Independent schools for gifted students

[SRQ1274]

Hi,
I am currently researching gifted schools for my DD who turns 11 next year. She is currently home educated working at GCSE level subjects with an English Professor who grades her work at level 9. Would be grateful for any input on independent school suggestions where they can support a high level learner . We are flexible on location to a degree ~will consider The Midlands and East Anglia regions and similar. We are relocating back to the UK from USA.
I have been calling a few schools with mixed responses or no info at all, quite frustrating! Thanks in advance for any advice or info!

Boarding or day?

Kings InterHigh. Independent and flexible.

Try searching on other threads on gifted dc but basically in the U.K. school year groups are based on age. University application processes like GCSEs and A levels to be taken at the appropriate age point so it's a level playing field for all students. It's better to focus on a school where she will be happy and able to form friendships as well as being stimulated across the curriculum. There are many many schools that fit this bill including the state boarding school Wymondham High or the many leading private schools in Norwich and the midlands as well as exceptional schools in Cambridge city centre.

is this a US professor who is saying she's working to grade 9 GCSE level? Am intrigued as to how they would know what that looks like?

what schools have you tried so far? And when you say "Midlands/East Anglia and similar" what does the 'and similar' mean?

Schools for gifted pupils are not really a thing in UK. In selective schools , independent and private, there will be a number who work at a high level. Are you expecting her to take exams early or just be stretched?

Hi, no, it's a UK teacher who is qualified to grade at GCSE and A- Level

Thanks for the info ~ yes I'm noticing that schools for gifted are not popular in the UK as they are here in the US.

I do not wish for her to take exams early, but to be stretched and challenged in the classroom whilst being able to socialise with similar aged peers.

Is she particularly gifted in English or across the board? For example, in my DD’s selective independent school the most academically able tend to be in the top maths set, top Latin/Greek set, tend to have a music scholarships or drama scholarship too or sports scholarship etc too. No one kid excels in all the disciplines and they get stretched side ways - some kids are doing multiple modern languages outside curriculum too.
In all the top selective independent schools (and grammars) you will find kids with very high IQs in greater concentration than in the “normal” state schools. That is not to say that you will not also find very clever kids in state sixth form colleges, especially in places like Cambridge where the dons’ kids tend to go.

Whatever subjects your DD is most gifted in ask the schools what support they provide. I would be stretching a gifted English student into languages, creative writing, Classics, drama etc too - the wider the better.
The top academic independent schools in UK are Westminster for Sixth Form (boys only before that) and St Paul’s Girls (day) and Wickham Abbey (boarding). However, be careful - my DD has loads of gifted female friends and high pressured female only environment would not necessarily be good for them from a mental health perspective.

“Thanks for the info ~ yes I'm noticing that schools for gifted are not popular in the UK as they are here in the US.”

I am not sure this is actually true. The British just don’t like to call it that… most of the girls at St Paul’s girls school will be “gifted” in most people’s opinion, whatever that means. They like to pretend it is girls who really Iove learning with high energy. To me that is pretty much the same thing. They go through very rigorous selection to get there.

You need to decide co-ed vs single sex, day vs boarding and after that you can just google league tables. Results largely reflect cohort. And then hone in on finding somewhere with a Head of English with a PHD who you get on with etc.

Thanks so much for the info. She excels in Maths, English and Music but most importantly, she loves English.
We are not pressuring her to sit exams early etc; and I think it's important that she gets to be with other peers and form lasting friendships; but if we are paying for a private education, we do not want her to get bored in the year group for certain subjects where they would be covering material that she has already studied.
Thus far, from my research, it seems as if Norwich school is extremely forthcoming with their approach on teaching students like my DD and it seems as if they have a great English department and music program. They didn't have a clear strategy on how they could support with Maths however, so that would remain to be seen and require a little more investigation!
Appreciate the suggestions, thank you!

Good to know.
We would prefer co-ed and definitely day schooling options.
Over here, we have high ability learners tested by a licensed educational psychologist to determine their IQ score. Then, they are given the label of Gifted, or Profoundly gifted to assist with navigating through the schools here which cater to the students with certain IQ scores. Not sure if this is the same in the UK schooling system.

You should look at Oundle, Framlingham College, Greshams and Wymondham High as well as Norwich school plus the top performing schools in Cambridge some of which are single sex.
There is no certification for gifted dc in the U.K.

We do have schools don't we, we just call them grammar schools?

Also the schools in Stamford.

No, it isn't the same, although as PP said there are schools which select on academic ability in which all pupils will be academically gifted.

The Midlands and East Anglia is a huge area to think about if you are looking for a day school. Do you need to be near anywhere in particular?

I'd have a look at the Perse School. V strong academically with great English and drama.

OP are you sure you want A-levels and not IB? If your DD is equally good at English, Maths and Music?
Sorry I am not trying to confuse you, but best to narrow down now I would have thought to avoid another move later on. Because maybe somewhere more modern like Sevenoaks School in Kent would suit your DD.

No we don’t have that system

You’re looking for highly selective schools that test on entry

I know those in London not the area you’re after but it’s a bit different to US

Ignore this is you are not interested in IB but this website is pretty good and I think honest about the feel of the various IB schools. Indicates average results plus co-ed/day and boarding etc. www.ib-schools.com/league-tables/uk-top-ib-schools

Thank you, I will look at these. I've researched Norwich which is definitely an option thus far.

We have flexibility in those areas based upon the area being on a reasonable commutable distance to London for DH.
I will take a look at Perse. Thanks!

Thanks, I haven't looked at IB but will take a look at the link which you sent. Thanks!

How often will he need to commute to London? The East Anglia trains can be patchy and fares may be relatively expensive.

Midlands and East Anglia aren't terribly easy to commute to London from. As pp have said look at Sevenoaks School as it's an incredibly commuter friendly area and a high achieving school.

Maybe once or twice a week at most.