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Boarding schools!!

Hey there!

My parents are thinking of sending me to a private boarding school to do my A- levels next year.

I've not given the subject too much thought, and certainly haven't been to visit any yet! :smile:

Anyway, the basis of my question is: which public/private schools are the best in terms of results, friendliness, fees etc. I’ve thought about Cheltenham and Wellington, but I reckon they are a bit too expensive, and I doubt I’m clever enough to win a scholarship of any kind!!

Also, I’m unable to do GCSE mocks, (as I’m a distance learning student), so would I be able to apply to a sixth form once I’d received my actual results.

Help is appreciated! :smile:

Reply 1

Teao the Cat

17

Umm, well there's Queen Ethelburghas and Queen Margarets in the York area... and apart from those I only really know the Scottish ones like Merchiston, Fettes, Glenalmond, Strathallan. I go there, and it's a good school, and they do have lots of sixth form Scholarships, so if you are any good at music, drama, sport or academically... they also have bursaries. Very few pupils pay full school fees. I only know of about 4 in my year who do.

Reply 2

sweety_mimi44

Well I was in your exact situation last year! I ended up applying to Malvern College, Westminster and Sevenoaks. I got into all but decided to go to Sevenoaks because:
1. It has one of the best records for academics (was ranked no1 by the times & the independant last year)
2. Although it is a private boarding school it has a more relaxed atmosphere than some of the more traditional ones
3. It does the International Baccalaureate rather than Alevels (which I feel is a very prestigious qualification compared to Alevels- others may disagree but hey its my opinion!)
4. It has a very high rate of university entrance - 98% students get to their first choice university and over 60% go to Oxbridge or the Ivy League

Anyway other good boarding schools include Badminton etc.. good luck ! :biggrin:

Reply 3

Swyn

1

There's Howell's in Denbigh, North Wales. They do loads of scholarships, because they keep trying to persuade all the locals that they desperately want to go there! But it's a fantastic school, very rich history, royal links and everything. I would have tried for a scholarship, but I wanted a Welsh education. Their fees are very reasonable as well (apparently) for a private boarding school.

Reply 4

Swyn

1

Ooh and they also have a 100% record with getting girls into their desired universities. It's an all-girl school btw.

Reply 5

Johnny C.

9

The Leys School in Cambridge is a very nice one. I'm slightly biased as I went there :biggrin:

As for money, the fees are about average but there's lots of scholarships and bursaries for academia, sport, music and drama. As an example, I got a scholarship and a bursary which meant my parents only paid 25% of the fees.

Academically, their results are average, but this is largely due to them not being academically selective in who they admit. The school is in the top 20 for "value-added" - which is calculated by comparing how academically good students are when they enter the school and how academically good they are when they leave.

Anyway, all private schools give a good education so don't worry too much about that.

The Leys is in the centre of Cambridge - 10 minute wark to the market place (where all the shops are). Cambridge is a beautiful city and the school itself has beautiful grounds and buildings. It's co-ed which is always good and unlike many boarding schools, you are allowed to go into town during your free time. There aren't many boarding schools in a city-centre location

It's a very friendly place and the relationships between students and teachers is excellent - it was quite common for students to go to the pub with teachers or play in bands together etc...

Part of the school

School website:
www.theleys.cambs.sch.uk

Reply 6

slk999

15

well, i'll put in a word for mine- Dauntsey's School in Wiltshire- www.dauntseys.org
it's co-ed and has boarders and day people. the campus is quite rural- but this hasn't meant people dislike it at all. there's a good sixth form feel to it too. plus it's really not stuffy at all and we get good results too.
plus my dad is the registrar person so i could put in a special word! also the fees aren't huge either.

Reply 7

lovers in japan

2

RHS Bath is rather good: one of best schools in Bath, really good boarding facilities although it is a day school as well.

www.gdst.net/royalhighbath

Reply 8

jude1388

I know this is a bit late but anyway i'd take a look at The Royal Hospital School, Ipswich, i went there and would really recommend it, there are so many opportunities...if you're willing to embrace them of course! A great school for all-rounders but also will get people working to their full potential if they excel at something.
Anyway let us know which you choose/chose!

