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Secondary education

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Original poster

nurturing co-ed boarding schools for a year 7

55 replies

hellofuture · 20/03/2022 02:15

Hi wise mums,

My son is currently 10 and hoping to send him to UK next year for 11+. Pls share some names of nurturing co-ed boarding schools for a year 7. My son isn't the strongest in academic but very friendly and all rounded. Happy to hear all kinds of recommendations. Thank you to everyone to pass by to drop a line!

OP posts:
CaveMum · 04/04/2022 14:56

Also came on to say King's Ely in Cambridgeshire. We're local to it and it's on our shortlist of possible secondary options when DC are old enough.

We've been on a few visits there, it definitely has a nurturing atmosphere and the surroundings (assemblies held in the cathedral, campus spread across the town in historic buildings, etc) are wonderful. There is a train station a 15/20 min walk from the school with direct line into Kings Cross (takes about 1hr20).

The school is not highly academic (they get good results but the more "hot house" schools like The Perse in Cambridge are higher up the rankings. KE has more focus on sport and music) but things are starting to change as the new head has apparently been pushing marketing in Cambridge to appeal to the scientists/doctors/computer whizz parents and that is starting to have results.

www.kingsely.org/

Greensleeves · 04/04/2022 14:59

Abbotsholme. Its whole raison d'etre is "educating the whole person", so it's not hugely pushy academically, focuses a lot on outdoor education, has a farm and horses etc, lots of emphasis on being a good egg rather than just a material success.

It's weirdly lefty for a fee-paying school and very big on pastoral care.

cyclamenqueen · 08/04/2022 08:09

RHS Suffolk ( lots of full boarders and military and diplomatic families but also very down to earth)
Oakham
Dean Close ( not sure how many boarders at weekends though)

MadameFantabulosa · 08/04/2022 08:14

St Chris in Letchworth. But check the number of full boarders as it seems to fluctuate. The boarding house parents are absolutely lovely. Also keen on educating the whole child. Not a hot house school.

Scoobandlaurs · 08/04/2022 12:10

St. John’s international in sidmouth, east Devon is not a fashionable school but very friendly and al students are encouraged and helped to reach potential academically, sport and music/drama full boarding from junior right through, very caring inclusive school with brilliant pastoral care

BustopherPonsonbyJones · 08/04/2022 17:06

If you can wait until your child is 13, you will have far more options for full boarding. There has been a big switch to weekly boarding (at best) even at schools which say they are full boarding. Many empty out at weekends. Another option is to go down the ‘guardian’ route but waiting until 13 would be easier!

BustopherPonsonbyJones · 08/04/2022 18:07

If you can’t wait until your child is 13, I think Oundle takes boarders from 11 - not sure if it’s particularly nurturing but it’s a very good school and offers so many activities that a child is bound to find something which interests them, which is good for an all-rounder. The number of full boarders really goes up here from 13 when the other preps feed in.

Kimbolton and Kings Ely are also good options but for all these schools, really check how many FULL boarders stay at weekends. It is miserable to be left in an empty boarding house.

easternenergizer · 10/04/2022 10:20

Oundle is an excellent school but would need some more context around your concept of nurturing? It isn’t a hand-holding school and instills resilience and self reliance early on but obviously care for younger years is there and definitely if you need help it is there. But in the sense of nurturing a curious appetite for intellectual discovery would say one of if not the best co ed for this in UK . Also super charming place to be and I definitely would have preferred it to staying at my prep school until 13 (which was rural and frankly boring)

easternenergizer · 13/04/2022 11:12

Also, Oundle is full boarding or day no in between and run as a boarding school. Full and fun weekends I remember including going into town to buy breakfast and hanging out with friends.

user1498193554 · 13/04/2022 11:13

Greshams. It’s in Norfolk, just amazing

CaveMum · 14/04/2022 08:14

Another option, though competition is high for places for obvious reasons is Wymondham College in Norfolk. It’s a state run boarding school so you don’t pay fees for education, just the boarding. A friend of a friend’s daughter went there and she really thrived.

BelladiMamma · 14/04/2022 08:20

Consider using an agent to help you decide depending on skills, aptitude, international mix etc

However I would also suggest looking at Malvern, their prep is very nearby and the senior school has full boarding. Lots of DS's international friends went there & it's below the radar but in general, from our experience, a happy place and pupils do well.

However having had 2 kids go thru boarding, I'm not sure I would do it again. You miss so much of their lives and then before you realise it, they've left home. But that's just my perspective.

