Looking at boarding DS for Yr 8 Surrey/W Sussex/Hampshire

[JammyCow]

Hi I am looking at moving my DS to board in Year 8. He is academically very capable but prone to laziness and not very keen on sport. He likes art and drama but is not massively into either. We feel he needs a more inclusive, boarding environment where academics are important but not at the expensive of having well rounded happy children who want to be a part of the school community. We have seen Epsom, Cranleigh and Charterhouse and they are not for us.
Does anyone have any experience (both good and bad) of Christs Hospital or Hurst Pierpoint?
Can anyone suggest another school we could go and see?

[goinggetstough]

Hi
Year 8 is an unusual year to move, so your choices may be limited, but equally less demand. Senior schools usually start at year 7 or year 9 after Common Entrance.
In addition to your list have you considered Ardingly College (year 9 but with a prep school attached) or Eastbourne College (year 9 entrance - I know more East Sussex, but a good train line), Gordon's School Woking (year 7)?
Is your DS going to weekly boarder?

[missmiss]

Hurstpierpoint is quite sporty, I think.

[JammyCow]

Hi goinggetstough I would prefer weekly but we saw CH and were impressed with the full boarding experience. Yr 7 has been a complete disaster for us hence the move to board in yr 8 and try a different approach. We live in Surrey so I like the idea of being close so we can go to watch matches etc.

[grovel]

You could look at Leighton Park (Reading). Neighbours sent their DS there and were delighted. They too did not feel that the Charterhouses, Wellingtons etc were "right for him".

[MrsWitcher]

What about Bearwood College? I know a mum who thought Welloington was just too much for her son and she is really happy with Bearwood.

[goinggetstough]

Jammy Cow - have you thought about Lord Wandsworth College - not too far from Surrey. My DB went there many years ago but we have recently had friends there who speak very highly of it.
You mention your DS is not keen on sport, similiar to my DS. However, my DS goes to a school which is known for sport. He does the normal amount of school but the school has lots to offer him too, so he has thrived there. So from my experience don't be immediately put off if you are told a school is sporty. Some schools of course do revolve around sport so you do have to look carefully. Good luck.

[missmiss]

Lord Wandsworth is a DREADFUL school. Full of thick rugger buggers; very bad bullying problem.

[Giselle99]

Have you considered Reed's, or City of London Freemen's? The latter is mainly day but may be worth a visit.

[DazR]

Both daughters went to Hurstpierpoint (in the Prep school) and had a really great time. Good pastoral care and very much a 'family feel' school. They were day pupils but there were a number of boarders - weekly, full time and occasional. It is sporty (participation is encouraged but there is a level for everyone) it also has good music facilities and is very strong on drama. Academically it was excellent with some really good teachers who had great enthusiasm for their subjects.

[Colleger]

I would avoid CH, and that aside it is not a school that a parent can just decide to send a child to as CH picks the child.

How are the schools mentioned "not for us"? What do you mean by that?

Abingdon may fit your criteria.

[mumoverseas]

DS attends Hurstpierpoint as a full boarder and is very happy there. He is the least sporty boy you will ever meet, his cricket report from his prep school once read 'sonoverseas has progressed from making daisy chains to standing in an upright position whilst fielding, great progress'.

Although it is a very sporty school, as another poster has said, there is a level for everyone and he was not forced to do sport he didn't want to do.

DD attends Royal Alexandra and Albert school in Reigate, a state boarding school. This is also a very good school although is VERY sporty. She also loves it there.

I would have no hesitation in recommending either of these schools.

[Pippaandpolly]

I have only ever heard good things about Christ's Hospital - from teachers and men who used to go there. (Admittedly they're all adults now - I don't know anyone who's gone in the last ten years.) I went to Cranleigh and hated it. (It's a good school - I was just too introverted and bookish to enjoy the rugby/flirting!)

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

Neighbour's sons at Reeds, they have been very happy there, one now at Uni other in Year 11

[HalleluiaScot]

I would also recommend that you look at Reeds.

[Punkatheart]

I can second a vote for Leighton Park. My daughter is there and they have the ability of bringing so much out of each child, treating them with compassion and interest - as individuals.....

[applesandcider]

I looked at Farnham Heights for one of my DC - is that too far for you? We didn't go for it in the end as it was just to far away from us for exeats, but I was hugely impressed by the school. It had a great feel, very chilled and relaxed, and the emphasis was certainly on roundedness (is that word? or did I make it up!!!) rather than educational excellence.

Otherwise, if you have no problem with distance, what about Bedales?

[menagerie]

I was going to suggest Reeds too. I know several day boys from the school and they are all happy there.

[Happymum22]

Heard fab things about chrsits hospital- all those there seem extremely proud of the school and fit in and find friends easily. Good mix of people from all backgrounds. Really 'unique' atomosphere. wanted DD to go there but didnt get in we live miles away :(

[propatria]

Farnham heights? Do you mean Frensham Heights ?
Yep if you like Frensham ,you"ll like Bedales...

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

A friends two DC were at frensham heights, they had a lovely time, but didn't really do anything, poor qualifications at the end. But they liked it there!

[LIZS]

Lancing College or Brighton College?

[propatria]

Rather,that sounds about right,one of my godsons went there(but not for long..),The op stated her son was academically very capable,some of the suggestions made hardly fit that bill.

[JammyCow]

Thanks for all the great responses everyone. Had a look at Frensham Lovely school, but felt DS would probably do no work at all there. Liked Reeds but a bit too close to home to have the boarding experience (DS now really wants the full away from home thing :-( Brighton and Lancing are 13+ both are amazing but we would have to wait at our current school until end of yr 8 which isn't ideal. Going to see Worth and Leighton Park over next few weeks and still very keen on CH (fingers crossed they like DS). The whole experience has been such a roller coaster, you do all that schlepping around schools in yr4 and 5, think you've picked the right one, crack open the champagne when they ace the entrance exam, only to find it's going tits up by Easter and you are back looking at schools again !!!!!