comment on boy boarding school

GIPW

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

beastiebistro

回覆 twhkleung 的帖子

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.

twhkleung

回覆 beastiebistro 的帖子

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!!!

beastiebistro

回覆 c9chun 的帖子

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.

c9chun

How about Radley?

beastiebistro

回覆 seabird6623 的帖子

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.

seabird6623

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)

c9chun

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.

beastiebistro

回覆 GIPW 的帖子

Of course, Good luck to your son.

GIPW

beastiebistro 發表於 20-10-8 12:48
回覆 GIPW 的帖子

I think the application closing date is one concern, the amount of available place ...

You are right.  Due to age constrain , we can only apply year 10.  if we failed then we need to wait for year 12 application.  So wish us good luck.  

beastiebistro

回覆 GIPW 的帖子

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.

GIPW

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 ...

If you are thinking of year 10 2021 then you must act quick as I know most of the schools has closed for application.  Otherwise you still got some times to do some research

beastiebistro

回覆 c9chun 的帖子

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.

c9chun

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.

GIPW

beastiebistro 發表於 20-10-6 14:41
回覆 GIPW 的帖子

Yes, 60% (around 450) board at Tonbridge but it includes weekly boarders.

Thanks beastiebistro

Need to talk to him again .  Thanks for all the info

beastiebistro

回覆 GIPW 的帖子

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.

GIPW

beastiebistro 發表於 20-10-6 14:13
回覆 GIPW 的帖子

I think you need to decide on a few things first:

Many Many thanks

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 ?

beastiebistro

回覆 GIPW 的帖子

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.

GIPW

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  ...

BTW, a bit too late to ask, rather than the above two schools, which boys school will you recommend ?  If we did not get a offer this time, I will aim at year 16 in take.  Coed will be underconsideration.   Thank you