Millfield School

[Agcadmore]

Hello!
My daughter has been offered a place at Millfield school for year 10 start in September 2022. We aren't happy either her current school. She is very sporty, confident and a very solid all rounder. She will have to do full boarding. She is very very keen to do it. Would just love some feedback from mums with positive experiences at Millfield to reassure me that we are doing the right thing!
Thanks so much.

Hello!
Sorry, no experience but I have a daughter who is starting in year 10 this September as a full boarder too.
Would like some recent experiences as well.

Is your DD excited? Nervous?

My godson was enormously happy there from year 9 to 13 (leaving last year) very sport boy went on Rugby Scholarship. Left with good A-level grades and into the course he wanted.

DD went to Millfield - a very good school with good teachers and amazing opportunities for both sporty children and academic ones. Have to admit that their community is very cliquey (depending on year group) and there is a large hierarchy system for year groups (which can be seen as good since older years are highly regarded). Shown as full boarding but really students are allowed to go on exeat at any time so towards the end of term it occasionally empties out. Make sure you have visited and if possible have an individual tour as those are lead by students and you have the opportunity to speak to someone.

Overall a good school but location can make it difficult and there are some bitchy girls.
I know many that love it but depends on the people in your child's year group

Sorry if this wasn't all that you wanted to hear but had to be honest.

Friends' DS really enjoyed the school and boarding. The only thing I would caution is the sports training. If you DC is at a super high level (national contender) then many of the sports schools clearly favour whoever they believe is the best DC. And if your DC is #2, then be prepared to be the bridesmaid for the #1 DC. It's understandable from the schools' perspective, they all want national champions. Aside from that, the school sounds brilliant.

I have a very good friend with a DC there. Tons of money with DC flying in on helicopter including celebrity DC. If not your cup of tea they you may want to really explore a bit further. Don't blame the school, they have to take care of their good customers. For the resilient child is ok but I wonder if this is the right approach to drop your teenager to school - no matter how much money you have. 'tis about values. Just sayin'

PS before the comments show up, raise your hand if you have a child there that has never seen helicopter landings dropping/picking up children at start/end of term. Something to brag about for sure!

We know a teacher there. The helicopter thing is true. Tennis gets regularly disrupted because the courts are next to the heli pad. Also PJs doesn’t stand for pyjamas, but private jets.

This is complete nonsense. Helicopters do land occasionally but certainly nowhere near the tennis courts which are surrounded by buildings on two sides, a main road and a cricket pitch. As with all similar schools there are families with eye-watering amounts of money but they are in a minority. Most families are either reasonably well-off or their kids are on scholarships or bursaries.

The "occasional" landing of helicopter definitely upgrades to "frequent" at start and end of term and half terms 😅