Boarding for sixth form?

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My DD has expressed an interest to go to boarding school for sixth form, Im totally new to boarding in general so advice would be appreciated! DD went to a state primary, then private secondary for 2 years, we then moved and we have started home educating her for GCSE years. She loved the structure of school and being around people, so i think she might enjoy boarding, but it's also a big change from what she's doing right now, might be a helpful stepping stone to university though?

DD has researched schools, and liked Pangbourne College, Ackworth, Gordonstoun, Lathallan, Downside, and Kings Canterbury.

DD isn't extremely sporty as her school didn't offer anything other than basic PE once a week, but is up to try anything. Likes drama and music more than sport definitely! DD is predicated As so far at GCSE (she does an online HE program), but I'm not sure how accurate that is because it's not based on exam-situation tests?

Does anyone have experience with any of these school? Or can recommend others? Or any experience with boarding for sixth form in general, is it hard to break into friendship groups? also does anyone know whether schools would be opposed to accepting a homeschooled child?? or maybe it's too much of a change for DD (I know that's a very personal call though!) and I might be better going for a day school.

Thank you so much!! This is all very new to me, and any advice is really helpful! :)

I went to Oundle and a surprising amount of people came to the sixth form who had not previously been to the school. It was a totally different atmosphere with all the fresh faces so I dont think all schools are cliquey at sixth form. There was also quite a lot of freedom to come and go into the city.

My close friend went to the Mount in York and had good experiences altho that is an all girls school. Also had a friend at Bootham in York who said it was quite a liberal place. They apparently had a lot of freedom to come and go into the city (was located bang in city centre) and good facilities. She had her own room and just had to share a small study space with another girl between their rooms.

I think in your situation boarding sounds ideal. Your dd wants to do it and as you live somewhere quite remote it opens up a lot of opportunities for her.

Agree all children are different and thrive in different suroundings. Also children do best and are happiest when they have a real sense of belonging which can be created in different ways.

My DD's friend from their girls school boarded at Gordonston for sixth form. She wasn't overly academic but above average. No previous experience of boarding other than being friends with some of the girls who boarded. She was very happy at this school.

My info is a few years out of date. DD's friend left 6 years ago. You need to look at a few schools. Be practical & don't pick anything too far away. Rely on gut instinct but ultimately your DD needs to pick the best school for her type of personality. Also a bigger full time boarding community will mean there'll be more students staying at school during weekends. This is better for you if your daughter wants to full board. However if weekly boarding is her thing, I shouldn't worry if there are no official weekly boarding places. My DS weekly boarded most weeks while staying for the odd weekend when he liked the look of the activity. His school at the time only offered day or full boarding places, but easily accommodated our needs.

Good luck with your search.

I thought Lathallen had hardly any boarders so would question what the boarding ethos is like. I think you need to get more of a grip on this and your DD is a bit young to be making the running here. Getting to Pangbourne would take forever.

Most schools lighten up for 6th form and are less regimented. The children are now young adults and are trusted within the school community. They should get more exeats and you need to factor that in. Don’t just look at web sites. Go and visit.

Lathallan doesn't have many boarders, it's just the second nearest us after gordonstoun! DH and I are going to look at schools DD likes and ones we like this week and pick some to visit.

I didnt think that sixth form would get more exeats, thanks for the tip! We'll definitely visit gordonstoun and Lathallan, just because they're the closest. Pangbourne is probably out due to distance, and I'll try to find maybe some in Cumbria or in Scotland. Lomond sounds good, but again not many boarders. Strathallan also good, and more boarders which is promising! I think most city schools in Edinburgh don't have many boarders which isn't good, and Loretto is out in DDs mind because she doesn't like the people she knows there.

The school where my DD2 moved to for 6th form did give more exeats for 6th form and it was full boarding. It’s just something you may need to factor in regarding transport. Sometimes mine went off home with another girl but you cannot guarantee this of course.

The web site I gave you earlier gave boarding numbers.

Since you are considering RC plus English schools you might like to have a look at Ampleforth, very much full boarding.

