Shrewsbury / Moreton Hall / Bromsgrove

[MrPickles73]

We have 2 DC. 1 girl, 1 boy. 1 in yr 6. We were only considering day schools at 13+ but our prep is encouraging us to consider weekly / flexi boarding in order to increase our options. Both children are bright but not geniuses, sporty but not amazing and outgoing.
Our preference would be for both children to attend the same school (easier logistics and no intersibling jealousy) but at the same time we'd like to do the best we can.
Any recent experience of girls / boys at these schools? I realise Shrewsbury has no weekly boarding option..

Bump

I have replied on your other post PM me if you want any more information on Bromsgrove.

Thankyou dancingdreamer I have PM'd you. One thing, just curious, how can such a large school which is apparently very successful at sport go under the radar?

I wouldn’t say Bromsgrove is under the radar. It has always had a very good reputation. Like a lot of boarding schools close to big cities, they are perhaps not as popular with parents when you have great independent day schools and grammar schools also in the mix. Some families are just not ok with boarding and the day fees are expensive versus other schools in the area.

I have friends with children there, and both parents and kids are exceptionally happy with it.

zodlebud no offence intended but we live 90 mins away from Bromsgrove and I've never heard of it. We live equal distance to Cheltenham College, Malvern College etc and they are quite well known.

We looked at both Shrewsbury and Moreton Hall. Ended up at a private day school instead (but might revisit the idea of boarding for 6th form). Shrewsbury is lovely and we have friends who go there; they love it, but it felt a little too big (if you see what I mean) for younger pupils - it felt more like a university campus than a school (and I think they only take children from the start of Year 9?).

Moreton had a more homely feel about it, but we weren't terribly impressed with the boarding facilities. That said, the academic stuff was amazing, and the teaching staff very, very enthusiastic and clued up (we didn't see any teaching staff at Shrewsbury so can't comment on that aspect). Also the extra curricular stuff was fab - "if you can think of something to do then they will create a club for it" sort of thing.

There's also Ellesmere College to throw another name into the pot if you want boarding.

Ohcomeonitsrubbish I get the impression Ellesmere is more sporty than academic but it would be 1hr 15 mins so could be viable as a weekly boarder?

Ohcomeonitsrubbish we haven't visited Moreton Hall - what didnt impress about the boarding facilities?

We have friends who board (sporadically) at Ellesmere - I know one of the children is quite sporty (don't know about the other), but they are doing well academically. I also know someone who went there in 6th form and got great A level grades and a good university place.

Moreton's boarding houses seemed rather basic and run down. BUT - we went about 18 months ago and things might have changed, particularly because since then they've had a new head about whom I have heard very positive reports. I must say that we chatted with a couple of the housemistresses who seemed very on-the-ball and there was a good atmosphere.

@MrPickles73

zodlebud no offence intended but we live 90 mins away from Bromsgrove and I've never heard of it. We live equal distance to Cheltenham College, Malvern College etc and they are quite well known.

I’m in Staffordshire and have heard of Bromsgrove. I’ve always thought of it as a school with an excellent reputation. Never heard of Moreton Hall though.

@MrPickles73

Thankyou dancingdreamer I have PM'd you. One thing, just curious, how can such a large school which is apparently very successful at sport go under the radar?

It’s a good question actually. Bromsgrove is one of the oldest schools in the country founded in 1476. Older than places like Marlborough. It has educated poet AE Houseman, Digby, Jones of the CBI, , Ben Fodel, the rugby player etc. Yet it does lie under the radar. I think it’s quite a humble school in many ways. It doesn’t try to live off old buildings and old traditions. It doesn’t try to be a hot house like KES in Birmingham and the nearby grammar schools. It has expanded recently into a big international school that is also incredibly popular with local day families. If you want a nicely balanced school with good pastoral care that tries to offer something for everyone, then do look at Bromsgrove. If you want a more traditional boarding school, then this isn’t the school for your DC.

I have friends who teach at bromsgrove. Would definitely recommend it.

Thankyou dancingdreamer it sounds as though it could be just what we are looking for. I want somewhere grounded.

It’s definitely grounded. Have a look at the Head’s weekly address to the DC (Routh address) on the website and it will give you a flavour of the school. It will depend if your DC are happy boarding with lots of international DC.