Full boarding schools

[Pampatpear]

I just wonder if you know any other full boarding schools where the majority of pupils are at school during weekends besides Downside school? (80% full boarders) Thanks.

OP dancingdreamer means Marlborough College in Marlborough Wilts. Proper full boarding schools i.e. my definition of full boarding with a handful or no day pupils are very much in the minority. You need to quiz schools very carefully about it as they will say they are full boarding but like Millfield let pupil go home on Saturday night but still describe themselves as full boarding. I think it’s because going home is optional. It just creates a totally different atmosphere. There is nothing wrong with this if that is what you want it’s just different.

Full boarding to me is when schools only have exeat weekends either side of half term.

I agree with jeanne yearsagowe looked at one well known boarding school and were told by the housemaster in the general talk to prospective parents that lots were full boarders” when we actually said
“Ok out of the 60 odd pupils in this house how many were in school all of last weekend?”
After some hesitation the housemaster said
“4”
That’s not my idea of “lots”.
Amongst my friends with children at boarding schools after moaning about the fees the commonest complaint I hear is either “I thought it was full boarding but it’s not” or “I wanted full boarding but it’s actally weekly boarding”. They then go onto to complain that they are spending their weekends driving often considerable distances to pick the DC up and bring them home for 1 night. Whatvusually surprises me that it was pretty obvious that these were not full boarding school but the parent read websites ISI reports but didn’t actually closely question the school. You are paying a considerable sum in fees if this is one of you “must haves” ask a specific question to find out exactly what’s going on. Never forget bar a few very big names, usually very famous boys schools and a few super selective girls schools most despite claims on their websites are actually struggling to fill all their vacancies and want and need your money so are likely to -lie- be economical with the truth when it comes to this sort of thing. This particularly applies to less well known school with lots of UK day pupils and some international boarders. Attracting pupils from abroad and charging considerable boarding fees has actually saved them from going bust. But they will not have the same atmosphere/ethos as one of the few that are left big well known traditional full boarding only school.
I’m not saying your DC won’t be happy at these schools or do well academically but you may not be getting what you think you’ll be getting.

Even at eton two of the 10 boys in my son's block go home for the day most Sundays

Yes I've heard that happens at Eton, similar story at Winchester the boys can go home after chapel which doesn't end till nearly lunch time one Sunday and have to be back by 9pm.

But I do think that its different from being allowed home on Sat PM and not back till Sun PM.
Ive done a little work in a school where the pupils could go home Sat PM and return Sun PM great for the staff but the place was like a ghost town on Sunday. And of course it becomes a vicious circle if lots go home then others want to go then they go and then more go etc, and then those who want full boarding even if its offered get wind of it and don't choose it.
Theres nothing wrong with weekly boarding in principle its an excellent arrangement if you live close by but very difficult for those who dont and who have children who then want to come home. Friends also found at one well known boarding school that weekly boarding attracts local children then the school agrees that pupils can come back on Monday morning instead of Sun PM, next they found the school agreeing that pupils could go home Friday PM come back for lessons/games on Saturday and then not return till Monday. I think once you start to move away from the full boarding model often because thats what many UK parents want then its often a slippery slope to more flexible boarding.

Oundle School is co-ed and has full boarding for all boarders - no weekly boarding or odd nights out allowed.

There is one House which has day pupils but if you are a boarder then it is strict full boarding for everyone. The day pupils coming and going doesn’t impact on the boarders as they are in a completely different house.
A lovely school with great ethos, education and the pastoral care has been beyond excellent! Highly recommend!

Completely agree with you HG.
Our Prep school was 90% full boarding when we started, by the time we left the day parents were ruling the roost and dictating the way the school was run, there are now only a handful, 10% of full (ish) boarders.
We chose our senior school very carefully as a result of this experience. Living a long way (9hrs) from school it had to have a full boarding ethos, other schools we looked at were great but it is not fair on our DCs if they are left in school at w/e when others go home. Thankfully this doesn’t happen. We can take them out for lunch after Chapel on Sunday but they must be back in House by 6pm and def not allowed out on a Sat night as they all have in-house prep.
One rule for all and it works brilliantly!

Thanks do much everyone. I think I’ve got lots of information to work on. Appreciate all the comments.

Heathfield, Ascot

Shrewsbury?

Uppingham is also co-ed and full boarding.

Have you looked at Sherborne International?

Lots of children in your DD's position (from reading your other thread). Set up to take children on short courses and work on their English.

Sherborne is very 'Harry Potter' and traditionally English so your DD might like it.

Don't let the deadline being past put you off, it is always worth a conversation, people do pull out.

Other ideas, Wellington College, Lord Wandsworth College (though think there might be more weekly rather than full full but more boarders than day) Charterhouse (not sure if they are just boys).

No Marlborough College in Wiltshire. PM if you want more info.

Charterhouse definitely weekly boarding as is Wellington (I think), can’t comment on Lord Wandsworth never heard of it amongst friends whose DC’s, only on here.

Can i just correct the information about Millfield as it wasn't totally correct. The boarders are allowed out for 3 exeats per term. .These exeats start after sport on a Saturday and end on a Sunday night. They can't go home every weekend after sport on a Saturday. The one compulsory exit in the autumn though does start on a Friday night and it is the only time the whole school is shut. So I agree with HG that it is not the same as full boarding at Winchester College for example but it isn't weekly boarding.

Downe House is full boarding, and I believe so is St Mary’s Ascot. Wycombe Abbey is also an option for your dd
Heathfield have just gone to weekly, as demanded by the parents - I think most schools will eventually end up weekly boarding and co-ed, due to lack of demand.

Also a PP mentioned Charterhouse, that could be a good option for your daughter. They’re taking girls from Sept 2018 so they could potentially have space for her. She would have to be 13 and not 11 though....

Benenden is another great school, which hasn’t been mentioned here

Also Repton

King's Canterbury is full boarding. It also has a relatively new girls' house so you might be lucky with a place for September

Oh. Thanks @Aethelthryth I like the school but just feel it's a bit too big for DD.

I wouldn't worry about size. At boarding school (unlike Hogwarts) pupils live in a boarding house with around 60 other pupils of all ages usually about 10 - 14 per year group, some eat all their meals together in their boarding house but more commonly they go to a central dinning hall. The live as a close knit community with a house mistress (HM) who is in overall charge she lives in the house often with her family and usually works tirelessly with the pupils in her house and then other staff; assistant HM a resident tutor, a matron who is often resident, and other teaching staff are usually allocated to a boarding house. Pupils obviously go to the school for lessons, activities etc but always returning back to that boarding house community. Bigger means more friends to choose from, a wider range of activities, often better facilities more full boarders and more fun.
I personally would always choose bigger over smaller very time.

I'm not sure any of these schools are going to take a pupil for just one year though.

I'm pretty sure none of the boarding schools DH has worked at have offered this (knowingly).