Reply 9

Vesta

18

Sevenoaks, Badminton, Charterhouse, Rugby, Marlborough, Wycombe Abbey, Cheltnem Ladies', Clifton College, Kings' School Canterbury..
They're all fantastic co-ed (some are girls only) boarding schools, but very competitive.

Reply 10

lucho22

13

Teao the Cat

Umm, well there's Queen Ethelburghas and Queen Margarets in the York area... and apart from those I only really know the Scottish ones like Merchiston, Fettes, Glenalmond, Strathallan. I go there, and it's a good school, and they do have lots of sixth form Scholarships, so if you are any good at music, drama, sport or academically... they also have bursaries. Very few pupils pay full school fees. I only know of about 4 in my year who do.

Ah yes - Merchiston - my uncle went there - really beautiful grounds and it's pretty good academically still.
Gordonstoun also.. My uncle (another one) was deputy head there, and three of his children went there.. I liked it when I visited - but I don't think it has that great a reputation academically...
And then you've got St Leonard's in St Andrews (3 of my cousins went there) - they seemed to turn out ok lol.
Down south there's also Downe House - another of my cousins goes there. (Girls only though I think)
Then finally I can also recommend Sherborne - my dad and two of his brothers attended and they all really liked it.

Reply 11

*River

15

I could come on here and sell my own school :wink:

, but I won't. It's worth remembering that a lot of schools will have filled up all of their places now, and scholarship exams were some time ago. The 'big' names schools may not have any more spaces available. You need to ring up the schools that you're interested in, and ask them if they have spaces availale. Your circumstances are also quite uniqe, but you'll have to take exams anyway so it shouldn't matter too much that you don't have mock GCSE results yet.

Reply 12

wazzup

my personal advice: dont go to a boarding school. you will deeply regret it. i ve been to one and left, because i just couldnt stand the restrictions, e.g. u cant go out after a certain time.they treat u there like u r 12 years old.

Reply 13

Wangers

16

Becausw living with people and making friends is such a pain? I board, yes there are rules, but most are reasonable considering the school is in loco parentis. Plenty of people board and become balanced people regardless of the rules...I concede that it isnt for everyone though.

Reply 14

Historiana

14

My cousins go to Barnard Castle in County Durham.

Apparently it's good.

Reply 15

SHAC attack!

The chances of getting into the likes CLC or Wellington at this time of year are slim to non, you will have to set your sights a bit lower.

If you don't want to go to far from home I suggest you try Mount Saint Mary's College just outside Sheffield. You will most probably get a place there. There are lots of good boarding schools around York, some have already been mentioned, look at these before you go further afield.

Reply 16

*River

15

You have to be ready for boarding school for it to work - I started when I was 11, and some people in my year left because they simply weren't mature enough to deal with it. Now I'm in my final year, the restrictions are pretty reasonable - beyond staying out all night to get wasted they're probably no worse than what the average 18 year old has to put up with at home :wink:

.

Reply 17

Isobell

splorgie

RHS Bath is rather good: one of best schools in Bath, really good boarding facilities although it is a day school as well.

www.gdst.net/royalhighbath

Yikes! Are you there now?

It is an excellent School :smile:

Reply 18

Wangers

16

OP - if you can ask to be shown round by a student, or if you have any friends there pop down to have a look at what the place is like when its running...open days for anything tend to be a bit orchestrated...also just keep in mind that whereso'er you go, you'll have to be able to live with people, and get on, regardless of attitude and wealth 24/7. Good luck on the way to Ithaca. :smile:

Reply 19

wazzup

Wangers

Becausw living with people and making friends is such a pain? I board, yes there are rules, but most are reasonable considering the school is in loco parentis. Plenty of people board and become balanced people regardless of the rules...I concede that it isnt for everyone though.

yes boarding is fine until the point when you want to go out clubbing. that usually happens in sixth form.so until sixth form boarding will be quite gd.

Boarding schools!!

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