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作者: GIPW 時間: 20-10-6 11:36 標題: comment on boy boarding school
Dear All
would like to have your comment on the boy boarding school :- Tonbridge and Whitgift
would like to have more information before making a decision
作者: beastiebistro 時間: 20-10-6 12:09
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It really depends on what your selection criteria are. Without knowing that it's a bit difficult to give you any comments.
I think the key in my opinion is if you're looking for a proper boarding experiences, then you wouldn't choose Whitgift. It is a huge school (1,500+ students) but has only about 100 boarders (including weekly and full boarding). You can imagine most of the full boarders will be overseas students. Do you want your child to be surrounded by overseas students at night and over the weekends?
Even though Tonbridge nowadays is leaning more and more towards weekly boarding, at least 60% of the students are boarders.
作者: GIPW 時間: 20-10-6 12:19
beastiebistro 發表於 20-10-6 12:09 
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It really depends on what your selection criteria are. Without knowing that it's a ...
So in your opinion, do you think if surronded by full boarder is better than day school students ? that he will better settled himself in a surronding that is new to him ?
作者: horace_hywong 時間: 20-10-6 12:24
GIPW,
You mentioned you want more information before making the decision, I presumed that your son has received offers from both of them.
I strongly agree with beastiebistro, there are only 100 boarders in Whitgift, And more importantly, the week boarder may constitute over 50% already. Hence only around 50 boys are staying during the weekend.
You can expect that most of these full boarders are Mainlanders, Hong Kong, some other orientals and maybe Russian (since they are so damn rich). All of these will not make the boarding life fruitful and colourful. On the other hand, it also makes the school less flexible in organising activities.
In addition, those boarders may have very limited opportunities to interact with local if they are not particularly sociable.
In contrast, Tonbridge is also a huge school with a much bigger boarding population. And it is particularly popular and well-received among the local student, not only overseas.
Academically, Tonbridge has been very successful and outstanding, significantly better than Whitgift. I would say in some situation, Tonbridge is even better than Westminster, Winchester and Eton...... Local thinks Tonbridge should be one of the best.
That said, Whitgift is very strong in sports, if your son is very talented in sports, it would be a great place for him.
作者: beastiebistro 時間: 20-10-6 12:24
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Assuming your son will be a boarder, I definitely think it is a very important aspect. You are spending so much money to send him to boarding school, I would have thought you'd want him to get the most out of the experience, not just some good grades.
If there aren't enough boarders over the weekends, there's nothing to do. You can't even play a game of pick up football. Your son would be surrounded by locals during class. But how much interaction do you think they would have? They can't very well chat about what they want during class. The bonding and interaction really happens AFTER school. There's a difference between having 100 boarders and 450.
作者: GIPW 時間: 20-10-6 13:46
Thank you very much for all your information.
Both schools have not given him offer. I just make some daydreams at the moment. 
As I personally have not study aboard before so I thought I better seek help and advice from the experienced parents.
Thank you for your feedback
作者: GIPW 時間: 20-10-6 13:54
horace_hywong 發表於 20-10-6 12:24
GIPW,
You mentioned you want more information before making the decision, I presumed that your son ...
作者: beastiebistro 時間: 20-10-6 14:13
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I think you need to decide on a few things first:
1. are you considering year 9 entry? if so which year? 2021 Sept?
2. so failing that, it would be year 12 entry? 2024 sept?
3. What is it you are hoping to get out of the school? or what are your selection criteria?for example,
- a traditional, full boarding experience
- just academics
- sports
- music
To be honest, there aren't that many all boys, full boarding schools in the UK anymore. Off the top of my head, Eton, Harrow, Winchester, Radley and maybe Sherborne.
Other good boys schools with smaller or small boarding contingents include: Tonbridge (60%), Abingdon (10-15%), Dulwich college (less than 10%), Bedford school (20%).
You'd probably be better off considering co-ed schools if you want a wider choice.
作者: GIPW 時間: 20-10-6 14:22
beastiebistro 發表於 20-10-6 14:13
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I think you need to decide on a few things first:
do you mean there are 60% (Tonbridge) of the studends are boarders ?
1. we are too late for year 9 entry. I am actually applying year 10 at the moment and this is an odd year so the chances are slim
2. If we fail to get then we will target year 12 at 2022
3. I yet need to talk with him on this.
BTW, besides Brigton , which co-ed school will you recommend ?
