Girls' weekly boarding 11+ - Tudor Hall, Roedean, others?

[SirTiffikate]

DD's in year 5 and she's been saying for some time now that she wants to go to a boarding secondary school when the time comes. We've got a reasonable idea of the independent day schools near us, but we hadn't really considered boarding and we don't have many friends who've gone down that route. We've done some online searching, and two that seem to fit the bill for us are Tudor Hall and Roedean. We've also been to a couple of online open days but it's not that easy to get a feel for schools that way.

Anyone with experience of these schools able to comment? Or other suggestions for us? DD is bright but not super-bright and I don't think she'd do well in a hot-house environment. She's a reasonable all-rounder - she enjoys sports, and her big love is drama (with dance and music not far behind). She's chatty and sociable, quite young for her age, and very outdoors-y. We're looking for schools within about two hours' drive from west London for weekly boarding at first, maybe full boarding later, if that turns out to be what she wants. So far we've only considered girls-only schools but not opposed in principle to mixed-sex.

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I am in same situation and have looked at these schools as well.
Have you looked at cheltenham college? I only looked at it as it is next door to cheltenham ladies, but the more i look at it, the more I like it. It just seems to attract really nice kids and families. I particularly like how from Year 7 they are still in the Prep school so a bit smaller and cozier and then move on to the College from 13 (have to take CE of course but they all move on), it seems.
I have found that these schools have a plethora of information on their YouTube sites. They really give a feel for the school and student body.
I have also heard wonderful things about Heathfield, which we are looking at but I am not sure my daughter will be ready for full boarding from Year 7.

Queenswood in Hertfordshireh has one of the best drama departments going.

Also they have excellent value added (not hot housey, but will get your daughter a grade higher than average) oor to door transport, flexi boarding etc

www.queenswood.org 👍

Teddies in Oxford has an excellent reputation for both drama and dance. Big London contingent and very easy journey.

Another vote for Queenswood.

Check also St George's Ascot. Heard great things including pastoral care, and very close to London

Thanks, everyone. I've booked the online open morning at Queenswood, really like the look of it online. Teddies also looks fabulous, but unless I'm missing something it's 13+ and we're looking for year 7 entry.

Queenswood! My sporty, drama loving, musical, academic child started there in September and I have only wonderful things to say about it. We turned down a grammar place and a scholarship at another school to go there. Please PM if you have questions.

Two other schools with weekly boarding and no Saturday morning school are Heathfield and Queen Anne’s Caversham. I would look at % of boarders. All three have at least 50% boarders including flexi boarders and it gives the right sort of balance. We discounted Headington as they only have a handful of boarders.

P.s. my daughter weekly boards

Having had DDs at Queenswood I can confirm the drama is brilliant there. My DDs benefitted hugely from drama, music and dance and the array of extra curricular options there. Sport is very important to the school too. So I would make them my top choice.

DD2 went to Heathfield for 6th form. At the time, Queenswood had seriously neglected art but Heathfield is an art powerhouse! I would say their drama and music are not at the same standard but they are a smaller school. One of DDs friends went to Rada from there though. Sport at Heathfield has a different emphasis from Queenswood. Tennis and hockey are the big sports at Queenswood but there is something for everyone. Dance is popular at both and so is swimming.

Parents can get more involved at Queenswood, we found. Lots of opportunities to see girls perform, house events etc. These were less at Heathfield but obviously I’m not a current parent and they are getting a new Head. With day girls and weekly boarders you would expect a change of ethos.

I’m assuming if you are looking at Tudor Hall and Roedean you don’t mind a bit of travelling. We also turned down a grammar for DD1 and chose Queenswood. They have dipped in academic outcomes in the last few years but the value added is there. They just need a few more bright DDs to head their way but there’s a lot of competition locally and lower fees! Good luck choosing.

Downe House ( Newbury?). Year 7 entry and ‘family friendly’ boarding which I think means they can go home other than a few weekends. Brighton college is genuine weekly I believe ( ie Monday to Friday). Co-Ed.

My DD is at Mayfield School in East Sussex www.mayfieldgirls.org , although she is a day girl. Great school the day girls and boarders mix very well and you can fully, weekly or flexi board. School has a coach that takes the weekly boarders back into London on a Friday and then back to school on Sunday.

@SirTiffikate just to add you don't have to be a Catholic to attend Mayfield and we have a good mix of UK and overseas boarders as well as day girls.

At such a young age can you really trust her to make the decision to board? Are you not worried she has an idealised view of what it involves and that she might come to resent you in the future when she realises the reality of it?

Mine boarded at 11 and wanted to. Most 11 year olds are realistic and know what it’s like. Yes, a bit of homesickness is normal but most settle in after a few weeks. If they don’t, then act decisively. Boarding might not work for all dc but generally going with the child’s instincts is better then it being purely the idea of the parent.

Tudor Hall is a really good choice. It has a beautiful campus and very warm and caring staff. I know one of the "house mothers" and she is like a second mother to the girls in her house. It's a good school academically too (but definitely not a "hot house") and really helps girls meet their full potential. I visited there 3 years ago on an open day for my DD, but she ended up going to Headington in Oxford which is also lovely.

Just found this thread. DD is a weekly boarder at Roedean. It’s a great school for all rounders and school supports the girls individually. Great for drama, music and dance and lots of sport going on too. Loads of extra curricular activities for day girls and boarders. House staff are brilliant and lots going on in the evenings for the boarders.

Lots of day girls from Sussex in my DD year group and weekly boarders from London, there is a London escort service for weekly boarders to and from London Victoria.

It’s a really happy place to learn. The Headmaster Mr Blond does prioritise the girls happiness, he says happy girls want to learn, you don’t need to push them and this is indeed the ethos.

Boarders rooms are comfortable and the food is really good too.

If you have any specific questions about Roedean please ask and I’ll try and help.

St Swithins?

I know some very happy girls at St Mary’s Ascot. Also lots of very happy children at Teddies, if you went for a 13+ school then you could look at a boarding prep first? Hanford is meant to be fab, possibly a little over two hours from west London.

My daughter weekly boards at Heathfield, she is very happy and settled and doing extremely well. There is a bus on a Friday to London and sometimes she goes on the bus with other friends to Marlow, Virginia Water etc.
We looked at St George's Ascot but there is hardly any boarders, Downe House we liked but less flexible on the boarding front, Tudor Hall the same and Heathfield is a much easier journey.
Sports fixtures on Saturday mornings but if you are not part of the team its okay to go home Friday. They do a lot more Sport now like cricket, tennis, athletics competitions, trampolining, yoga etc as well as lacrosse.

My daughter attends Downe House and I've found them to be incredibly flexible with boarding. While they encourage girls to remain in school at weekends & offer many appealing activities during the weekend, many do in fact go home for part or all of the weekend - particularly the London cohort. They do both 11+ & 13+ entry and I will say dance / drama / music are a huge part of the school life. There is no part of the year where there is not some performance, event, inter-house competition etc for which the girls are rehearsing! My daughter is rehearsing for no less than 3 upcoming performances this term! At 11+ you are also offered the opportunity to add additional lessons for drama (either individual or group based), and those who are drama scholars are given many additional opportunities on top of those I've mentioned. The performances are tremendous and a real pleasure to watch!