Boarding Suggestions for 6th Form Boy

[Dancingdreamer]

My friend will be moving abroad again and is looking for a boarding school in the UK for her DS for 6th form. They are an European family so want a school that’s not too traditionally English and has an international vibe. She wants very strong academics and definitely not a weekend party culture! Her DS is a quieter boy who likes rugby, cricket and golf. I thought about Concord College but I don’t think they offer the sports her DS wants. So I am struggling about where to suggest. Any ideas?

Reed's School in Surrey? Not sure whereabouts your friend is looking, but Reed's is academically good and very sporty, definitely offers the sports you mentioned to a high standard. Quite a few international students too.

Gosh that was a quick response! She doesn’t mind location as long as not too inaccessible from an airport. Her DS is in a top day school at the moment so she doesn’t want to compromise his academic options by boarding. What are the results like at Reeds?

Pretty good I think, not sure how they compare to other boarding sixth forms. Your friend would need to check it out if she's interested. It's definitely well-located for airports.

Whitgift or Epsom? A levels or IB?

LIZS - thanks. I thought about Whitgift. It don’t they only have one relatively recent boarding house? I also thought it was mainly for their sports scholars so they could use the school facilities more often? Epsom was suggested by someone else so I will suggest that.

• But not it!

Reeds! seriously? It's a day school, with some weekly boarders but very few proper boarders. And it is not very academic, the average A level point score last year was 38.34 and a grade B, some of the local state comps have better results. Your friends DS would be left on his own in Oxshott Woods every weekend miles from anything.

This is why education consultants are worth their money. They will find your friend a proper boarding school to suit his requirements.

St Edwards Oxford? Ambitious head so the bright do well especially those joining in the 6th form quite a lot of international children liberal loads of sport including an on site golf course generally very happy children mainly full boarding and good for airports.

Another for St Edwards Oxford (Teddies). I believe it offers all sports he's interested in. Very down to earth and known for it's pastoral care and support. Staff are very supportive and more than happy to give extra help if students require. Lots of international students. There's a coach to assist with transport to London for school holidays/leave weekends. They're allowed into Oxford on a Saturday night but have to be back quite early. If they stay onsite, there's a cafe/bar and sometimes shows/entertainment, don't know if all houses do it but DD's HM gets them together for a chat/drink as well.

When are you looking for? Most first choice schools will already have allocated y12 places for new entrants for September 2019. There may be some movement post GCSE if students fail to make grades but she may wish to ensure her DS is on the waiting list.
If parents are abroad you want full boarding which these days seems to mean the big all boys schools which are unlikely to have any free places, Oundle, King’s Canterbury, Sherborne (if you want single sex)....St Edwards Oxford ( though that is now taking weekly boarders), Marlborough, Uppingham, Rugby and I think that is about it.....
I would not look at Whitgift if I were overseas as it is predominantly day. If you want IB you might look at Sevenoaks but it is very competitive. All UK boarding schools have an international vibe as the British can no longer afford them.
Depending on where the boy wants to go to University, state boarding for sixth form might also be an option. Schools will have fewer boarders, but most will be full boarders. Many European families use them. Peter Symonds in Winchester for example sends more to Oxbridge than many of the big name public schools for a fraction of the cost. Students also then tick the state educated box.

What about looking at a school that offers IB eg Sevenoaks or Wellington College.
If he is very academic Westminster and St Oauls may be considered but as London Schools the boarding will be very different to a country boarding school.
Another idea would be Atlantic College but admissions may be closed but it is truly international.
If they don’t want standard British Public school another option maybe St Chris in Letchworth. However the cohort is more mixed ability. Not London area but I believe Shrewsbury is full boarding

That should read St Pauls

Wellington students go to organised parties in London at weekends, about to get a new head.

Monmouth School for Boys. Strong sports, mix of boarding and day. Lovely setting. Transport to airports.

Gordonstoun -very international, full boarding, accessible via Inverness or Aberdeen airports. Sporty, lovely countryside setting, co-ed and happy!

