Wycombe Abbey, Downe House or Westminster?

[Learnforlife]

Hi everyone!

I do not know which to choose from? Any good advice?

Thanks!

Are you talking about 6th form and does your dd have the offers or are you looking for future years?

Gosh DH is in the middle of nowhere compared to the other two, also less academic.

For sixth form? They're very different schools. Why not post a bit more about what you are looking for?

Thanks for all the messages.

I'm just looking into future years, and most likely, she would be going earlier than in sixth form.

How academic is she? Unless she is the absolute top of the top, I would discount Wycombe Abbey because they only take the best and entrance will be difficult.
If she's mid to high, then Westminster. If she's not, then DH.

@Learnforlife

Thanks for all the messages.

I'm just looking into future years, and most likely, she would be going earlier than in sixth form.

Westminster only takes girls in the sixth form? Both Westminster and Wycombe Abbey are very very academic

@foxesandsquirrels,

I do know that Downe House is relatively poorer in an academic perspective of view. However, I cannot secure ANY places now, as we are still deciding which schools to enroll in. Of course, getting in the best schools are rewarding and simply pure amazing, but that is not her aim of life! If you're good, you'll do great in every environment! (But of course the best ones have better atmospheres. )

@TH22

Thank you, thank you! You have given me the basic idea.

It would just be a miracle for my girl to study in Wycombe Abbey!

@CatsAreAliens,

A note of gratitude for information. Yes, I do know Westminster only takes girls in sixth form. Thanks for reminding!

Bless you all!

Also, I would want to know if overall, is St. Paul's Girls' School or Wycombe Abbey better?

For me, I think Wucombe Abbey tends to get more US university destinations offers...so ya...

I don't think the best ones have better atmospheres.....you're clearly just googling the best schools. If you're looking at sixth form surely this will be mostly your daughter's choice?

Isn't St Paul's a day school?

OP You would get more help if you gave us more info, e.g. current age of your DD, whether you are looking for full boarding, flexi boarding, weekly boarding or a day pupil.

What are you looking for from a school, what extra curricular do you think is important, do you care if a high % come from one particular overseas demographic, etc.

Every school is different. You cannot simply say school A is better than school B. If you just want to compare academic aspects, you can refer their A level results.

Thank you all.

I just wanted to keep things more private at first.

We are not sure if we want her to go at sixth form or 13 plus...and due to other circumstances, we do not know if we will migrate.
However, the basic idea was boarding. I know I did name some day and non-boarding schools. That is because I am not completely firm on conditions (ie. Boarding, day school), but is just trying to get a simple idea on which schools are as decent as they seem online.

I would most appreciate a school with fun ECAs, with good wellbeing and academics. I do not wish my daughter to study day and night without any activities...that's not going to take anyone anywhere...

I just hope she could study in a high-quality university, recieve good education, and be outgoing and all-rounded. I also hope there are students coming from different countries, with diverse cultures and nationalities.

Also, I would emphasize that I would love new ideas as @foxesandsquirrels said that I was googling on the best schools. Some advice would come in handy! Finally, I say SCHOOLS, with an “s”, as I know there is no best SCHOOL.

Thank you all for your help!

My issue is that you are listing some of the most elite schools in the country. Your daughter will need to be a borderline genius to get into these and if you get her to pass the test and she is not that standard, than she will hate it.
There are thousands of students that get into the top universities from normal state schools. As long as you find a balance in making sure she is happy and well supported, without being overbearing, she will be fine and get in where she needs to go.

If you are mentioning these schools, you are presumably not interested in State schools.

Your best plan is for DD to come here much earlier and enrol at a Prep school that has a track record in preparing girls for these schools. Godstowe Prep is a boarding girls' prep to age 13 in High Wycombe and that is the obvious one for Wycombe Abbey and Downe House. Many girls have gone to these schools from Godstowe at 13. I think they would also give you a much better idea of what other schools might suit. Far better than googling anyway.

You are also ludicrously dismissive of Downe House. Its perfectly good academically and no one could possibly be sniffy about them. However, it is not London. It is rural. So are lot of boarding schools! High Wycombe is not any great shakes as a town either.

I think that, if your DD is being taught in another country, you need experience of the curriculum here in order to get into the highest achieving schools. But to achieve highly at 16 or 18, you do not need to be at one of these. Many parents look for other attributes in a school to suit their DC. I suggest you do the same.

You do not need to be a genius to get into WA or DH. DD's friends went and they certainly were not geniuses.

Thank you @foxesandsquirrels and @PresentingPercy.

I appreciate your advice...
Apologies for being dismissive about Downe House, never meant to cause any commotion. Godstowe seems like an idea, I'll take that into consideration.

I'm still observing my DD and her performance (overall), deciding upon which schools she will end up loving.
@PresentingPercy. However, even though WA are not all geniuses, I believe your DD's friend is also a smart girl? (Same applies to your child!)

Thanks.

DD was at Godstowe and plenty of the girls are smart. However it’s not just the scholarship set that do well. You would need to be bright for WA but you don’t have to be nailed on Oxbridge. Godstowe is famously all ability. Plenty of DDs go to less academic schools after going there but they still do well. You really don’t have to go to the top name schools to be happy and achieve well.

I’m assuming you want 13 plus entry. This adds co Ed boarding schools to the list of possible schools. Eg Rugby, Oundle, Uppingham etc.

Yes, I will look into it. Thank you!

Any other pieces of advice?

If you're looking at WA and Downe at 13+ you could also consider Cheltenham Ladies, St Mary's Calne or Benenden (also 11+ entry for all).

Thanks. CLC is also an option...

I attended two of the schools mentioned above. Absolutely nonsense to suggest you have to be “elite” or “the brightest and the best” to get in to either.

The assumption that you have to be a “borderline genius” has really made me giggle.

Thanks so much. I guess you have to be somewhat bright and eager to learn then?