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Secondary education

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Original poster

Millfield - any thoughts?

55 replies

MotherOfGirls · 30/11/2008 07:38

We are considering Millfield School for our daughter, who would join Sep 2011 as a boarder. Haven't yet visited. Does anyone have any experience of the school?

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westendgirl · 01/12/2008 16:49

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thumbwitch · 01/12/2008 23:07

I think my info is not going to be much help but will add it in anyway - when I was at school (nearly 25 years ago, hence the not much use bit) a girl left our private day school to go to Millfield 6th form as a boarder. She was back at our school after a term and a half. She went there because she was a bit of a lacrosse sportstar, and not the brightest academically (not thick, our school had a high academic standard), but it just didn't suit her.

The only inside info I had was to do with inappropriate use of hairbrushes (with long handles) in the girls' dorms - urgh.

CountessDracula · 01/12/2008 23:17

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CountessDracula · 01/12/2008 23:19

oh and my father threatened me with it for 6th form when I got chucked out of my school but when he went to look round they asked if I was on the pill so that put him off...

scaryteacher · 02/12/2008 10:44

A friend has just sent her lad there as he begged to go for the sport, and he loves it. He's year 9 I think. No complaints so far...and no mention of drugs either. I'll find out more for you when I see her next week if you like.

jimjamshaslefttheyurt · 02/12/2008 14:22

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GrimmaTheNome · 02/12/2008 14:27

DHs cousin went there and turned out a bit of a wrong 'un. But perhaps he would have anyway.

Perhaps its somewhere you need to be a bit more careful of if your kid is easily led.

Original poster
MotherOfGirls · 02/12/2008 15:59

Thanks to you all for the comments.

Scaryteacher - I would be really interested to hear your friend's opinion, as it sounds like she will have up to the minute experience of joining the school. I'll keep a watch on this thread to see if you are able to let me have some feedback after you have seen her. Thank you in advance!

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scaryteacher · 10/12/2008 08:27

MoG: this is what she e-mailed me - any specific questions, let me know by tomorrow, as that's when we are meeting.

Now - Millfield.....the only real negative I see compared to other Boarding schools is the fact that their exeat weekends only commence at 4.00p.m. on Saturday due to Saturday morning school and sport commitments on the afternoon - this makes it impossible for them to make it back here for the weekend as is only one night. (Note: we are just outside Brussels). Everything else appears to be going well - obviously facilities are excellent although some of the classrooms are ancient and very small however the class sizes are very small and its the quality of the teaching that is important. Havent received ds's first report yet so may have more to say after that!!

If your enquirer has any specific questions or just wants a chat about it, I'm happy to help.

Hope that helps.

ajandjjmum · 10/12/2008 09:36

Just to follow up on the last message, I understand that you can take exeats when it suits you, so although they aren't long, you can fit them in to suit family plans.

My niece has just left Millfield - she is not bright and whilst she joined on a sports scholarship, seemed to quickly lose interest in sport when she joined at 13. She had a great social life though - but drugs have not been mentioned!

A close friend's daughter is a current student, and is into everything sports-wise - absolutely loves it. However, she is a bright spark, and I know that her parents are concerned that she will be encouraged to settle for foundation courses at GCSE, rather than higher level. She's very happy though.

Anna8888 · 10/12/2008 09:39

We sent the DSSs to Millfield for the English Language Course for foreigners last summer, and visited the campus which entirely lives up to its reputation - the facilities are out of this world.

The English course (which I know is not what you are after) was fabulous, a huge success, the boys learnt masses and will be returning in 2009, despite £££££££££ fees.

Original poster
MotherOfGirls · 10/12/2008 11:03

Thanks all - again! It is great to have so much feedback.

Scaryteacher, I take your friend's point about exeats. DD1 is boarding at another senior school and they have fixed exeats Fri 1pm to Sunday night and I do like having her home for two nights, every 3 weeks.

2 areas of concern - what is the pastoral care like? This probably varies from house to house but any info would be helpful. Also, how does your friend's son find the eating arrangements? DD1's school eat in their houses, which again, I like. It provides a break from the rough and tumble of a large co-ed school. DD2 is more robust and may appreciate the wider selection of food afforded by a canteen style arrangement!

We are meeting with DD2's Head to discuss schools just after Christmas and, provided he doesn't think Millfield would be a huge mistake, I'm looking forward to visiting.

Oh, your friend may not want to share this information but I was wondering whether there is any flexibility on the 10% forces discount they advertise.

