North-East Independent Schools

[Emily01]

Hello everyone

I'm looking for a secondary school in N-E England. My dd is very academic, but not sporty at all. She is painfully shy, not a 'girly girl' and can't stand bitchiness. She has had bad experiences at previous schools and I'm unsure what to do. I would hate to send her somewhere that would lower her self-esteem even further. Does anyone know about these schools?

Harrogate Ladies' College
Sunderland High School
Church High School (Newcastle)
Cundall Manor School
Dame Allan's
Queen Mary's in Thirsk
Queen Margaret's in York
The Mount School
Bootham School
Westfield School
Central High (Newcastle)
Queen Ethelburga's College
Casterton School

I was thinking about either Harrogate Ladies? or one of the Newcastle schools.

Harrogate ladies is very rigourous and straight laced IMO. Excellent academic standards though!
Queen Margarets in Escrick, Nr York. Heard nothing but praise. Fantastic setting and excellent results. Offer a wider range of subjects (not all traditional academic) than other private schools.
Bootham is in city centre, good school.
The Mount is all girls, strong sports, excellent academic.
Queen Ethelburgas is in the sticks, takes a wider range of abilities. Offers horsey stabling etc. A little different to the other schools I have mentioned above.

Definately would visit QM's in Escrick and The Mount.

St Peter's in York is worth a look surely?

Hugely wide area!!, and they don't all offer boarding. Would second Q Margarets (escrick) or The mount.
Would not go anywhere near queen ethel's if academic.
St Peter's I find the parents terribly hooray henry, far more so than any of the other schools mentioned.
Cundall manor and casterton don't seem to me to be right for your dd, central high might be or dhs in durham.

my dd1 is at central high in Newcastle she is not sporty and has settled really well . we live south and she travels by train. She will be joined there by her sister this autumn it's a fabulous school . So far no problems with bitchiness quite the reverse actually the whole form of 20 seem to look out for each other.

Durham high?
Red house in wynyard

Both very good

I would avoid westfields like the plague (former pupil here!) as it can be incredibly bitchy and very status obsessed.

Central and Dame allens have good reputations and would be good alternatives though, go and have a look around and see where she feels most comfortable.

Obviously my advice is from an old pupil perspective so things could have changed in the 10 years plus since I was at school :)

Know the Head of Sunderland high well and she is an impressive, educated woman. Sunderland gets my vote.

Oh god! 6 QE threads have been resurrected today by you, is this desperation MumKnows? Or are you being paid?