Boarding school advise please!

[Expatmum12]

Hi - I’m trying to find a great boarding school for my DD to join in the sixth form. We want a mixed, down to earth place with friendly students and supportive staff. DD is academic - not overly sporty or arty, but gives everything a go! Was thinking of St Edwards (Teddies) primarily and then possibly Canford and Sherborne (although not mixed). We live overseas so any advise would be very gratefully received!

Canford has fantastic academics, its campus is beautiful, the head is great, there's tonnes of options in sports and co-curriculars. It's the coinsurer's choice, a great school that's a bit under the radar.

Bradfield is great too. It's like a village, and has a fantastic first year programme and coed boarding house. Quite sporty, academics are on the up and offer a lot of choice.

Thank you, Jossina - very helpful. You confirmed my impressions:)

Be aware that year 9ers are altogether in one house (Faulkners)for the first yr, whereupon they are then allocated to different houses for the subsequent years. The disadvantage of this is dc make friends they are then separated from once they’ve Moved to another house. DS in particular preferred a proper house atmosphere where there are older boys in the house who could tone things down a bit if need be and were more experienced as this made him feel more comfortable and made settling in easier.

Some might like Faulkner’s for the reason that all boys of the same year are together for the first yr. It all depends on preference early but wasa dealbreaker for DS.

Just noticed OP’s asking about sixth form, so previous post doesn’t apply.

Shimy it might help as sixth formers seem to be more involved than in other schools with year 9s.

We went through the same decisions re our DD for 6th Form boarding last year - academic, all rounder not massively sporty or arty but a joiner-in. In the end we chose Kings Canterbury ( she had to sit exam) over several others we visited as it struck a chord with us. Despite it ancient surrounding and posh clobber, it is quite down to earth; good mix of London, Kent, Sussex and beyond..... not full of celebs’ kinds, mainly professional parents etc, good pastoral care, god mix of young enthusiastic teachers and thise who have been there a long time, doesnt empty out at weekends ( unlike for instance Charterhouse), location in town gives the 6th formers access to outside world .... very nice atmosphere and academically first-rate. What I would say though is that it is a very busy school so if your DD likes getting stuck in this is a great school to join

Have you looked at Wellington? My DS is thriving there - he's happy, settled abd doing well academically.