Wycombe Abbey or Brighton College?

[KTYmom]

My DD sit 11+ examinations at WC and BC and got offers from both of them.
I visited two schools two times each, some aspects they are in common, such as strong academy, pushy environment, good sports , etc. But also many differences such as girl school and Co-ed.
Now I'm in a hard time to make decision. But it seems that my DD prefer BC. Her reason is pretty simple: the school dinner is more delicious
I would be very grateful if anyone with some knowledge and first hand experience of both these school shares their opinions. Many thanks!!

What level of boarding would you be doing?
Surely you must have a preference between single sex and co-ed?
How far away are you for exeats etc?

@TeenPlusTwenties
Actually I will choose day boarder.
Not really so care about single sex tbh. any suggestions apart from single sex and co-ed?

I don't know BC, and my knowledge of WAS is 35 years out of date.

Presumably you aren't currently within day commuting time of both places as that would be impossible, so planning to move?

I'd look at how well integrated day boarders are, and what proportion there are in each school. I could imagine easily feeling left out if there aren't many or the integration isn't good. So eg in WA are the day boarders attached to the usual houses? Do they do prep in the house-studies with the others if they have free periods during the day?

Also, I though WA is one of the very top girls schools academically. Is BC in the same league?

@TeenPlusTwenties

yes, I'm planning to move.
The proportion of day to boarding in WA is about 3:7. girls of day school are attached to a house and attend activities in the house.
I checked 2019 league table results for independent schools, BC ranks 11 and WA ranks 12. the place of these two schools in these years is pretty close.

From what I know about these schools and honestly it's based on a lot of hearsay, is that WA carries a lot of kudos with it, almost the equivalent of a Eton for girls. BC has lots of stories of children being asked to leave when not performing well enough and there's lots of threads on here about their pastoral care. HOWEVER as you may know, happy parents rarely go posting on threads and I'm sure there's plenty of them. Its just always been my impression that WA is looked at as the elite of girls education and it's impressive when someone gets in.

I looked at WA in great detail last year and there are only between 4 and 6 day boarders in each year group if that, not the 3:7 ratio you mention. Once split between the boarding houses then your daughter could well be the only one in her house.

Whilst day girls really are fully integrated into the school, it begs the question why choose a full boarding school if you don’t want to fully utilise everything it offers? Your daughter may well be at school until 9pm most evenings, school on Saturday mornings, matches Saturday afternoons and chapel on Sunday evening. Do not underestimate how disruptive that could be to family life if you have to drive her there and pick her up. It’s the reason we decided against WA. Love it in every other aspect and was recommended by prep head for my DD but the school just seemed to invade into family time too much.

@Malmontar
yes, a lot of hearsay about WA on mumsnet but seems no parents whose children are in WA comment

Our children pick school from instincts while parents think a lot that make things complicated

It is not hearsay. It is my experience of dealing heavily with the school last year prior to deciding whether or not to register her.

You would be unwise to consider a school without considering all the logistics. If my daughter had her way she would be going to a performing arts school 😂😂😂

You should also be aware that WA has a strict policy on social media / commenting on forums like this.

@Zodlebud,
Thank you for your kind reminder. Hopefully I didn't say anything against strict policy.
As many moms here I treat school pick seriously and try to know information as much as possible.

We know a few girls locally who are or have attended WA, and although they all live very close, were all boarders. Our next door neighbour’s daughter is currently a boarder too..and it is correct, it IS predominantly a boarding school. We deliberated avoided on that basis. The few who are day pupils, are encouraged to participate in full school life as much as possible...and that includes evening activities and Saturday mornings..would have been a riot here on that one! Good luck with your choice.

@24Mumto2two Thank you very much for this. I'm also going to move close to school but it seems that choose a day boarding is not a wise decision in WA.
I choose day boarding at this stage just because I think personally 13 years is more appropriate for full boarding than 11 years.

does any parents coincidentally have some experiences about Brighton college?

My friend's daughter was day boarder at WA. She is in her early 20s now so might not be relevant but she did comment on how understandably there is a bond amongst the boaders.
My daughter's friend goes there and gets picked up on Sat afternoons and returned Sunday night. Although my daughter is 13 and only sees the girl at a club every 2nd sat afternoon so doesn't know how she feels about it.

If you are set on WA, and you’re moving close, why don’t you consider Godstowe for 11-13? We visited the school when considering this, and they have a growing number of girls joining for this phase, or deferring places awarded at 11+.

I have no knowledge of WA, but my dd has been at BC since she was little, and is now in the sixth form. Very happy, excellent GCSE results, pushed academically, but not so hard as to make her stressed. There are three schools, pre-prep, prep and senior. A tiny handful of children do not move up between the schools for academic reasons, mostly by failing their common entrance, but those who have left during term time have either been expelled or have moved away. Fabulous sport, music, dance and drama. the boarders mix with the day pupils as far as I'm aware. A really good school all round.

My DD went to Godstowe and many of her friends went to WA after Godstowe. One or two would leave to go as day girls at 11. Usually with a scholarship. Most went at 13. It is largely boarding but definitely has local day girls. Overall it’s a notch above BC. It depends if your DD would thrive in an all girl atmosphere. What are her interests and where are they best met? What does she think?

@Brightonhome
So helpful of your input!

@BubblesBuddy

thank you for sharing. my DD just thinks sometimes girls can be complicated to deal with.

Well so can boys and often they don’t have much to do with girls until they are older!