If I liked Hurtwood....

[carnivalisover]

....where else might I consider for 6th form for bright but unconventional teenage girl?

Geographically will move (rent) if necessary to get a good fit.

Arts Ed?

Bedales (day & boarding)
King Alfred School (day school)

I forgot Tring Park

state 6th form colleges, if the issue is that school rules aren't your dd's strong point (though I realise that may not be what you're saying!)? Not my area, but people speak very well of Peter Symonds (Hampshire) and Hills Rd (Cambridge). Obviously there are rules at 6th form colleges but the atmosphere may be a bit more that the students are practically adults than is sometimes the case at school. Those more familiar than me will be able to comment!

Also if your dd is v bright, I think the ultra selective private 6th forms might fit - I don't think the students there are particularly conventional?

state 6th form colleges, if the issue is that school rules aren't your dd's strong point (though I realise that may not be what you're saying!)? Not my area, but people speak very well of Peter Symonds (Hampshire) and Hills Rd (Cambridge). Obviously there are rules at 6th form colleges but the atmosphere may be a bit more that the students are practically adults than is sometimes the case at school. Those more familiar than me will be able to comment!

Also if your dd is v bright, I think the ultra selective private 6th forms might fit - I don't think the students there are particularly conventional?

I forgot Tring Park

I forgot Tring Park

I loved Hurtwood, it totally blew me away but DD wasn't interested and stayed at school for 6th form, I still stroke the brochure sometimes. Even the boys thought she was nuts after they watched the website videos. Another option for your DD would be one of the South Ken private 6th form colleges, Ashbourne is currently the favourite but MPW and Collingwood etc. are all popular as well. The problem with looking at other less conventional schools is that the results will not be as impressive.

What did you like/dislike?

I loved Hurtwood, it totally blew me away but DD wasn't interested and stayed at school for 6th form, I still stroke the brochure sometimes. Even the boys thought she was nuts after they watched the website videos. Another option for your DD would be one of the South Ken private 6th form colleges, Ashbourne is currently the favourite but MPW and Collingwood etc. are all popular as well. The problem with looking at other less conventional schools is that the results will not be as impressive.

Hurtwood is a fantastic school. Sorry not what you are asking but if you like it I'd investigate further.

Thanks for all these really helpful replies.

Hurtwood will be tbe best fit imo but she thinks she wants a school in a city. She is the youngest in her year - she’s Y10 - and I don’t think she can imagine that although Hurtwood is a country mansion, she’ll be almost driving. And also, I guess many students go off for weekends.

Re other mentions, Tring Park/Arts Ed will be too arty. She’s unconventional in that she is clever but not studious or academic, very smart thinker, curious, bolshy.

And yes to the pp who mentioned rules - she’s fine if they have reason & logic but she’s scathing of pettiness....which some schools can be. And she’s beginning to question misinformation/purpose/etc etc.

I have the Peter Symonds brochure. And previously I looked at Hills Road with her brother.

So...I’ll look at the others mentioned, thanks for the heads up...and will keep the faith that she gets a place at HH.

ps I am not bothered about less impressive results - I’d rather a good fit at a healthy, realistic, forward thinking school.

If she wants to be in or near a city then HH is definitely not for her. I'm not sure how many students drive from there - most of them seem to have their own cars/drivers (ie. staff) for weekend trips.

rita... Really? Is it very privileged? I had thought she’d just get the train to London, like her brother did when he boarded about an hour north of London. I didn’t expect her to have her own car, I was trying to illustrate that mobility & freedom at 17/18 is so different to what she knows now, that being a little remote but surrounded by kindred spirits is better than being lonely right in the city.

Boarders can't have cars, but the day students are allowed to drive in.

Lots of the students get taxis to Dorking or Guildford station or Hurtwood runs a mini bus to Guildford on a Friday afternoon.

Some of the students are very privileged, it tends to be the overseas students though.

Thanks. That’s what I hoped, re trains.

Hurtwood is very privileged.

To be honest I’d have thought it was really only a school for those very into the arts. My dd goes to such a school but on a government grant. Arts Ed & Hurtwood were out of the question for us financially.

Former Hurtwood parent here

Assuming she will be boarding, yes most empty out at weekends, taxis from school or bus to Guildford for trains. Most day students end up driving themselves (a hairy drive up single track roads!). Honestly they are so busy (it’s a long school day) that not being in a city makes no difference in a practical sense day to day especially if she gets to go home at the weekend.

And don’t be fooled by others who say it’s a soft academic option. It really isn’t, expectations are high (but personal to the student, they know not everyone will get A grades in everything) and they do restrict access to extra curricular activities (many and varied) if grades go on the slide. If your daughter is into any aspect of the Arts you really can’t get a better option

Just to add and agree with Van Cleef, Hurtwood is not a soft option academically it is also not just for the performing arts.

Thanks all. I don’t know how to explain except she’s not arty but has an artistic temperament 😁 Anyway, we have an appointment with the Head in April, so lets see.

Zombie thread but I am OP. Just wanted to update and say that she’s going to Hurtwood, place confirmed. So delighted even though we’ll have to remortgage the house ☺️

@whatisthislifesofullofcare 😳 you're remortgaging your house!?

yep. Covid has changed my outlook, live for the day, do what makes you happy.