Thornton college?

[Marls81]

Looking for a private secondary school for my girls. Live in MK but want to move out to Buckingham area.
As non religious family are we crazy to consider this Catholic school..
We don't want a Saturday school and for other reasons wouldn't consider Stowe, and not heard great things about Akeley Wood...

Hi, just to let you know that the school has around 20% of practising Catholics but we are made up of all faiths and none - all are welcome! I'd be happy to answer any questions or meet to show you around (I work there!) Hopefully you have already seen our recent ISI inspection report.

Ah fantastic..yes we've been for an open day...the girls loved it, really nice small caring feeling we got from it, and I think this would suit my children very well. Coming from an ordinary primary school I guess I'm wondering what kind of daily Catholic practices would be involved/expected of the girls in the school day/life at Thornton?

So, in tutor time at the start and end of the day we have a short prayer - we have a selection of prayers and readings and girls often create their own which is lovely - this has happened in an impromptu way this summer with Year 11 deciding to pray together before every GCSE exam.
We also operate a cycle of year group chapel assemblies during a half term - our chapel is at the heart of the school and is open to girls throughout the day at selected break and lunchtimes too. During weekly assemblies, we pray and sing hymns (we are quite well known for our singing!) but our core focus on Catholic values is generally about being kind, respectful and caring for others and the environment - key values for all whether they are religious or not. I hope that is helpful, please do let me know if you have any other questions.

Hi, may I ask what it was about Akeley that wasn’t great? I went to view today and we are considering putting our little boy in. Have not made up our minds yet, though.

Just stuff on Mumsnet, and also from teachers at Thornton. High turnover of teachers and heads...you might be OK as you have a boy, but more boys than girls..

Have a good look on the mumsnet threads about Akeley..

I have had 2 daughters in Thornton and whilst jnr school was wonderful snr school was terrible. My daughters who are academic declined there and although my oldest DD was in top set maths at the age of 12 her teacher told me she would unlikely be able to do A-level maths (this was in front of her). We enrolled in Stowe and my oldest has all A predictions (A* for maths) and has all Russell Group offers for Bio Chemistry and my younger daughter is in their scholar program. It is a school that has bought out the best in both my daughters and I will be forever grateful to them! Best move we ever made. They were shy girls before now they have so much confidence and academically thriving. The pastoral care is amazing! Can’t recommend the school highly enough.