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

[StanleyBay]

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

Hello again, "Stanley Bay" is n my fake name for this forum - no connexion with HK at all....I chose it because it is the name of a beach in Alexandria which I visited and seemed as good as any. Born and bred West Londoner.

Thanks for the advice. What I have read led me to think (rightly or wrongly) that it is quite sporty and boysey - big emphasis on sport and most boarders are boys - is that accurate? Thanks again for your help.

@StanleyBay Aldenham is very boy heavy and totally put us off.

Haileybury is a great school for music. Children of several professional musicians there that I know. Chose it specifically for the music.

That is interesting indeed. In fact I had just added it to the list and then saw your post. I will take a closer look. Thanks again.

It’s currently about 40 percent girls and they have a girls boarding house.its very sporty and very musical. Huge emphasis on music, brilliant music performances both house and school and wonderful music facilities

No I didn’t go @StanleyBay but I kept my horses at a yard with a girl who did , they do have Saturday morning school which may not suit you .

We have family friends who are C of E who sent a dd to Woldingham. She was very happy there and did very well too. So I don’t think it’s an issue if dc are not RC.

Worth also looking at St Christopher in Letchworth. Music is very strong, very whole child focused (great results without hothousing) and boarding dc seem very happy. Co Ed so doesn’t tick that box and not Christian but is a school with a very strong set of values, so might perhaps tick your ethos box in that way.

Many thanks MuminHerts and for the nudge on St Christopher

@StanleyBay St Christopher’s does not suit everyone.

If you would like a girls school with decent music, I’d look at somewhere like Queenswood, Herts. It is not full of grade 8 musicians. It’s got visiting piano teachers and lots of music in school and performance opportunities. It’s weekly boarding and not an academic hot house. It’s Methodist but light touch religion.

Downe House might suit but it’s “smart”! What about Epsom College?

The King's School, Canterbury. Always had a good reputation for music & arts as well as academic. But it is co-ed and I'm unsure if it now does weekly boarding.

Pangbourne College in Berkshire is good all-round but also great for piano - it has an all-Steinway music centre and runs an annual piano festival which is very well thought of

Sorry, mistook which school you meant - have deleted so as not to add misinformation!

Lancing College, Sussex. Strong pastoral focus, good for music, good variety of weekly boarders, Christian ethos.

Leighton Park would be another to consider if the fees aren’t out of your range. It’s co-ed and not religious in a traditional sense, but it’s Quaker and the focus on values and nurturing people and communities may fill the underlying needs behind those preferences. Strong music, a wide range of academics, and flexible boarding including weekly (and no Saturday school, which is a big plus if you’re weekly boarding IMO). Reading should be close enough that you could potentially do 3 nights at home per week if she wants - I believe they actually run a Monday morning and Friday afternoon shuttle to/from Chiswick specifically for students from London to do that.

Thanks @ElatedOrGassy I will check it out

Thanks so much for your insights !

My friends daughter goes to Roedean. Weekly boarder, the bus goes from Victoria. She loves it apparently - they have loads of Steinway’s (if that helps???)?and a great music dept.

@StanleyBay

We would love to welcome you for a tour at Lancing College (I work there, but am a mum too!) it is co-ed, however girls get space and time away from boys in their Houses which I think is a good balance. Weekly boarding is an option and we have a good number of pupils who travel between us and London. Our pastoral care got recognised as a significant strength by ISI in October (a rare accolade in the new system). You can find our more on our website, or feel free to message me: www.lancingcollege.co.uk

King’s Ely has a strong music department as well as the connections to the Cathedral. They’re very strong on pastoral care and “producing a rounded individual”.

DD has just been offered a place to start this September which we’re thrilled with.

There’s a direct line train from Ely to King’s Cross which takes about an hour and a half if that helps.

https://www.kingsely.org

@StanleyBay not sure where you reached with this but there are some good suggestions! Speaking about the two Cambridge schools mentioned here - King’s Ely and St Mary’s stand out. You don’t have to be practising RC or even Christian at St Mary’s. Majority of pupils and staff are not RC. Ditto King’s Ely - no requirement to be CofE.

I’ve put three through private schools in the area. Your DD with strong potential for music could find a wonderful community in Cambridge. There is world class music education in the area and within the schools. A particular pro of St Mary’s is the pastoral care and boarding (which has one several awards though I’ve not experienced it firsthand - mine were day) - if you visit that will be obvious very quickly. King’s Ely also well-regarded though I do not know it firsthand. PM if you have any questions