The op says she wants "very strong academics",so people say schools like Gordonstoun..Reeds,Epsom etc,pay a education consultant,unlike random people on the internet they might know what very strong academics mean..

Thanks for all the replies. They have been given plenty of notice of the move so won’t be applying until Sept for entry 2020. The reason I posted is because she said she was looking at Queen Ethelburgas and wanted to give her some alternative options. My friend has moved internationally before and isn’t keen in an Ed Consultant as her previous experience is that they wanted her to use schools that they had some sort of deal with - generally schools that were desperate for students. Maybe she had the wrong consultants I don’t know.

I appreciate all the suggestions.

I hadn’t though about St Edwards and will suggest that

My DC was at Marlborough and there was definitely too much of a party culture there for my friend! I was also concerned about Wellington for the weekly exodus and London parties. I don’t know much about Kings or Sevenoaks. I am not sure Gordonstoun, Monmouth, Uppingham or Sherborne are as academic as she wants. Oundle - I heard that it’s difficult to get a place at 6th form as those place available go to DCs from SE Asian feeders. Please correct me if I am wrong. Atlantic doesn’t seem to have the sports he wants.

I did suggest Rugby and Peter Symmonds. I think her DS will try for Westminster but recognises that it may be aspirational and probably not achievable. Does St Paul’s take boarders?

There is quite a lot of competition for 6th form places amongst those which are less selective at yr 7/9, these school will often take very bright pupils from outside the UK whose English might not have been good enough at yr 7/9 but are are likely to get top results and go to top universities because it boosts their results/university destinations and looks good on their websites. Ultimately there is nothing wrong with this but the schools can afford to be choosy so unlike a yr 7/9 a place is definitely not a done deal.
SPS does have boarders only a very small number 30ish last time I looked and mainly 6th formers but it could suit as its not a traditional boarding school but I suspect competition for places is very fierce so your friend would be wise to have at least 1 back up.

For a sixth former boarder I think Abingdon is worth considering. International pupils are full boarders and seem to be very happy despite it being mainly a day / weekly boarding school. It certainly fits the academic and sports remit. Also Radley should n’t be dismissed. It has a traditional reputation but in view of sports, academics and available facilities I would suggest visiting even if just to compare to other candidate schools. It is opening up to more international pupils including in the sixth form.

I think most top to mid table boarding schools can educate bright children! I would choose somewhere in a decent sized town or city for a boarder with guardians. Oxford is a great choice. Never go to the middle of nowhere. Former Day pupils won’t really enjoy being so remote. However you have to realise that many schools within striking distance of London have children in them that party in London at the weekends! It’s inevitable but not every child goes, obviously. I know DC at Rigby who had a fairly quiet existence!

Some big names are competitive at 6th form so choose a bit of a spread from fashionable to a bit less fashionable. Many schools allow 6th formers more freedom to go out at weekends so if he has to stay at school, look for an international intake and a decent sized town or he will go stir crazy!

A friend's very bright daughter moved to d'Overbroeck's sixth form and they are very happy with it.

Tell her to have a good look at Sevenoaks. Inter alia it is popular with London based Europeans.

Perhaps Westminster. Though boarders are only a third of the year group, their day friends are able to come in and join them for weekend meals, and they all have London with its theatre, art galleries and range of public lectures on your doorstep.

I am going to disagree with Bubbles. Depending on subject there can be a huge difference between a very selective school and one that takes a wide range. An A* maths student may really struggle in a class where others are unlikely to get more than a B. Maths A level can be insufficiently challenging for a talented student anyway, but worse if it is taught at the pace of the least able student. The same will apply in other subjects. History is more fun if the whole class engages at the same level. I doubt many would say the same about Universities all being to get the most from bright students so I don't understand why the opposite would apply to sixth forms

Brighton College?

Millfield?

As mentioned up the post I would consider King's School Canterbury. It ticks all your boxes.