thank you. We are booked on the open day next spring. I'm not looking for a pushy academic school, as my daughter's passion is sport. She would be a day girl. I'm aware the school will show the best version of themselves so any personal experiences are welcome.

it depends on the sport. look into their brochure and see if there is the sport your DD likes. they also have sport scholarships for girls who achieve nationally. if sport is first priority this is a good choice.

other choice for sport will be boarding at Millfield. for sport they are superb and lots of scholarships.

v true

I cant agree with what you said of its academic results. My DD studied very hard which she still could not all As. Off course St Swithuns A level results cant compare with Cardiff Sixth Form, St Paul's Girl, Wycombe Abbey. But you looked back in the past ten years its ranking was in the top 20 many times. Currently, its A level results was better than Harrow, Ruby. Students at CSF were under very high pressure, St Paul's Girls is a day school, Wycombe Abbey is extremely difficult to get in. Currently, St Swithuns is neck to neck with CLC. I am happy my DD in St Swithuns.