UK State Boarding Schools

albertpapa

Any parents have kids going to UK state boarding schools this coming September? My son is going to study Year 9 in September and would like to know more about the state boarding schools.

Spanishmama

May I know which school your son is going? I am planning to send my daughter to the state boarding school but there are not many to consider, particularly for girls.

Many thanks.

albertpapa

We haven't decided yet as we are still waiting for results coming out in March. If you do not mind co-ed schools, there's quite a few to choose from.

Spanishmama

I would only consider the "quality" ones in terms of the academic results.

Could you please share the experience in your son's application?

Thanks again.

albertpapa

There is only one school for girls only and the others are mainly mixed. In terms of academic results, there are 2 schools ranked within the top 100 in 2010 "A" level results amongst all the independent and state schools. These ones are Colchester Royal Grammar School and Reading School. Mind you, out of the 35 state boarding school, 19 of them ranked outside the top 1,000. The ones my son applied are within the top 400. The boarding places at the state boarding schools are limited and as far as I undertsand, the selection procedures have already started and the results should come out around March. When are you planning to send your daughter to the UK and which year group you are looking for admission?

Spanishmama

I am targeting Year 10 in 2013 and thus I have a bit of time to plan ahead.

What about Hockerill Anglo-European College? If my daughter can do well in GCSE, she can apply for a better school in Form 6.

Kindly please share your thought. Thx.

albertpapa

Hockerill Anglo-European College is supposed to be a very good college but to my surprise, it ranked 960 based on the 2010 "A" level results.

Spanishmama

It is an IB school, how come it got A level ranking?

albertpapa

I was puzzled as well. Probably students have the choice of the normal GCE stream and the IB stream. That may be the reason you opt for your daughter to take GCSE at Year 11 and move on to other sixth form college.

Spanishmama

You are absolutely right.

Did your son sit for any entrance test during the application process? Or simply sent his transcript of existing school in HK over to UK?

Thanks again.

hkparagirl

想提提各位家長記得埋 學校有無 6th form，３５間入面有d 係無 中六的，但有掛歐，不過要 meet 到 requirement　先收。

albertpapa

Thank you for your reminder. All the schools we applied for have 6th forms. There should be no worry until the time for university admissions.

shirrenlau

Hi, Albertpapa

Have you received any good news from your applied state school?  My son is studying in year 9 in one of the state schools.  Don't know if your son applied the same school as my son!!

Spanishmama

Hi shirrenlau,

Would you mind to share your son's school life at the state school? Enjoy? Any issue/problem encountered? Academic OK?

Albertpapa: would also like to share any news on your son's admission application.

Many thanks to both of you.

albertpapa

Hi Shirrenlau and Spanishmama,

My son is going to Wymondham College this September to start his Year 9 course. Where are your kids studying?

cmaggie

Hi Spanishmama,

My daughter is going to study in Hockerill Y7 this Sep.  I also applied my son for Y10, but they don't have place to offer to him.  It is better you apply Y9.

Spanishmama

Thanks for letting me know, cmaggie.

Could you please share your experience on admission application for your daughter & son?

In fact, I have sent you pm. Kindly please read.

Many thanks.

Spanishmama

cmaggie

Pls check your email.

kaka01

想請問你們小朋友將入讀的 state school是直接向學校申請的還是經agent申請的呢？

albertpapa

You can make your application through either channel cause some state schools deal with their own applications and some will outsource to agents. We actually applied directly to the school and was referred to the agent to process the application.