What about Kilgraston? It might suit as a first time boarder.
Lathallan might have quite a lot of weekly\flexi boarders.
Tend to think that Gordonstoun very outdoorsy rather than sporty.
What about Fettes?
Also, Strathallan is as sporty as you want it to be. If you'd rather sing, paint or just focus on academic work - that's fine too. Different at start of senior schools when everyone is trying to find their 'tribe' but by 6th form they've generally relaxed into who they are.
I'd check how big an intake the schools have at 6th form and also how many are overseas students. How many are flexi\weekly boarders? What the typical weekend activities are and how evenings are structured.
Second all the comments about cliques. Not unknown for the odd new 6th Form intake to not last long and return to old schools or be miserable!
Try and get a few taster sessions at shortlisted ones. At least three or four overnight stays but spread out. That way she'll not be so much of a novelty and neither will the school! I
Good luck!

The Mount School York is excellent for drama and pastoral care. Also it's an all girls school.

With the greatest respect, I would NOT consider a boarding school down south in your position. As a Scottish based parent of a DS who attended boarding school in London and live within easy proximity of Edinburgh airport it was still a trek every Exeat and holiday for our DS. Factor in travel time from school to the airport/train station then the journey up north then the pick up from airport/train station then the travel home, the Exeat just seems a chore in the end. At the beginning and end of term (unless the school will consider your Dd as a foreign pupil and therefore allow her to store her belongings at school) you will need to make the onerous journey by car to and from the school. If you want to attend an event, factor in 2 days! If it is an evening event you need to leave around mid day to get there, the events finish too late to catch the sleeper back and you won't get a flight after 10 at night so you need to book into a hotel. Realistically you would need to fly from either Inverness or Aberdeen from where you are based so the flights will be infrequent and very expensive, I suspect. Your interest in Pangbourne, imho, and any in the Midlands (where you would really need to go by train) seem misplaced on logistics alone and I mean that most kindly.
On Scottish Boarding schools here are my thoughts; Gordonstoun, goes it own way and attracts, I think a certain type (Still does have a bit of a reputation for being outdoorsy) lots of boarders. Strathallan, yes it is quite sporty, not hugely academic not a lot of full time boarders, lots of flexi boarding. St.Leonards, too out of the way for easy travel. They do the IB so depends what you think of that. Kilgraston, very small numbers in a year so not best for breaking into friendship groups perhaps. Glenalmond, only proper high school (all others are all-through schools) high proportion of boarders, fairly rural (my favourite Scottish boarding school though and DD attends here). Loretto, nice school, again quite small numbers in each year, friends son went here and they spoke very highly of it. Loretto is also quite sporty. Fettes, lots of day pupils but good school. Lots of my daughters friend have gone there. Dollar, follows the Scottish curriculum. Hardly any boarders so wouldn't recommend in your DDs situation. All the other day schools in Edinburgh have a tiny amount of boarders so not worth considering. I know next to nothing about the Glasgow schools so can't help there.

I hadn't considered all girls, but maybe less distractions for DD so could be a good thing!

Yes I'll check about that at Lathallan, now you say it it feels like it would have majority flexi/weekly! DD could possibly weekly board there, but would be more practical for her to full board. Really depends on how it feels when we get there.

I'll look at strathallan again, it probably would have a larger sixth form intake because of it being the English system.

Thanks for the tip on multiple visits, I didn't think of that! Would schools be willing to facilitate that do you think?

I'm concerned that DD will just hate it and have to come back, so multiple visits would give her (and us) a better idea of whether it's something she could actually do.

DHs mum worked at the mount! It sounds really good, again didn't consider because of the all girls but now seems like a great plan so I'll look again!

Also ruled out fettes because DD doesn't do a MFL and they require that!

Also I know it's trivial but DD is anxious about what to wear to taster days, they say current uniform but she's obviously H.ed so doesn't have one, would she just wear her old uniform? Or smart clothes?

Thank you for the advice motherstongue, it's really appreciated! I've basically discounted pangbourne now because of the distance.

DD dislikes Loretto because of boys she knows there, haven't looked at Glenalmond though so will do! Heard it was impersonal, but as shown by this thread rumours aren't always true! DD seems to like the less academic schools, but I think that's just for fear of failing.

