St George’s Ascot, St Swithuns, Downe House

[chadlingtonchadders]

Anyone have personal knowledge of these schools? Considering for daughter currently in year 4. Thanks

I'd like to know about it too for my 12 year old daughter.

I have only ever heard positive things about Downe House. Parents seem impressed by pastoral care, girls seem happy with large offer of activities. It's very much full boarding, even girls who live very locally board. I personally would find the village location a bit boring as a teenager, though.

I went to St George’s Ascot. Hopefully it’s changed since I was there 25 years ago!

Back then it was debutante heavy. We all had to wear Handmaidens Tale style red cloaks and the young male science teacher was working his was through the sixth form. He married one of my year group in the end.

You really have to visit each school a couple of times, preferably a private tour on a normal school day & an open morning. I thought I'd love St G's but came away unimpressed with the areas my DD would be most interested in, but could see why some children would be very happy there.
We Love DH and it ticks every box for us, the only sticking point is that it really is full boarding with fixed closed weekends, so girls only able to come home every 2 or 3 weeks depending on the term. However I have not heard a single bad comment about the school. Current parents of 3 DH girls have only great things to say about it & the 3 girls are very proud of their school & happy to be there.

Are you considering day or boarding?

I went to St Swithun's albeit many years ago. A few girls left St Swithun's and went to Downe House instead. A few of my old Swithy peers now send their daughters to Downe House also. Make of that what you will.

All great choices and we considered Downe House and Heathfield for DD's but in the end opted for boarding places at Chelt Ladies'. Superb school. Main thing is that which ever of the ones you choose for DD you know you will be getting a high quality education and I really admire you OP for wanting to get it right for her.

I would argue though that a full boarding school as offered by Downe House is a very different experience to the other two schools which have a mixture of full, weekly, flexi boarders and day girls.

We loved Downe House but after a lot of soul searching we all decided that Saturday school wasn’t for us - it just didn’t fit with family life. However, if we needed full boarding (for example if we were in the military) then it would have been brill.

Hence the boarding vs day question. You would really miss out being a day girl at a full boarding school I think, but likewise miss out if you were full boarding in a school where most girls go home at the weekend.

DH call their day students day boarders. They have their own bed at school and can/must stay overnight after late evening functions. They are expected to take part in everything, just like the boarders, so often only get home at 9pm or even later and are in school Saturdays as well as Sundays.

Hence my point Nelly. Downe House offers a very different experience to the other two schools. Whether the OP wants the amount of time at school to be full on or more flexible is important.

I had a great time at DH (same headmistress as currently and a few of the same teachers too). The term in France in year 8 is wonderful (I believe they still do it) - running through farmland during PE in a giant team game of chase, visits to medieval villages, prehistoric caves... all etched so clearly in my memory even 20 years later - must visit again sometime.

I was an anxious kid - obsessed by getting perfect grades. And the school supported me well in that and pastorally. Felt that maybe some of the boys schools (brothers and friends) do a bit more outside syllabus puzzles etc - but I did have some excellent teachers.

A lot of my friends had other interests (they did a lot of drama - everyone gets involved, even the shy geeks like me). The sport was great - back then st swithun’s were probably our biggest local lacrosse rivals.

I missed being in a mixed sex environment, but I guess single sex also has some advantages. All in all a great place.

I know a couple of families with younger girls at St Georges at the moment - it must have changed a lot because the girls are all thriving, academic, all rounder types - not a debutante among them!! Everyone seems super happy with the school.

The other options that at least two of the families considered were Sir William Perkins and LEH, if either of those are of interest/within striking distance.

Been at St Swithuns for over 12 years (multiple DDs) and it is going through lots of changes currently. It used to be non-selective with outstanding results now its selective with good results but the girls are less harmonious. All change is tough so don't know how this transition will end up but right now not thrilled with the school. DH is/was the best comparison and right now if doing it all over I would go there not by a wide margin but still the winner IMO. St G has a reputation as more 'cosmopolitan'

My daughter went to St Georges, Ascot and we took her out of the school as we felt it was not good value for money and the teaching and discipline were slack. It is a school where girls have a lot of "fun" but there didn't seem to be much work going on - fine if you are rich but not if you want a decent education. The fees were high but the school still asked for donations to fund things such as a swimming pool.

as a mum of a very unhappy teenager previously at st Swithun’s school I can not warn people enough. the school doesn't care for the individual girls and only their own success. my daughter went to that school a very happy and bright little girl but has now been lead to doubt her own abilities. most of the teachers in senior management positions especially the head of pastoral of the senior school is incredibly cold to the point of screaming at my child and I quote 'where is your humanity'. she had been struggling with suicidal thoughts, I don't believe this is an attitude that should be adopted by anyone in this situation and I hate to say it but that awful man could've cost my daughters life. I would advise caution when applying to this school as they paint a lovely facade

I have my daughter admitted and I regret. Planing to pull her out sooner, there are lot of bullies, which they don’t do anything about. This school has like mafia gangs, and the teachers are well aware of it.
there is nothing to boast about for the money, it’s expensive compared to other good private schools, all the clubs are taken which means you only have few opportunities. In terms of discipline it’s appalling, I heard children swearing most of the time.

Downe House should offer the best boarding experience among the schools you mentioned. I think it is #1 or #2 in terms of boarding ratio among the girls' schools.

Which school were you talking about?

Zombie thread surely

Oh sorry I thought I did mention. It’s St.George’s Ascot.

I would say Downe House is taking bully very seriously nowadays after the issue with Kate Middleton.