Stowe School

[KT2385]

I am thinking of sending my twins to Stowe School. Does anyone have up-to-date information or experiences with this school? TIA

My friends’ DD is there as she has been happy there. I do know that my DS has played the school at sports matches they were less than impressed with the attitude or ability of the Stowe boys.

Very good friend was going to send her 4 DC there but on visiting found that there was a large extremely wealthy international cohort (think Oligarch offspring) who had all the toys/holidays/attitude. It put her off and she chose Sherborne instead - said it feel reassuringly down to earth by comparison.
There was talk 18 months ago that Stowe were going to slash their day fees by 30% to lure back middle class families as it was aware that this wealthy elite was beginning to dominate.

I have friends that went to Stowe but that was in the days when boarding school was comparatively more affordable. They were happy and it is undeniably one of the most beautiful schools around!

Has a reputation for being full of very wealthy children who didn’t get into more academic schools.

However, with the new day fees which are in line with day schools in the area, this may well change. In fact, it looks like a very attractive offering. Although, not sure why you would chose to be a day pupil with Saturday school? Kind of defeats the object?

We are at a prep local to Stowe and the day house is a bit of a game changer. There are definitely more local students going as a result and I expect will increase academics. Rugby is the same, I understand that the day houses are some of the more academic.

Stowe's U15 rugby team has reached the Natwest semis this season, which isn't bad out of 256 schools nationwide, despite Stowe boys' unimpressive sporting ability and need to improve at rugby, as per two of tbe previous posters

I should have asked why Stowe? Are you looking at a day place?

I meant rugby school sorry! I meant rugby school has also widened day houses and the day houses are the hardest to enter as most academic.

That's interesting 're Rugby School, but I don't believe that CE entry requirements vary according to house at Stowe, Resskies? Tho I had heard that it us "harder' to obtain a day place at Wellington , so it's not inconceivable.

I think that must be right motor. I guess I was just making the point that opening day houses may increase Stowe’s academic profile. To be fair, the latest ISC report indicates it is already more academic than its reputation suggests anyway,

Local DC do have The Royal Latin Grammar School at Buckingham so lower day fees at Stowe still is above £0. For those that cannot get into RLS, and have spare £££, it’s more attractive than it was. However whether locals in large numbers can pay Stowe fees is a moot point. RLS has always taken the local bright DC and I’m not sure the numbers will flood to Stowe to alter their profile. Academically Stowe has never held a candle to RLS - going back 50 years!

The DC we have known go there are a handful from local preps, eg Winchester House and Swanbourne. Others have been brothers of DDs friends. They haven’t been hugely academic but are wealthy. Not stupidly rich though. Again these DC are not a majority.

The bigger problem is that it’s isolated. Really isolated. My DDs rejected it due to this. There is no escape to any decent town. Buckingham is meh and has no station. Stowe can feel like a prison.

If you choose to go there as a day pupil, you accept the timetable. Sport and arts are pretty big there. RLS has everything for free though and will still be the choice of most parents with brighter DC.

There is also Akeley Wood and Thornton nearby as more bargain basement private schools! I would choose Stowe over those every time but others won’t afford to.

Bubbles that’s not quite right. We have kids at one of the two prep schools you mention and it is definitely more than a handful that move onto Stowe. Even more so, now that the day option is there. I take your point re. Royal Latin but a level results and progress scores are similar (royal Latin average b plus, and Stowe b ) but royal Latin will be a much more selective cohort across the board. Is that value for money , that’s another question!!

Stowe is obviously a different product from RLS. They have been trying to up their academic status for ages. I really doubt they have the same number of high achieving DCs that RLS does. However it’s a different product . If I was boarding there (and DD2 looked for 6th form) I would go stir crazy. The DDs we met looked bored. The staff at the NT cafe are aware the DC can be quite busy though - out of sight!!

Stowe A*-B 68%
RLS A*-B 78%

53% at RLS were A*-A at Stowe it was 23%. (1/3 of 68%)

Therefore they are categorically not identical. Stowe has a longer tail of DC not achieving the highest grades. However it has other attributes and would be attractive to some and definitely more than the other private schools in the area if you want day.

