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Secondary education

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Original poster

Marlborough College - rowdy?

30 replies

SurprisedSara · 20/05/2025 23:15

My DD is attending Marlborough College next year, she is entering at Sixth Form. She is very excited for the boarding environment, but I really can't help but be anything but nervous. I've heard stories of it being particularly rowdy and having a history of drinking and partying?

We were quite happy when she got in, though I'm sure admissions mustn't have been competitive as she didn't study or prepare at all for the exams. However, we are seriously doubting our decision to send her. Any advice appreciated.

DD is very sporty, outgoing and outdoorsy.

OP posts:
FairlyFarleigh · 22/05/2025 17:15

I think that's the point. They went co-ed a long time ago, and they did it whole-heartedly. As a result the girls are not a novelty or a minority group.

TizerorFizz · 22/05/2025 17:44

It’s more challenging to integrate girls throughout a whole boys boarding school. 6th form is definitely easier. I think it’s been a success.

SLR2022 · 22/05/2025 22:48

Our dd is there. It’s a great school with fantastic opportunities. They keep them pretty busy and yes they have bars for 6th form but they do breathalyser tests and keep a close eye. Of course you get the odd incident but I am prepared to bet it’s not worse than anywhere else. There are a lot of confident kids there, and plenty of girls with swishy hair lol, some wealthy some not so, but you would be hard pushed to know the difference and in our experience it doesn’t seem to matter. I would suggest not letting what you heard influence you - it will be what she makes of it. I am pretty sure you could make a case for ‘rowdy’ at any senior school in the country. They are 17/18 and growing up. Presumably you heard some good things originally or why would you have accepted a place?! It’s very competitive for 6th form places but not just based on academics - they look for a good all round fit.

Cornemuse · 19/11/2025 03:56

Just wanted to revive this post to see if OP is still on here and wants to give us an update about how her daughter is faring at Marlborough.

MofAA · 30/04/2026 23:18

TizerorFizz · 20/05/2025 23:53

@SurprisedSara Does she follow everyone she meets without thinking first? Is she easily led? If neither of these apply what does it matter what a minority do? You will always get a few noisy out-there types in (boarding) schools but do they drink and have parties in the boarding houses? Really? Of course dc might have parties as they will become 18 in the 6th form but attendance at parties is usually by invitation. Just make sure DD doesn’t fall in with the wrong crowd and get invited. If all goes completely wrong and she’s popular, don’t take her to the party. Unless it’s in the boarding house of course.

Wow so passive aggressive

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