作者: beastiebistro 時間: 20-10-6 14:41
本帖最後由 beastiebistro 於 20-10-6 14:42 編輯
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Yes, 60% (around 450) board at Tonbridge but it includes weekly boarders.
Personally, I wouldn't choose Brighton College. It has a high number of mainland chinese students (that is the reason why the results are so good recently). It's a matter of being super selective at admission, rather than necessarily added value by the school. It is a big school (1,100+ students) but only 30% board (including weekly boarding) so it would not be what I would consider a traditional English boarding experience.
If you are just looking for a school that would get you good results and into a good university (and don't care too much about boarding experience) you are better off going for the Oxford International Colleges, or the Cardiff sixth form colleges or the Concord Colleges or you could try for Brighton College at year 12.
If on the other hand, you are looking for a genuine English Boarding Experience for your son, and you don't mind co-ed, there are really a lot of choices. You could try my alma mater, Rugby School. You could try Charterhouse, Oundle, Shrewsbury, Uppingham, Repton, Bromsgrove etc. Some people like Epsom and Caterham. You have to be prepared to look beyond just results and rankings. To be honest, there will be students that get into Oxbridge and Russell Group universities in ALL of these schools, there will be those that drop out. There will be good teachers and bad teachers. And the results only reflect the past year's cohort. It is really down more to the student than the school. If you are prepared to think like that, then look for the right boarding experience for your son.
If he is sporty, Wellington College or even Cheltenham College. If he is musically inclined, Wells Cathedral, King's School Canterbury, etc.
Really there are a lot of choices but you need to list out some criteria yourself (with your son), decide what's important and then look for the right schools.
作者: GIPW 時間: 20-10-6 14:50
beastiebistro 發表於 20-10-6 14:41
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Yes, 60% (around 450) board at Tonbridge but it includes weekly boarders.
Need to talk to him again . Thanks for all the info
作者: flower9 時間: 20-10-6 15:43
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作者: c9chun 時間: 20-10-7 22:19
I am also considering Y10 entrance. My worry is whether my kid can catch up with the curriculum as some school might already start teaching GCSE in Y9. And most of the boarders start from Y9, whether my kid can easily blend in.
作者: beastiebistro 時間: 20-10-7 22:36
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Regarding the curriculum, you shouldn't worry. The GCSE curriculum was designed for Key Stage 4 (yrs10 and 11) and only takes two years to master. Even if some schools start in Year 9, it shouldn't be a problem catching up. The only situation where that might be a problem is if your child's English is weak as most of the subjects are taught in English.
As for blending in, that depends really on the group that he is with. I joined Year 10 directly (admittedly years ago) and I had no problems blending in. Of course I was an out-going person and I played most sports. That really helps blending in at boarding schools. Most boarding boys are quite "simple" (for lack of a better word), you join them in games and they welcome you.
作者: GIPW 時間: 20-10-8 10:56
c9chun 發表於 20-10-7 22:19
I am also considering Y10 entrance. My worry is whether my kid can catch up with the curriculum as s ...
作者: beastiebistro 時間: 20-10-8 12:48
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I think the application closing date is one concern, the amount of available places at Y10 is also another concern. Y9 is the normal intake year for senior school so most places are taken then. There are usually only a handful (or even none) of places available at Y10.
作者: GIPW 時間: 20-10-8 13:09
beastiebistro 發表於 20-10-8 12:48
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I think the application closing date is one concern, the amount of available place ...
作者: beastiebistro 時間: 20-10-8 13:15
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Of course, Good luck to your son.
作者: c9chun 時間: 20-10-8 22:08
Thanks for all the advice. Have already started exploring through an agent. Just my heart is still 1516 coz my kid is a bit quiet and introvert, pondering if I should consider Y10 or Y12 entrance.
作者: seabird6623 時間: 20-10-10 11:47
本帖最後由 seabird6623 於 20-10-10 11:51 編輯
My agents suggested to apply...
Abingdon school
Brighton College
Epsom college
Whitgift School
Caterham School
Uppingham college
Bromsgrove school
I think too many and any suggestions for me to choose and apply
I agree a traditional boarding school life is better...
My son wants to study in Co-ed school (He is in boy school now)
作者: beastiebistro 時間: 20-10-10 12:08
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I don't know you son's academic ability so I'm just going to give you my opinion based on a desire for traditional boarding experience. This has nothing to do with the schools' results or ranking (if that's more important for you, then you'll have to rearrange the order).
