Any experience of Winchester College or Sherborne school?

[Smulen]

Don’t shoot me down here as I know there’s a LOT going on in the world right now but... DS is in year 4 and next year we have to think seriously about secondary schools. We’re currently in the state system and don’t currently know anybody with children at either of these schools. Would be very grateful for your views if you have them - the good, the bad and the ugly.

I've just scanned the thread but I just wanted to second Canford.
Good academically, great sport, seems to be very strong on pastoral care. It's been fantastic for us. Not too London-y iyswim.
Definitely worth a closer look to see if it fits your child.

I went to Sherborne in the late 90s, so not a great deal of help I’m afraid.

It’s certainly very beautiful. Wasn’t especially academic at the time, but I imagine that has changed. I’m not surprised that bullying has been a recent problem. It was when I was there, although I escaped most of it.

Had friends at Canford, and they enjoyed it.

DS son now in his second year at Sherborne. Not directly the victim of bullying, but sees a lot of it and it upsets him. Housemaster is kind enough, but overall culture of the school not what the publicity led us to expect. The Headmaster talks a good game (a lot about himself), but in recent dealings with us has lacked integrity. We are not choosing Sherborne for our next DS and our first certainly doesn't want to stay for Sixth Form.

SarahDorset - thank you for the insight. Based on your username, I assume you are based in Dorset? Are there other schools in Dorset that you have looked at and have insight into?

@SarahDorset that’s not very encouraging. Can you say anymore about what kind of bullying is going on and where?

Hi everyone,

My husband and I are starting to think about boarding schools for our son. He's only one, but my job involves a lot of relocation, so we want to plan ahead and provide him with stability. We've looked at a few schools, including Pilgrims (given his current age), Winchester, Sherborne, Truro, and Windermere.

However, we have some significant concerns, primarily:

Bullying: We're very anxious about him experiencing bullying and how schools handle these situations.
Mental Health: We want to ensure he'll have access to strong mental health support and a nurturing environment.
We're particularly interested in:

Schools with excellent pastoral care.
Robust anti-bullying policies and reporting procedures.
Comprehensive mental health resources.
Schools where children flourish.
Questions for the Forum:

Experience with Pilgrims, Winchester, Sherborne, Truro, or Windermere? If you have any firsthand experience with these schools, particularly regarding pastoral care, bullying, and mental health support, we'd love to hear about it.
Recommendations for other schools? Are there any other boarding schools you would recommend, especially those known for their strong support systems and nurturing environments?
How to assess a school's anti-bullying and mental health support? What specific questions should we ask during school visits to gauge their effectiveness in these areas?
How do schools handle children who's parents move frequently? What questions should be asked to ensure the school can support a child who's parents move frequently.
What are the key factors to consider when choosing a boarding school for a young child? Given our son's age, what should we be prioritizing in our search?
Any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

@Rebeccajtaylor I have had my children at prep schools with many international boarders. I simply would not consider sending my child to a boarding school before 11, maybe a couple of days a week from 9/10 if they want to stay over with friends, but definitely no weekly or full time boarding before then. I would change jobs (sorry, I know this is hard to hear, I had to too) to provide stability and parental support. I’ve been moved to tears by FT boarders comments and need for family interaction.

However my children currently go to Winchester College as full boarders so I can offer up my experience here. At 13 they were ready to board, although we are even now at the school at least once a week for matches/events/Sunday jaunts. Boarding is a tough transition but rewarding for boys who want to take advantage of the numerous opportunities a great full boarding school offers. We’ve been very pleased with the pastoral support and academic teaching. Minor problems are ironed out quickly, communication is strong, and they learn tolerance of one another. We appreciate the focus on learning how to discuss and debate, consider other points of view, and basic manners. Having a don at the lunch table daily results in an ability to effortlessly be a good dinner guest which is a skill in itself. The school policy towards phones is very helpful too in terms of keeping them off devices.

@Rebeccajtaylor I suggest starting a new post on the Boarding School board, you are likely to get further responses there - people may not see you’ve tacked this question onto a very old thread.