Yourheartwillleadyouhome · 14/04/2022 08:29

Terra Nova School in Cheshire is superb and offers full boarding with brilliant nurturing house staff and a lovely environment, forest school and a farm with animals, and a terrific host of weekend activities. Destination schools after Y8 offer the right option for each kid with excellent academic preparation and support where needed.

derekthe1adyhamster · 14/04/2022 08:35

Christ's hospital is full boarding from 11.
Close to Gatwick and easy travel to Heathrow

lopezmason · 15/04/2022 02:55

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TizerorFizz · 15/04/2022 08:08

@BelladiMamma
Mine boarded but I saw them every few weeks. I went to so many school events and they came home for the exeats. As they got older the school changed to flexible boarding. I can see that international parents do miss their children but ones in the uk get kits of opportunities to see a boarding child these days. It’s all about making the right choice.

The OP should look for a boarding prep for 2 years. If she is flying into Heathrow, then close enough to Heathrow for the school
To have transport if that’s necessary. So look at Berkshire and Bucks preps first.

Snoopsnoggysnog · 15/04/2022 08:16

Haileybury

olympicsrock · 15/04/2022 08:20

Bloxham school would fit the bill. A friendly nurturing school , good for a child who is an all rounder with lots of full time boarders.

Clayesmore in Dorset might also fit the bill. If you are catholic , Stonyhurst college has lots of overseas students and a prep school attached with lots of boarders.

boyslave · 16/04/2022 22:16

I would consider St Edwards/Teddies. We moved our younger son from Bloxham to Teddies, he has never looked back achieving in all areas we never thought possible. Bloxham has much lower academic standards, a high turnover of teachers -the good teachers seem not to stay, Teddies has far more to offer in many areas. My son was not hugely academic on entering, and behind after Bloxham, but they have really brought the best out of him and he now has high expectations for his A Levels. Go and have a look, in our experience its a really good school.

ChocolateHoneycomb · 17/04/2022 20:51

@boyslave is teddies nurturing though? Kind, accepting of differences, okay if you aren’t great at sport/music/whatever etc. Academics are clearly not everything to the OP.

boyslave · 17/04/2022 21:24

Yes Teddies I do consider to be nurturing and has brought out the best of all the boys that my son started with in Shells in his house. My son is not high an academic and has never been made to feel, to put it blunt - dim. He does have dyslexia and Teddies have helped him in many ways. He says it is a much kinder school then where he was before and has offered him many more areas to excel as Teddies have many more options and opportunities. I have tried to be helpful with my comments having made a big mistake previously with both my two boys, if my comments are not helpful, scroll on and ignore them.

ChocolateHoneycomb · 18/04/2022 13:38

@boyslave thanks - useful to know as we are sitting on offers from various schools inc teddies and bloxham. As you say teddies is much more academically robust but our focus for ds1 is less on academics and more on the fit for his needs. Think ds2 would do v well at teddies when the time comes though.

Original poster
hellofuture · 05/05/2022 13:35

everyone here are so helpful and awesome!! How lucky to be a newbie here to receive lots of helping hands. Xoxo
we are a Hong Kong family, my daughter is going to start her Y8 boarding school in Kent this coming Sept. Very excited tho.

Therefore I’m starting my research for her younger brother who is 10. The reason I asked if there’s any boarding senior school starts at Y7 is bcos as an oversea student, Y9 is very competitive for good reputation senior schools. Just a thought maybe Y7 is easier to get in?

Attend Prep school surely is a good idea. I hope the prep school can help to prepare him for the exam of senior school, but many ppl told me if he starts at Y7, it’s a very odd timing as most of the student already took their exam for senior school while Y6 or early Y7. Therefore my son will not benefited by prep school’s preparation for senior school.

as mentioned my son is not the brightest in academic at his school but with a extremely friendly personality and always the best team player in class. I’m hoping to have a school can boots up his academic but also nurturing, in order to get him pass the senior school entrance exam.

again I cannot be more thankful of everyone’s time to share your idea.

OP posts:
Original poster
hellofuture · 05/05/2022 13:40

Oh I haven’t mentioned why I said prefer more nurturing school is bcos my son sometimes need extra guidance from the teacher at academic wise, although his behaviour is always one of the best in his grade. Therefore if the school is huge and he can get ‘lost’ sometimes and lack of attention.

OP posts:
TinaYouFatLard · 05/05/2022 13:54

Haileybury has boarding from Y7 and has really shifted focus into improving pastoral care and wellness. I’m impressed with it.