Uppingham School Sixth Form

Cfs1668 · 2023-01-18T06:47:11+00:00

Hello all, my ds got an offer for sixth form, I would like to know more information especially about the boarding life, we don't have any friends there and we are overseas boarder. it is much appreciated if you can provide more comment, thx !!!

TizerorFizz · 18/01/2023 17:06

My info is a bit out of date. It is quite an isolated school in the countryside. My DD looked at it but at that time, new 6th form girls were separated into their own 6th form house. We felt it made a “them and us” situation with integration being difficult. I assume they don’t do this for new boys. Make sure he has enough to do if he’s staying in at weekends.

Friends of DD1 had varying reports. A boy said it wasn’t cool to work hard. A girl said the boys had nicknames for the girls. Hers wasn’t pleasant! Do you have other offers?

JaneCaro · 20/01/2023 11:19

I have good experience of two children in Uppingham sixth form. As a full boarding school the weekends are busy as they are all there. Therefore good for overseas kids. My children happy and thriving - academically and otherwise. Weren’t new for sixth form but I haven’t heard negative stuff about those who have.

TizerorFizz · 20/01/2023 14:24

I think the negative for girls is if they are separated into the newbie house. I don’t know for sure that this is done now but it felt a second class way to treat new pupils and not likely to help integration. The house was also horrible.

Tartanshores · 20/01/2023 18:17

Have had 2 children at Uppingham , both were very happy there .
i always feel it’s best to get information from those who actually have experience of the school rather than those who didn’t like it when they went round it ( fair enough, horses for courses and all that .)
My niece joined in sixth form and liked it . She liked the fact that she wasn’t one of the only or few new ones .She was not seen as uncool because she worked hard.
My children ( and niece ) enjoyed their time there . The school sees all aspects of boarding school life as important and there is always lots to do - both in the week and at weekends. It is a full boarding school ( does not empty at weekends) which is very important for overseas boarders .
The boarding school staff were very good . My children and niece were very happy there .

Original poster

Cfs1668 · 20/01/2023 22:46

Tartanshores · 20/01/2023 18:17

Have had 2 children at Uppingham , both were very happy there .
i always feel it’s best to get information from those who actually have experience of the school rather than those who didn’t like it when they went round it ( fair enough, horses for courses and all that .)
My niece joined in sixth form and liked it . She liked the fact that she wasn’t one of the only or few new ones .She was not seen as uncool because she worked hard.
My children ( and niece ) enjoyed their time there . The school sees all aspects of boarding school life as important and there is always lots to do - both in the week and at weekends. It is a full boarding school ( does not empty at weekends) which is very important for overseas boarders .
The boarding school staff were very good . My children and niece were very happy there .

@Tartanshores thank you very much for the information. Do you know the support for the overseas boarders traveling to/ from airport at term start and end ? How's the support If the student's grades are not satisfactory,thanks!

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JenniferClarissa · 20/01/2023 22:57

I’ve had two sons at the school. Both very different personalities, but it was good for both of them. Younger one left in 2020 at the height of Covid, so not a great last few months of school. Both enjoyed school, sport, music and drama. They were kept busy in house as well as in lessons. Both went on to decent universities.

Have you got a house in mind?

TizerorFizz · 20/01/2023 23:23

The Lodge for 6th form new girls still exists though. Boys don’t seem to be herded into one house. Lucky them!

Original poster

Cfs1668 · 21/01/2023 01:53

JenniferClarissa · 20/01/2023 22:57

I’ve had two sons at the school. Both very different personalities, but it was good for both of them. Younger one left in 2020 at the height of Covid, so not a great last few months of school. Both enjoyed school, sport, music and drama. They were kept busy in house as well as in lessons. Both went on to decent universities.

Have you got a house in mind?

@JenniferClarissa Thanks for the reply, they told me that we are in general list so no house is assigned and depend on the availability. Could you please advise which house is good / modern or better for sixth form?

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Tartanshores · 21/01/2023 03:04

I found the support very good if grades were slipping . The staff were very good at noticing and providing extra help - there is a lot of help , should the pupil decide to take advantage of it .
I found the support in house very good too - housemasters , matrons, house tutors incredibly important .
Boarding school is about the whole experience , not just the academics . Children / young adults learn best when they are happy . The extra curricular opportunities are equally important ( in my eyes ) - my DC had very different interests but were happy .
I’m sorry , I cannot tell you about airport transfers etc but please contact the school - they are very used to these questions ( and many more!) and will be able to answer them .

Original poster

Cfs1668 · 21/01/2023 05:31

Tartanshores · 21/01/2023 03:04

I found the support very good if grades were slipping . The staff were very good at noticing and providing extra help - there is a lot of help , should the pupil decide to take advantage of it .
I found the support in house very good too - housemasters , matrons, house tutors incredibly important .
Boarding school is about the whole experience , not just the academics . Children / young adults learn best when they are happy . The extra curricular opportunities are equally important ( in my eyes ) - my DC had very different interests but were happy .
I’m sorry , I cannot tell you about airport transfers etc but please contact the school - they are very used to these questions ( and many more!) and will be able to answer them .

@Tartanshores many thanks for the update. Looking forward for the new chapter for him , it's a difficult decision but we definitely will try

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JenniferClarissa · 21/01/2023 19:16

Cfs1668 · 21/01/2023 01:53

@JenniferClarissa Thanks for the reply, they told me that we are in general list so no house is assigned and depend on the availability. Could you please advise which house is good / modern or better for sixth form?

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@Cfs1668 - each house is a bit different depending on the housemaster, matron and house culture (we changed housemaster during our time there and IMO the house changed for the better). It would be better to speak to current parents about how things are now as I'm a few years out of date.

In terms of geography, there are the hill houses, which are at one end of town. Some boys like them because they are away from the main school, others complain because it takes longer to get to/from the house to morning chapel/lessons. The town houses are right in town, but some don't have as much outside space to kick a ball around, and the country houses are at the other end of town from the hill houses. Nowhere is that far apart.

One of the reasons we went for Uppingham in the first place was the fact that students return to their houses for lunch each day, rather than everyone eating together in a huge refractory like other schools we looked at. Both DS's had friends from other houses and although everyone would say their house was the best, they also had good things to say about the others.

Original poster

Cfs1668 · 22/01/2023 02:25

@JenniferClarissa Thanks for the details, I think each house has pros and cons ,anyway let's see which house he will be assigned . He love the house system when he went there for interview.

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