Have a look at Rochester Independednt College. It's TOTALLY different from the other schools that you've been looking at, but might suit. Boarders from 6th form only and far more relaxed than your typical private school. It might work well as she hasn't been in a school environment for a while - less of a culture shock. Nice new drama building and the art department are fab.

Ahh, just realised you're in Scotland... RIC might be a bit far then!! They are likely to be flexible about belongings during the holidays though, and there's never any Saturday lessons.

Regarding academics, working with enough children who are as bright as you brings out the best. Not being the best is a lesson in life. Most people are not the best are they? She may need to beat fear of failing.

Regarding uniform. I don’t think she can wear her old uniform if it’s distinctive and she’s no longer at the school. I might dress plainly: like a uniform. Not having one could mean she stands out as being different. Would she mind that? Try for a plain skirt and shirt with tights and school type shoes. Loafers maybe? That’s plain enough to fit in. If she can carry off jazzy clothes and jeans, go for it but they may assume you cannot read instructions! (Only joking!).

Sadly RIC is too far away, thank you anyway though, it sounds really good!

Yes, she does need to get over the fear of failing. Not the end of the world if she doesn't get into a school, and no point in not trying!

Thank you for the advice on the uniform! Maybe a cross between her old uniform and plain uniform like clothes, so no kilt but plain skirt, plain shirt but school jumper (plain green)? and school shoes? Obviously no blazer! DD wouldn't like standing out, especially on a first visit!

I've never heard Glenalmond considered impersonal. My DD, who never wanted to board, was desperate to go to Glenalmond after a taster, and we had always thought it a warm and welcoming school. It was our back up choice for our DS but he chose to go down south so we have had a relationship of sorts with the school for years.

I'm sure they will do long term tasters for your daughter of a few days or a week as my DD's friend had an Expat from China to mentor for a week just recently who was there for a taster.

With regards what to wear, I'm sure a dark skirt or trousers with a blouse would do. She will probably need some sports gear too if she is doing a taster as they get sport every day. Music, art and drama are all good at Glenalmond.

I know that Strathallan have a decent sized sixth form intake and have friends who are very happy with it for their DCs. I'd seriously consider it for you; definitely more to it than sports - I know they do a lot of music and drama. They do a big concert in Perth Concert Hall at least once or twice per year.

Dollar definitely is more of a day school these days - they do have some boarding but not on the scale of a Strathallan or Gordonstoun.

Definitely looking again at Glenalmond, thank you! I don't know anyone who has DC there, it's only rumours, definitely showing me up for listening to playground gossip

Ahh DDs games uniform has old schools logo on it! Need to get new stuff then, what kind of games uniform would they use day-to-day?

I grew up around Dollar and had many friends from there who enjoyed it a lot. However I admit that I have only ended up reading this thread because I always wished I had gone to boarding school myself as a child. I’m curious to know why you are home educating the English curriculum when you live in Scotland though? I went to Cambridge having gone through the Scottish curriculum, it’s perfectly good.

Ooh thanks for the info on Strathallans music, DD loves her violin so that sounds great! Also used to be big into musical theatre, so Strathallan sounds really promising! Going on my shortlist

Jessiemcjessie I have nothing against the Scottish curriculum, my DS went through it and it was fab! DD was also in it for primary and first 2 years of secondary, we are doing iGCSEs because we use an online curriculum and (as far as I know) there are no Scottish curriculums available!

I see. That’s a shame she’s had to switch.
Hope she finds a school that makes her happy, any musical theatre lover is a girl after my own heart.

Thank you!! DD prefers the schools with the Scottish curriculum, highers and adv. highers are a lot more familiar to her than A levels!

She used to be very involved in anything musical theatre related she could, because we live up north now she can't do it as much, but I'll be on a look out for a a school that has good drama departments, she'd love to do it again! I feel like boarding will give DD so many more opportunities than we can give her here!

I went just for 6th form and hated it. There was sooooo much less freedom than at home, bells for everything and signing in all the time. It felt stifling. Also, although co-ed, the houses were single sex which meant the reality was spending lots of time groups of girls which didn’t suit me. There was also a lot of smoking, drug taking etc which didn’t happen in the top sets in my rough comprehensive school I’d come from. No doubt that the teaching was way better, but socially it wasn’t great.