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Secondary education

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Original poster

Boarding schools for average pupils?

37 replies

thelastallosaurus · 14/12/2021 12:24

Boarding schools for average children? Dd has dyslexia but copes well. She is sociable and outgoing and wants to go to boarding school but not an ultra competative school as she would not thrive there. She would probably ideally like somewhere that is strong in the arts (theatre and fine art and design.) She is also a keen horse rider and would need to be able to accomodate her riding lessons somehow. We live in the midlands but would be happy to move to be nearer to her school.

Any recommendations?

OP posts:
sunshineclouds24 · 14/12/2021 14:57

Heathfield springs to mind but I think you would have quite a lot of choice and may not have to move house.

sadpapercourtesan · 14/12/2021 14:59

Abbotsholme School in Staffordshire. Small, friendly, progressive, into "educating the whole person", and has a farm and riding stables on site. Lots of outdoor education and enrichment.

ImJustNotMeAnymore · 14/12/2021 18:49

Stover in Devon sounds as though it would be a good fit.

MrPickles73 · 14/12/2021 20:21

Milton Abbey? Malvern College?

MrsTerryPratchett · 14/12/2021 20:22

Royal Russell?

londonmummy1966 · 14/12/2021 23:50

Wells Cathedral School - very arty as it has a specialist music intake so appreciates there's more to life than a string of As. Usually has a couple of big productions a year and offers Art, History of Art and Photography at A level. Is about 50% boarder and day pupils but most boarders are full rather than weekly so she wouldn't be rattling around on her own at the weekends.

A bit more academic but not that much - Christs Hospital in Sussex has amazing facilities (a theatre based on the Globe) and again does a couple of big productions a year. Lots of extra curriculars and is pretty well all boarding and baording is all full (ie no weekly boarders).

Pinklaptopz · 15/12/2021 00:38

Bedales

DoThePropeller · 15/12/2021 02:39

St.Theresa’s in Surrey worth a look, quite small, broad curriculum including strong arts and an equestrian facility onsite.

Mummy195 · 15/12/2021 07:27

Bryanston has a great arts department.

MrPickles73 · 15/12/2021 09:42

Bedales and Bryanston both good suggestions

SinoohXaenaHide · 15/12/2021 09:46

She sounds like a perfect fit for Sidcot School www.sidcot.org.uk/

Orangesarenottheonlyfruit · 15/12/2021 09:48

Millfield has a great dyslexia department (it was actually set up as a school for dyslexics), obviously lots of sport and a fabulous art department.
Westonbirt School is lovely, my friend took her horse there.

Orangelimes · 15/12/2021 11:25

I came on to say Abbotsholme but someone has beat me to it.

TrueGrit54 · 15/12/2021 16:11

Bryanston (Dorset) is strong in theatre and art, also has stables (you can bring your own horse/pony or ride a school pony) and pupils who compete at a high level. I think it has 400 acres. Over 700 pupils, most subjects have 8 sets.

LonelySock · 15/12/2021 16:20

Abbotsholme is a for profit school. If you are happy knowing that's the first and foremost priority of the owners, go for it. But that culture runs deep and affects every decision. They will only do the least they can get away with doing and still attract parents and their children.

For that reason, I chose and would always recommend a not for profit school that has a healthy percentage of full fee payers and with management and governors who choose to spend that fee income to best serve and provide for the students in the school.

Personally I'd start looking close to you at the not first profit Midlands boarding schools before you go further...

dilettante73 · 15/12/2021 17:36

Tudor Hall would be good.

Dancingdreamer · 15/12/2021 23:11

It depends what you are looking for in a boarding school. If you are in the midlands, here are some suggestions in the broad area.

Bromsgrove offer full and weekly boarding. Most of the boarders are international students which some people like and others don’t. The boarders make up half the school. Bromsgrove is comfortable with a wide range of abilities from the ultra smart 45 IB point student to those who are more focused on sports than academic and everything in between. I’m not sure how they cope with such a cross section but they do and they have high value added scores. I think they still have an equestrian team but the horses would need to be stabled nearby. The music and arts are decent.

People I know with children with SEN have been really happy with Malvern. It’s mainly a boarding school with some day pupils unlike Bromsgrove which is half and half. The school setting is beautiful and it’s a smaller school which suits some Again I think they have an equestrian team with horses stabled nearby.

The other you may want to consider is Cheltenham College. It’s often a back up school for some of the bigger more academic names but again people I know who have had DC there have been really happy with the school. I’m not sure about horse riding there, however.

Genevieva · 02/01/2022 09:46

We were surprised to find ourselves unimpressed by the quality of the art at both Bedales and Bryanston. Lots of impressive equipment, but not much evidence of drawing from life. The art at Frensham Heights and King’s Canterbury was much better. We really loved the drama and music at King’s Canterbury too and thought it was a better boarding environment.

Genevieva · 02/01/2022 09:48

PS and don’t know the schools in the midlands but have heard really good things about Repton, Uppingham and Oundle. I am not sure you’ll find anything down south so special it is worth the family upheaval.

nonwonderwoman · 02/01/2022 10:24

I was also going to say St Theresa's near Dorking, Surrey due to the equestrian angle.

Bwix · 02/01/2022 11:37

Bedales. But be reassured that lots of schools look further than the academic side: everyone is average or below average at something, and the right school will allow your dd to shine at the things that she’s good at.

Excitedforthefuture · 02/01/2022 11:39

Thoughts on Eastbourne?

OhCrumbsWhereNow · 03/01/2022 12:56

Bedes near Eastbourne might well tick the boxes for you

Needmoresleep · 04/01/2022 19:21

Mayfield is very good on horses. Catholic, but not very.

BoardingSchoolMater · 04/01/2022 19:23

@thelastallosaurus

Can it be single sex, or would you/she rather it were mixed?

Do you have other children?