Roedean and Brighton College again

[trailfinder09]

We visited today Roedean at Open Day and were quite impressed with the school and especially with their boarding and sport facilities.We also visited Brighton College earlier this month and currently trying to decide between these two schools. Roedean seems to be lacking in the science labs and technology a lot compared to Brighton college. And Brighton College lacks sport facilities and their campus is right in the town, hence a lot smaller and busier. Also one of our tour guides told as that they had friends in BC and one of them really struggled to keep up with the homework and constant pressure to achieve certain grades and the other one moved schools. Also they said that BC has a practice of ‘culling’ each year if the child is not achieving a required level.

I would be very grateful if anyone with some knowledge and first hand experience of both these school shares their opinions. I have read every single thread on this and could not find the most up to date info. Many thanks!!

PS OP - I'm really sorry - I seem to have hijacked your thread a bit. I hope that's OK and that you're also finding the info useful...?

Was a governor at Roedean and have nothing but admiration for Head and what he's doing. Sign up now!

Have you thought about Eastbourne? Might be worth a look, I think but not 100% sure they do flexi boarding - or Ardingly might suit, although in my opinion that and Hurst work best if you have a sporty girl.
It is funny how we all have different experiences of schools. I had heard Hurst had not got great pastoral care.
I do think you will find people with differing opinions on them all depending on their own or their friends experiences. In the end we were led by what my DDs wanted on the basis that if it didn't work we could move them. I do know though that Brighton has the most thorough admissions process of them all and felt they really got to know my DD through it.

Thanks Giddy Biddy. I think Eastbourne and Ardingly are a bit too far for us, unless we commit to flexi-boarding from the start. You are right though, if we get it wrong, there is nothing to stop us moving her somewhere else - most schools seem to have an entry at Year 9.

Interesting what you say about Brighton's admissions process really getting to know the kids. How did they achieve this?

Just in the time they spent with the kids. 3 taster days, an exam day, scholarship day and interview day. And we were invited to open days before and after offers and met twice with the LS Head.

giddybiddy is right of course, it's all very subjective and based on your own and your friends' experiences. Others' mileage will vary, for sure.

I was going to suggest Eastbourne too (though only 13+ entry, unless that's changed), or Bedes, which has amazing facilities although not the most academic environment. Or for an all-rounder experience, Battle Abbey or Mayfield both get decent results. Mayfield is all girls of course and is perhaps a bit Goddy, based on what you said upthread. Battle Abbey used to have a bit of an odd atmosphere imo, but my contact isn't recent. Don't forget everywhere has minibuses for day pupils.

I actually think the tallest part of your order is wanting a bright, engaged peer group without the terrible pressure of Brighton College, so here's a left-field suggestion for you, and that's Priory in Lewes, if you are (or, ahem, could be) in the catchment. It will spark some pearl clutching, I expect, but is a really good school, except for the sports facilities, which are a weak spot for obvious reasons. Teaching and pastoral are strong, especially art/music/drama and maths/science, and there's a concentration of interesting, well educated families in Lewes who all choose it in preference to Lewes Old Grammar.

Happy to chat by PM, Baloo.

Oh, Burgess Hill is the other one that crossed my mind, but no personal experience of it.

DD is at Brighton and Hove High School and we like it. Actually just rebranded - now called Brighton Girls for some reason.

Hi my DS left BC in 2014. He joined at 13 and weekly boarded which he ended up loving. He enjoyed his time there and we as parents were always happy. Teaching was fantastic and he was well supported. He is bright but quite laid back and he never felt pressurised. In fact I used to worry as I felt he could be working harder. There is high expectations but the school were so good at teaching they helped him get excellent results without any private coaching. Which was not the same as my other DS's South London day school where they definitely culled. I can't remember anyone being asked to leave BC either. Reading some of the other posts I wonder if the school has changed. But I can honestly say we look back with fond memories of his time there and there was such a nice friendly atmosphere. I also loved the campus and my DS loved walking into Kemp Town so town location to us was a plus. Hope you find this helpful but realise it is a few years ago now.

I imagine the two schools may have very different pupil bodies. Brighton is pretty local, while Roedean, at least a few years ago, had a large portion of overseas boarders, one suspects slightly to keep up numbers.

@Streetdreams Thanks so much for your detailed post comparing the two schools. Having read all the posts it makes the choice even more difficult. She is currently at all girl's prep and think prefers that to co-ed but she is staying open-minded.
As oppose to Balootoyoutoo's DD our girl is very sporty, loves art, design, drama. She is very good in humanities, english, languages and sciences. I would doubt though that she would be able to get an A-A for GCSE Maths; may be with extra tutoring. Does it mean that if we were to go to Brighton ( provided she is accepted) she might be asked to leave school before she even takes her GCSE exams? When do they manage out those not likely to achieve A/A results in all the subjects? Does not look to me a fair system but certainly explains their results.

And at Roedean - what do you mean by 'social rivalry'? Intrigues at that esp. amongst the girls. Also do they have good science labs and facilities at Roedean - we were only shown two rooms with hardly any equipment there, that worried me a little.

Sorry for all these questions and thank you a lot!!!

My son was (allegedly of course for those lawyers reading) assaulted by a teacher at Priory in Lewes. We had an absolute nightmare with the school who did nothing but cover up. The police came knocking when it happened again to another kid but by then DS refused to cooperate. I believe the teacher involved is now teaching at a local private school. I wouldn't send a dog there.

I'm surprised nobody is mentioning Brighton and Hove Girls High as worth looking at for your DD, don't think there is a boarding option though.

Ah, just saw someone above has.

@streetdreams Thanks again for the insights, glad you have so much knowledge of both schools. Yes, headmaster did tell that they were trying to attract a lot of local girls but he did not say anything about their backgrounds. I was more concerned about the large number of mainland China and HK girls there but they are working on getting the numbers down now. In fact in year 7-8 there were not that many of overseas girls. My understanding most were joining in year 9 and in 6th form.

Interestingly, I felt that Brighton College had a much bigger background mix than Roedean with BC making a large intake of state schools kids in year 7. Anyway, my DD used to be in a very posh prep school with some background diversity but kids did not care about it at all. Parents, mainly moms, were very different though. So I am not worried about backgrounds etc. Especially, at the senior school where parents involvement is minimal.

My other concern is and what I would like to hear opnions on, is about boys taking the dominant role in everything and girls, as a result, not taking the opportunities/ not developing confidence etc. Anyone has knowledge of how that is managed at school? I had impression at the open day that they put a lot of emphasis on boys and their happiness/ performance ( Headmaster said many times in his speech ' Boys perform better in co-ed schools, boys learn this, boys don't have low esteem if they don't get in top rugby team etc) and VERY little was mentioned about what they do for girls. Will a girl who is confident but not 'loud' be happy in this environment? Any insights would be much appreciated?

It would be really great to hear from current Brighton parents if any are around!

Also, trailfinder, I met a mum briefly (at an event) whose dd was weekly boarding at Brighton who was thriving - she was very into her art and drama, no idea if she was sporty too, now you mention it, I also noticed the head talks more about boys.

Flippershex -thanks for the Roedean insight! My daughter loved the Roedean school, but she also loved pretty much every other school at Open Day . We are seriously considering between Rodean, BC and a few other schools, hence gathering as much info as we can.

Which school has a better and more caring pastoral care?

Have you thought about Roedean Moira House? Part of the Roedean group of schools based in Eastbourne. It's an all through girls school with AMAZING pastoral, girl centred approach.

Have you applied both BC and Roedean yet?
There will be an Open Day at Roedean this Saturday.