I imagine this post no longer gets looked at but if it does as someone who worked at Stowe in recent years I urge you....look at other schools. The grounds will easily sell you, a good deal of the kids are fantastic but dig deeper, because sadly those fantastic kids are let down, and that isn't even mentioning those not so fantastic ones.

I advise you ask what student retention rate is like (In term 1). Ask what staff retention is like after 2 years. Ask what true Y12 predicted grades are like (not those that go on UCAS, because then you would never hear lower than a C). Ask why they offer BTEC courses. Ask how many students see the counselor and how many of their parents know when there is a real issue like self harm. And if the honest answers come out (the won't) then ask yourself how much are you willing to sacrifice for the very pretty setting. But fter all that, finally ask what happens to students identified as weak or those who they feel might be more successful or happier in other schools after GCSE, and how school finance can effect that answer.
Some kids thrive at Stowe and are amazing! So are some parents and some teachers. But I would encourage you to read between the lines of the points above before being sold on the grand setting.

Thanks @123reviewer2020
Any idea of class size? and if any good for ASD/anxiety/Dyslexia?

Having also worked at Stowe in recent years I have to agree with 123reviewer2020.

A good setting hides many negative qualities. Staff overworked and retention is very low. Some very atrocious behaviour of stoics is overlooked due to their parents bank balances. There are also some serious cases of bullying and a huge problem with vaping.

The school is very good at marketing and does not give honest answers to prospective parents. Yes, there are some wonderful students at the school but I would say they are in the minority. Some do thrive, but I would not risk sending my children to Stowe with the potential prospect of them having a truly horrendous time.

Both my DCs are at Stowe and I really do not recognise ExStaff's post although you clearly are seeing life at Stowe from a different perspective.
Neither of my DCs are 'super bright' but they def hold their own in their year groups. Stowe has done wonders for their confidence and they are both achieving very good exam results.
Academically, sportingly and pastorally we and our children could not be happier. We are an average middle class family who work hard to pay school fees, just like many of the other parents we know at Stowe so please do not believe all you read.
The exam passes at Stowe this year across GCSE and A level are the best ever. The school is definitely moving in the right direction and we would be happy to recommend or advise to anyone who wishes to pm me.

ChookChook - that really does no favours to say that Stowe got their best results ever this year when they were centre assessed grades as that merely suggests that Stowe played the system!!!

The reality is that it is a non selective private school and therefore will get a mix of grades the same way any comprehensive school would.
Therefore if you like the feel of the school and what else it has to offer your child will get the results that their level of intellect will dictate. Having said that I have heard that generally in a private setting those in the average range will perform slightly better than if they were in a similar state school. Those at the top end would perform just as well at an equivalent state.

Isn't it the school of The haves, and The have Yachts?
sorry. nothing constructive to say.

My Son was a Student at Stowe for 3 years and I'm so pleased we pulled him out in year 5 . It took him a full year to get over the traumatic experience of this institution. He arrived at the School full of confidence, achieving decent grades , popular with his peers and Teaching staff and coming from a loving home where he was appreciated. After 3 years of Stows underhanded methodology on controlling every moment of the Children's lives, it results in a very unhappy institution. The Headmaster I can only describe as having sociopathic tendencies and he recruits completely inappropriate staff such as Matrons and House Masters . Stowe breeds a bullying environment with little empathy for each other and this is from the top down.

Friends with children there have been and continue to be very happy. Not the sharpest knives in the draw but have had a wonderful and happy time there. They don’t own any yachts 😂

Teachers are great, Housemaster is wonderful, Matron is an angel. Dorms are fabulous, child is deliriously happy. No bullying that i have heard of, child’s exam results, predictions and reports are all good...what is there not to like? Next child can’t wait to join in Sept! Thank you Stowe.

PS we don’t own a yacht and child is on track for all A grades!

@123reviewer2020 @ExStaff234 Ias someone’s kid who goes to Stowe I agree so much would you recommend charterhouse as a better school?

Can’t say I’ve heard anything bad about Charterhouse. Certainly one for the list…any school in that league would be an upgrade over Stowe!