Sixth form boarding- mixed

[Brian9600]

Hello

I’m looking for suggestions for schools to consider for DD for sixth form. She’s interested in boarding.

She’s very academic and a hard worker. Not exceptional in any extra-curricular subjects but a good all-rounder.

I’m particularly keen on schools which either have girls just in the sixth form or which have a big sixth form intake, so that she’s not the only newbie.

Colchester Royal Grammar School takes girls in the sixth form and has boarders. It is a state school, so no tuition fees.
www.crgs.co.uk/137/boarding-information

Uppingham has 30-35 new girls join in the sixth form each year and they have their own boarding house.

@TizerorFizz It is correct that they are building a sixth form flat (as well as the coffee shop). The information supplied to parents implies that it is more of a “taster” experience for the girls as opposed to somewhere they stay for the entire academic year.

@Zodlebud
That would make a lot more sense.

We felt that being separated at Uppingham as “newbies” wasn’t a good idea when we looked. It wasn’t a nice boarding house and promoted “them and us” in our view. It felt second best.

Finborough is lovely and has quite a big intake at sixth form and I believe Felsted does too.

Bromsgrove School is mixed all the way through with a good number of boarders and a big intake into 6th form. They have single sex houses and a mixed house just for 6th formers, which some prefer as it's more like uni. Lots of international boarders, too, which I see as a positive. IB and A-level, good for academics but not a hot house, also great for sport, music, art etc. Great all-rounder school.

I still say Marlborough as a great 6th form option for girls. Instead of going into a separate house for new 6th formers as others do eg Rugby, most girls join an existing boy’s house for 6th form. They get the benefit of being a new cohort together but with existing boys to help them settle and show them around. There is an incredible amount on offer and social events organised every weekend by the school for 6th formers. Marlborough is however increasingly popular and hard to get into.

Our second choice would have been Wellington or Rugby. Both were discounted as new girls were put in a separate house and friends felt their DDs were always a bit of an outsider to the main school.

Not all schools have a big intake at 6th form. Oundle told us that there would be only one or two places basically to replace leavers.

Bromsgrove is a nice all round school but its half day and half boarding so has less of a traditional boarding school feel. The boarding houses are very international with most of the UK students in the day houses. They don’t have exeats which is hard if your DD just wants a long weekend at home.

PM me if you want more information as your DD sounds a lot like mine was.

I don’t fully understand why new girls are not integrated into existing boarding houses. It does make for poor integration with existing pupils. DD2 wanted a co Ed for 6th form but eventually chose a girls’ school because it taught the subjects she wanted very well. So the boys on site had to wait! In fact I would always go for subject expertise and leave the boy distraction to later!

I’m not sure if Stowe separates out new girls but their reputation is pretty good now. Marlborough has been difficult to get into for years. It’s no doubt a great school but you have to decide how many applications you are prepared to make.