Thanks again.

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scaryteacher · 10/12/2008 11:20

I'll ask her about pastoral care and the food. She isn't Forces, so I think her dh's company picks up the fees.

I'd ask about the Forces discount though. I know Kelly in Tavistock do an automatic 10% for year 7 and 8, and 20% for years 9-13, and then you take BSA off. It works out about £1000 per term parental contribution, which isn't bad considering. If you don't ask, you don't get!

Original poster
MotherOfGirls · 10/12/2008 11:55

Thanks. Sorry - I assumed your friend was forces. Millfield have told me 10% on the phone, but as that leaves us finding about £2,500 per term, after BSA, I am hoping there might be better news. I am all for asking!!

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scaryteacher · 10/12/2008 12:17

We're amixed bag - some Forces, lots not, so it's a nice mix. I tend to be with the school mums and the international lot, rather than the Forces lot here.

scaryteacher · 12/12/2008 10:48

OK, here's the info.

Pastoral care - superb. Since her ds started in September they've had a death in the family; her ds broke his arm (so the medical care is great as well), and the house parents also dealt with all the usual starting boarding school wobbles.

Food - fab by all accounts. They all eat in the canteen and the choice is wide and very edible.

Her ds is still a bit wobbly, but she thinks that is because they have a close home life and he misses that; rather than any problem with the school. They broke up last week, and she says he is thriving. She says that he will have to stay for a whole academic year so that he can experience all of it, before they decide what will happen. He's mad on cricket and very good, so she thinks that the summer term with all the cricketing going on will convince him, especially as the school here is not set up for that, and will never be.

Hope that helps!

poshsinglemum · 03/01/2009 09:24

I went there and hated it as was badly bullied but was not rich or sporty. Sporty kids thrive and the facilities are excellent. My dad teaches there and really enjoys it due to small classes and they can kick out disruptive students. Really depends on your child. Dad says it's not terribly academic. Caters well for dislexic.

poshsinglemum · 03/01/2009 09:29

PS: None of the teachers noticed that I was bullied or if they did, nothing was done. Even my dad! As with most school denial was order of the day.
I am bitter as I have a lot of emotional problems from school but don't let it put you off as most people do. Ive turned out ok- Im a school teacher myself but also a single mum on benefits atm so there are no guarentees.
Prob a bit of a geek at school so may have been bullied anywhere.
Millfield looks good on the CV and there is an Old Millfieldian society which 'takes care' of allumini long after they leave. My best memories were of the beautiful campus.

poshsinglemum · 03/01/2009 09:30

The food is fab by the way so mabe I have some good memories. Very clique was the down side.

Original poster
MotherOfGirls · 04/01/2009 15:26

Many thanks, scaryteacher. Sorry I haven't been around over Christmas to thank you earlier! It certainly sounds like they have some good systems in place. I'm very much looking forward to seeing the school.

Thanks also poshsinglemum. Sorry to hear you had a miserable time. I like to think pastoral care in most places has moved forward in recent years .......

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HoorayHenry · 04/01/2009 15:29

Boarding? WHY WHY WHY. Can you not manage?
Dog / Kennel argument.

scaryteacher · 04/01/2009 22:54

MoG - no problem - if you have any more questions, let me know and my friend will answer them for you.

HH - MoG is from an Armed Forces family - read the thread! It's not always possible to not use boarding school if you are Forces - continuity of education etc.

Original poster
MotherOfGirls · 08/01/2009 07:47

Scaryteacher - thanks again. Also for the support in your last post. Much appreciated.

HH - I move house every two years, in UK and abroad, in support of my husband, who has so far served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. I do the best I can to give my children a stable education. They have 20 weeks holiday each year and I have become self employed so I can have that time with them and still pay the school fees. I wonder if working parents of day school children spend as much time with their children as I do. And yes, thank you, I can manage perfectly well. I hope this answers your question.

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JollyPirate · 08/01/2009 07:55

I lived near Millfield for several years - although I have no direct experience of the school I will say that the pupils I came across always looked happy. Ian Botham went there on a sports scholarship as far as I can recall.

HH any children of Forces parents have a hard time when it comes to education - constant moving around means their education is very disrupted. My niece has just gone into boarding school at age 14 because these last few years are so important and she has experienced so much disruption. It's nothing to do with not being able to cope or wanting to pack a child away.

scaryteacher · 08/01/2009 12:30

No sweat MoG. Hope the discussion with your current head and the Millfield visit are good.