Boarding schools for boys in and around London

[Whereismybiscuit]

looking At Year 7 entry for DS at a boarding school near London.

He is bright and sporty, but not stellar. I don’t think he’d enjoy an intensely competitive atmosphere, but you never know.

He’ll be coming from state school, and a fairly normal middle class background.

id like him to go to a school with a fairly diverse background, but my worry is him ending up in a school with loads of super rich kids he doesn’t really fit in with. (I realise plenty of kids who board are not like that)

Any recommendations? I think Dulwich college would be a good fit for him, but will obviously have to apply for a few!

A lot start at age 13 now like Sevenoaks due to lack of demand before then, could you wait 2 years or look at a prep for years 7 and 8? Do you need full boarding or flexi boarding at somewhere like St Johns Leatherhead ie mon-Fri only.

No advice as I don't understand wanting your 11 year old not to live with you termtime. 🤔

DO NOT TALK ABOUT BOARDING SCHOOLS ON MUMSNET THEY GO MENTAL 🤣🤣🤣🤣

BE PREPARED FOR ABUSE !!!

Thank goodness you posted rather than just walk on by.

Royal Russell offers boarding. I think it could be mostly overseas students though.

Not many board at year 7, it tends to be more from year 9. Any geographical preferences?

🙄 I think AIBU will give you somewhere to judge guilt free.

Flexi boarding could work…I’ll look at Leatherhead. Thanks!

How close to London are you looking? Full boarding or weekly? And single sex or co-ed? There are lots of options, can you narrow it down a bit?

Do you want single sex or coed? If boys Whitgift has boarding but mainly overseas pupils or weekly.

Not near London but lovely and coastal, fresh air and very nice atmosphere. Saint Felix, Southwold. They now do a bus for [Ilford?] for weekly boarders. Or you can do all sorts of flexi boarding.

Reeds

Thanks for all your suggestions.

@ChiefDogsbody Id prefer co-ed, but would consider boys only.

I think flexi is best option for our situation. I don’t envisage needing full boarding for more than a couple of years. So if there’s somewhere near London, he could switch to day pupil/ mon- Friday boarding. I think he’d be happy with mon-fri boarding longer term, so I think being up to 2 hours from London could work. ( will look at St Felix, @ThickTiuri )

id need full boarding definitely from year 7, so sounds like my options are slightly limited as I’d prefer to keep him in the same school.

Epsom although their year 7/8 is separate and not sure how many can board. Ardingly does a mixture of boarding throughout, Caterham but few year 7s board.

Epsom college no longer offer boarding before year 9. OP, you options are limited, you need to spend time speaking to registrars and attending open days. For St Johns it's Tues to Thurs night only boarding in the lower school.

Have a look at the Royal Hospital School, near Ipswich, an hour or so from London. 50/50 day/boarding split; flexi, weekly and full boarding are available. Fantastic site and facilties, mixed intake, good sport and academics, great ethos...

@usedtobeboss3 Royal hospital school looks great. Thanks for the tip.

@hockeygrass will definitely need to get organised. Am looking at 2024 entry, but it creeps up very quickly!

@Whereismybiscuit Honestly - I couldn't recommend it highly enough - my DS has had the best time there and it has truly been the making of him. Well worth a visit, at least - and I defy anyone not to be impressed by the site and setting!

Just be prepared that he may want to remain a Boarder in the future. Are you looking at single sex or mixed?
Please don't worry about your background. My dd boards with the super rich, and girls on full bursaries.
What sport does he like best?
Does he enjoy drama, arts?

For Surrey area, agreed re St Johns for flexi boarding. Don’t think Epsom does boarding until Y9 although there is a separate day house for Y7/8 but that involves a daily school bus. When I looked a Reeds a few years ago, I came away with the view that only very few pupils go for boarding offering. It does have a school bus route though.

Not near London but another option that starts at 11 is the state boarding school Wymondham College in Norfolk. You only pay for the boarding not the teaching.

Maybe a curve ball but have you considered starting him earlier in a prep - given he's just started Yr 5? There are brilliant boys' / co-Ed preps that bus from SW London to Surrey / Berks. He could try a night or two flexi boarding and see if he likes it too.

If you are north London then Haileybury, Stowe, Bedford and Aldenham.

As mentioned upthread, Reed's (near Oxshott in Surrey - easy train, 27 mins from Clapham Junction) for flexi boarding. Starts at Year 7 but Years 7 and 8 board in a separate house to the older boys. Large state intake (for a private school). However, relatively small proportion of boarders (think it's around 15%) and Saturday morning sport is required so your DC would get home Saturday lunchtime.

Our son did 2 years at Royal Alexandra in Redhill/Reigate. State boarding school-so schooling is free you just pay for boarding- much more affordable than usual boarding schools- lovely grounds and co Ed- my son loved it!