Top 10 co-ed, boys, girls boarding schools in UK

[MrPickles73]

If money and location were no issue which co-ed, boys and girls private schools do people consider in the top 10 (academically) outside of London?

I am looking for schools for DC (1 boy, 1 girl) for Year 9. We are outside the SE but would consider any location as we could relocate for the right school as we would prefer them to be day pupils.

So for girls I'm guessing top 10 would be WA and CLC and then where?
For boys Winchester, Radley? where else?
And for co-ed I find it really hard to work out...

I went to Oundle a few years ago and have friends from lots of coeds so just going to answer on them. Definitely put a vote for Oundle in here in Top 5. The Top 5 are all good and offer slightly different things so would check them out, at that level its much of a muchness really and normally just depends on the vibe and which one your DC clicks with best.

My list would be:

Brighton
Wellington
Oundle
Marlborough
Charterhouse
Kings Canterbury
Rugby
Sevenoaks
Canford
Teddies
Shrewsbury
(Maybe) Uppingham

I also like bradfield, Stowe, Millfield and bryanston too.

Oakham not in same league and not top 10.

My DS has a cricket scholarship at Winchester - only been running 3 years - and is transforming cricket at the school. The school allows the boys time off to fulfil county obligations - and the coaching/training is excellent. FYI

No need to be so rude @easternenergiser.

Oundle certainly and Wellington. The others people have mentioned not all are that academic. Teddies certainly not (not saying it’s not a great school but it’s not hugely academically selective). But having said that I don’t think being academically selective matters. You will have bright kids at every school.

Harrow and Eton don’t take day pupils

Oundle certainly and Wellington. The others people have mentioned not all are that academic

Surprised to hear Sevenoaks, Brighton College, King’s Canterbury described as “not all that academic”. King’s may have a wider intake but the top sets are on a par with top sets at Oundle and Wellington . And Brighton and Sevenoaks are well above in my view.

@oystercatcher44 my wording was poor. I said not all are academic not are all not academic. I have no idea about the ones you mentioned, just know Teddie’s and a couple on the list aren’t very academically selective.

@toobusytothink - sorry I misinterpreted what you meant.

I realise that Oxbridge is not everything especially now taht more students are going to US universities, but this table gives an overview of Oxbridge offers by school for 2021.

www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-oxbridge-files

I think Caterham can also be on the co-Ed list.

Further afield, I like st Peter's in York. City centre, nice place to live. Good for sport and academics.

Maybe they are more all round rather than top 10. But they certainly cater well for bright children.

Haileybury?

I would bet a lot of money that all these supposed non academic schools have academic scholars who get stonking results. It’s ridiculous to think these schools don’t have bright pupils. Of course they do! That’s why seeking out the most difficult schools to get into is a waste of time. The op keeps asking around once a month! Indecisive in the extreme! Just pick 4 schools and make a decision! You cannot look at 30!

Joe Root went to King Ecbert School in Sheffield. Save your money and move to Sheffield?

Thanks for your help presentingPercy I'm just interested in people's perceptions of which are the 'top' schools compared to league tables.

Why? Does it matter? Posters are not looking for your DC. You know them and you need to evaluate which schools would meet their needs. Forget what others think. It really is irrelevant.

PresentingPercy why get so irked? Why reply if you're not interested?
I'm just curious that people post about 'top schools' and 'second tier' schools (I have seen both phrases on Mumsnet) and I wonder which schools they have in mind and how well this perception tallies with the exam league tables. Its interesting that some schools that feature in the league tables no one has mentioned and other schools which are well outside of the top 10 are obviously carried by 'reputation'.
For your information and to assist your blood pressure, I've got down from 12 schools to 8, which we will go and visit. Happy Days. We won't be applying to 8 schools don't worry..
For anyone else looking for cricket schools this is quite helpful - you can see who the previous winners of this cricket competition are:
schoolscricketonline.co.uk/national-schools-twenty20-competition/

Root actually transferred to fee paying Worksop college for sixth form and of course the vast majority of the England test team are privately educated,Jimmy Anderson is the exception..

@MrPickles73 I wouldn’t use competition winners as a sign of how good a school is at cricket. There’s one school by us that’s renowned for offering scholarships to those already playing at county level. Of course they are going to stand a better chance at winning!

I would look at what the school actually offers in terms of cricket provision. Do they have numerous teams and if so do they all play competitively? You might find that lower ranking teams only play house matches. What is their development programme like? Do they have ties with an external county club? Do they have a specialist cricket coach (as opposed to a general games teacher?).

I see Merchant Taylor’s is on the list. Very academic school and great cricket programme.

www.mtsn.org.uk/life-at-taylors/sport/cricket

THAT is the sort of thing you should be looking for, not the results of a competition, particularly if your son doesn’t make the first team.

I do kind of agree with @PresentingPercy in that you seem to be rather scattergun and perhaps not looking at the things that really are important when choosing a school. You need specific lists that you can tick things off for each school to ensure they match the needs of your children. It sounds like you may well be doing this “behind the scenes” but the way you are approaching it on here might not be the best way to point you in the right direction.

Thanks Lotty32 apparently they are also doing football scholarships!

Zodlebud I'm afraid all the schools we have looked at will only consider you for a sports scholarship if you are ATLEAST a county player. And then mostly in the school's core sports i.e. no tiddlywinks. All of the schools are looking at have winter cricket training facilities, a master in charge of cricket (usually an ex county player) and its all whistles and bells. It's alot more sophisticated than when I was at school. They often offer 1:1 professional coaching for scholars. You need to get into the county teams whilst still at prep school.

Wouldn't you be looking at a school that actually suits your DC rather than where they feature in a list?

Winchester's sports scholarship programme is currently concentrating on cricket and football - but not exclusively - message me directly if you want more info x

@MrPickles73 I am still not clear. Is your son playing at county level, club level or just for fun? Are you looking for a “sport for all” ethos or an elite training programme? If your son is at club level and the schools in question have all these wonderful cricket opportunities but they are only open to the first team then both you and your son might be severely disappointed.

I have a sporty daughter but was surprised how many school sports programmes focus only on the best players, and opportunities for those who want to improve or just take part for fun are ignored.

The school we chose has a very inclusive sports schedule. If you want to play, you can. A through to D teams train together with extra sessions for the A team. They currently have 10 children playing various sports at national level, all are valued (including those minor sports) and their achievements lauded and supported. But these children are not put on a pedestal. They play with the others, motivate, coach and support their friends. It epitomises everything about good sportsmanship.

I do think most schools are capable of this but they nearly all concentrate on the first team as dc progress up the school. It’s quite usual to have ex players coach but they won’t coach the D team.

If dc are not sports scholarship material then look for a school with inclusive sport. At DDs old school, the tennis scholars had a reduced academic timetable. So it doesn’t suit everyone. That’s why you need to choose for your individual children.

Zodlebud we have two county players. But I do not want to enter them into a hardcore elite program at the expense of academics as ultimately its likely that sport will be a hobby rather than a career.

I'm a big fan of sports for all. I'm aware that some schools focus on only the top. Even at our old prep school some children were left behind to watch a film if they did not make the cut for matches... And whilst DS2 was playing football with children 3 years older than him some of the other less sporty boys had to play netball because they ran out of PE teachers .. all a bit humiliating..