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Original poster

Seeking advice on girls weekly boarding with strong music (piano)

45 replies

StanleyBay · 02/02/2025 18:23

Hello everyone

We would welcome mumsnetters' advice, opinions and guidance.

We are based in SW London and our 10 year old DD is interested in a boarding school with an emphasis on music, especially piano (but not a hard core music school). We love that idea and would add it needs to offer weekly boarding (defo) and all girls (prefo) - if Christian, that's a bonus. We would like a school with acceptable academics that puts a real emphasis on great pastoral care and personal development to nurture an empathetic, creative, confident all rounder.

Being weekly boarder, travel time would need to be 2 hours or so each way.from SW London.

Suggestions and comments most welcome.

Thanks for reading

Stanley Bay

Seeking advice on girls weekly boarding with strong music (piano)
OP posts:
Iamacatslave · 02/02/2025 18:26

St. Catherine’s, Bramley (Surrey.)

Floralnomad · 02/02/2025 18:30

Benenden - Kent

madnessitellyou · 02/02/2025 18:58

Wells? Don’t know if that fits with the commute.

Pianoaholic · 02/02/2025 19:04

I was going to suggest Wells. My daughter attended for 6th form only but we live in bath. So the weekly boarding worked perfectly. The issue for you would be that there is no rail link to wells.
She really enjoyed it, and was there for the music, but the academic side was good, and they attended cathedral services every week.
Just read that you prefer all girls, Wells is mixed, so.could be a deal breaker.
Good luck anyway.

MJOverInvestor · 02/02/2025 19:09

Woldingham School (catholic) - very easy commute (useful if you want to go and see her in concerts) and very strong in music and theatre

keverne · 02/02/2025 19:09

Shiplake College Henley (mixed)

LoserWinner · 02/02/2025 19:14

Bloxham, near Banbury.

grassisgreen · 02/02/2025 19:16

Downe House, Berkshire - Very strong on music, with a number of award programmes for girls interested in music. They even have a piano ensemble where around 8 pianists play together.
The music community between the girls from different year groups is very close, lots of peer to peer support and fun music activities.
Lots of girls go there who are from SW London.
(Your username Stanley Bay suggests a Hong Kong connection - DH also has a strong cohort)

Cyclingforcake · 02/02/2025 19:16

Sherborne girls traditionally had strong music. And a strong Christian tradition. But maybe too far for weekly boarding.

ACavalierDream · 02/02/2025 20:10

St Mary’s ascot? I would just warn that in my experience of boarding, albeit at a prep level, if you are not at a high level you will get forgotten and the ones with grade 8 level (yes there several 8 years old at the level) they get all the attention. My son who was grade 2 got given 30 minutes per week and never was selected for shows. I wished I had known that. He lost interest rapidly.

Original poster
StanleyBay · 03/02/2025 04:02

Pianoaholic · 02/02/2025 19:04

I was going to suggest Wells. My daughter attended for 6th form only but we live in bath. So the weekly boarding worked perfectly. The issue for you would be that there is no rail link to wells.
She really enjoyed it, and was there for the music, but the academic side was good, and they attended cathedral services every week.
Just read that you prefer all girls, Wells is mixed, so.could be a deal breaker.
Good luck anyway.

Hi there Pianoaholic, thanks for the input - coed is not a dealbreaker but it is 2.5-3.0 hrs from where we live so that would be the challenge.

OP posts:
Original poster
StanleyBay · 03/02/2025 04:03

ACavalierDream · 02/02/2025 20:10

St Mary’s ascot? I would just warn that in my experience of boarding, albeit at a prep level, if you are not at a high level you will get forgotten and the ones with grade 8 level (yes there several 8 years old at the level) they get all the attention. My son who was grade 2 got given 30 minutes per week and never was selected for shows. I wished I had known that. He lost interest rapidly.

Interesting comment and well worth bearing in mind. Thanks for the guidance. Re St Mary's, I believe you have to be practicing RC?

OP posts:
Original poster
StanleyBay · 03/02/2025 04:05

Cyclingforcake · 02/02/2025 19:16

Sherborne girls traditionally had strong music. And a strong Christian tradition. But maybe too far for weekly boarding.

Hi there, yes it is a great school and matches ,any of our needs....but up to 3 hours away by car - I donlt know if that is a dealbreaker but week in week out might be wearing

OP posts:
Original poster
StanleyBay · 03/02/2025 04:06

grassisgreen · 02/02/2025 19:16

Downe House, Berkshire - Very strong on music, with a number of award programmes for girls interested in music. They even have a piano ensemble where around 8 pianists play together.
The music community between the girls from different year groups is very close, lots of peer to peer support and fun music activities.
Lots of girls go there who are from SW London.
(Your username Stanley Bay suggests a Hong Kong connection - DH also has a strong cohort)

Hi there grassisgreen, thanks for the suggestion, yes it could be a good fit.How are admissions and the process? Also, it has very good academics - but is there over pressure on the girls? Your insights would be welcome

OP posts:
Original poster
StanleyBay · 03/02/2025 04:08

MJOverInvestor · 02/02/2025 19:09

Woldingham School (catholic) - very easy commute (useful if you want to go and see her in concerts) and very strong in music and theatre

Yes, just looked it up and could well make the shortlist. As you say, easy to get to. We are committed to church - but just not an RC church. Did the non RC girls feel left out at all? Many thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
StanleyBay · 03/02/2025 04:10

keverne · 02/02/2025 19:09

Shiplake College Henley (mixed)

Hi there, thanks for the suggestion. Do you have any kids there? I see it went coed in 2024, how is that working out? Do you have a view on music there? Many thanks again

OP posts:
Original poster
StanleyBay · 03/02/2025 04:15

Floralnomad · 02/02/2025 18:30

Benenden - Kent

Hi there, thanks for the suggestion, do/did you have kids there and what was/is their experience? I see they allow pupils to go home over Saturday nights - but there doesn't appear to be a fee for weekly boarders - is that accurate? Thanks again

OP posts:
KingscoteStaff · 03/02/2025 04:28

Roedean has a good weekly boarder set up and very strong music.

GildedRage · 03/02/2025 06:27

St Swithun’s. Winchester
they provide transport to London Friday and pick up on Sunday.

Billybagpuss · 03/02/2025 06:35

Cheltenham Ladies have a very strong piano program and 2 hours on the train from London.

RatherBeOnVacation · 03/02/2025 07:05

Haileybury or Downe House.

LavenderFields7 · 03/02/2025 07:12

Have you read about boarding school syndrome? There’s a lot of evidence to indicate boarding can cause psychological harm.

Wimbledonmum1985 · 03/02/2025 07:15

StanleyBay · 03/02/2025 04:08

Yes, just looked it up and could well make the shortlist. As you say, easy to get to. We are committed to church - but just not an RC church. Did the non RC girls feel left out at all? Many thanks

Show quote history

I don’t think Woldingham claims to be particularly Catholic these days.

Janbluesuary · 03/02/2025 07:16

Aldenham. Co-ed, lots of weekly and occasional boarders and really outstanding music