Of the list, I would say Uppingham gives the most authentic traditional boarding experience. I even still uses the house dining system which fosters a great house spirit and a lot of pastoral care is done during and immediately after the meals.
Abingdon, Whitgift have too few boarders to give an authentic boarding experience.
BC is a super selective academic hothouse with lots of HK/mainland students. students won't be able to enjoy the other aspects of boarding life at leisure.
Epsom/Caterham again filled with HK/mainland students and lowish boarding numbers meaning that your son would be facing lots of fellow Asians at night and over the weekends. Would you consider that authentic boarding?
Bromsgrove has a little higher number of boarders (about 50%) but again quite popular with HK/China students. The fact that it's been pushed a lot this year by agents in HK makes me wonder if there will be yet more HK/mainlanders.
If you are looking for an authentic boarding experience, you really only have one choice from this list. I don't know which year entry you are aiming for, if it's for 2022 and beyond, I would look further. I would ask about schools like Oundle, Rugby, Repton, Shrewsbury, etc.
作者: c9chun 時間: 20-10-10 16:46
How about Radley?
作者: beastiebistro 時間: 20-10-10 16:53
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Radley is excellent It is one of the four famous remaining all boys all boarding school in the UK (Eton, Harrow, Winchester and Radley). Traditionally Eton wanted the all rounders, Winchester the intellectuals, Harrow and Radley the sportsmen but nowadays, they all produce all rounders with slightly different leanings. Radley used to have more "old money" type but they have "modernised" their mix a bit.
If you are looking for an authentic, traditional, full boarding school, Radley definitely should be a choice. The question usually is if you want all boys.
作者: twhkleung 時間: 20-10-10 19:27
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Could you give me any advice?
Our situation is that.
- boy
- academic is ok, but definitely not the top 10%, even not top 20% (overall). However, if just measure the STEM subjects, the result is quite good indeed.
- strong interest in STEM with very good academic result, and obtained internal/external awards each yr
- no talent in music nor sport
- apply for 6th form in 2021
- plan to select subjects in A-level - Math, Further Math, Physics, and Computing Sci
Our expectation
- authentic traditional boarding experience (but 2 years only. hence, we know cant expect too much)
- target to study in the top university (hope so) in EE, CS, or AI.
- truely English speaking environment (hope less non-English native speaking boarder)
Our finding
- good exam result schools normally have a lot of Chinese (especially, mainland Chinese students as they are good in examination usually)
Agent suggestions
- Abingdon
- Whitgift
- Dulwich
- Freeman
- Ley
- Norwich
- Caterham
- and many
We finally decide to try
- Dulwich
- Caterham
- Tonbridge (but this one seems very difficult)
After reading your post, and visit the respective schools' websites, I have interest in Radley. But just not sure if it is suitable and if my son can reach their required standard.
Could you give me some comments? Thanks a lot!!!
作者: beastiebistro 時間: 20-10-10 21:21
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I'm more than happy to give you my opinion. See if you find it useful.
I think your general observation is correct. The schools with the best results are usually packed with Mainland or HK students. If you want an authentic traditional boarding experience, those are not for you. But it is a give and take process, they do pretty much ensure that your child will do quite well. (of course there are still students who fail at such institutes every year which nobody seems to talk about.)
For the agent suggestion list,
- Abingdon/Whitgift/Freeman/Dulwich even Caterham have too small a boarding population to give your child a proper boarding experience. Caterham also has a high HK/Chinese student population.
- Norwich if I'm not mistaken is basically a day school so you'd have to arrange for homestay. That is not boarding at all.
To be honest, I'm not sure your agent has taken into account your desire for an authentic boarding experience.
I think Tonbridge is definitely worth a try. Radley is good but does not focus on STEM subjects. If you are confident, you can try my son's school, Winchester college. These would definitely give him an authentic boarding school experience. I would also suggest you try Rugby school, my alma mater for an authentic, full boarding experience. Academically Rugby is more balanced across the board but STEM is not bad. Or maybe Charterhouse or Oundle.
I think whether a child gets into a top university ultimately depends on himself RATHER than the school he goes to but of the list, Winchester, Tonbridge probably gives him the best academic rigour for a top university
the other four (Radley, Rugby, Oundle and Charterhouse) are also good but perhaps just slightly less rigorous academically.
This is of course just my opinion. I hope it helps you a little. Feel free to discuss.
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