Downside school or KingsBruton?

[Susboz]

Does anyone have any opinions on which is the better school? My 13 year old half Italian son has a place at both and I like them both. Hesitating about Downside because the current Headmaster just left. Very grateful for any thoughts/help.

Hi There,

We have 2 children at Downside - both started quite recently. The new headmaster (replacing Dr Whitehead who just left) is the current deputy head and no real change has occurred. A lovely school with strong traditions and academically strong,

I attended Downside School in the 1990's and still have deep psychological scars from my experience there. Physical and emotional abuse was institutionalised and actively encouraged. The school may have made recent changes, but only as a result of being forced into doing so.

An Independant Report into Child Sexual Abuse in 2018 found that there was "a wide spectrum of physical abuse, much of which had sadistic and sexual overtones".
The Chair of the Committee stated that "safeguarding children had been less important than the reputation of the church and the wellbeing of the abusive monks".

The Inquiry was the result of several convictions against the monks there for child sex offences. This led to a drop in applications to the school and the school going co-educational to boost numbers. Following from the Reports recommendations, in 2019 the monastery seperated from the school.

In short, if you want to spend £30,000 a year to completely screw up your child well into adulthood, then yes, "Would Recommend 🙂".
It might buy you a little bit of status though, if that's important to you.

Definitely Kings Bruton. Wouldn't touch Downside with a barge pole. A family member of mine was a GP who served the school (from the local practice) there in the 90's and 00's and early 10's and has alluded to some horrible things going on. Kings Bruton however is lovely.

Looks like the school has at least separated itself from the monks - I would still be very wary. Ampleforth is going through major issues with safeguarding at the moment.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-53951730