Boarding schools each have their own unique character, and
as education consultants part of our job is to look beyond the grand buildings
and state of the art facilities to get a feel for what really makes a school
tick. That’s why we spend a lot of time travelling around the country, meeting
students, registrars and headteachers, inspecting boarding houses, peering into
classrooms and admiring the often outstanding work on display. As we always tell parents, there is no
substitute for a school visit to know if somewhere is going to be right for
your child.
Here are some highlights of a recent trip by Les Webb and
Mary Murayama to visit some of the UK’s top schools.
Our first stop was Oundle, to deliver a Top 20 Co-ed Boarding School Crystal Award to the Headmaster, Charlie Bush. What a fabulous school! Entering Oundle itself is like going back in time to a smaller and quieter version of the university city of Oxford. We were especially impressed by the fantastic sculpture work in the art rooms and by the beautiful science department full of interesting displays and creatures.
We were also delighted to have the opportunity to visit Lincoln Minster School, perched up on the hill in an imposing position by the famous cathedral. Head of Marketing Helen Brown gave us a very interesting tour of the campus and we were impressed by the school’s strong musical tradition. This is a good school to consider if you want good value for money, particularly if your child is a chorister.
The following day Les received a warm welcome at St Peter’s,
a superb academic day and boarding coed school in central York. He very much enjoyed catching up with
headmaster Leo Winkley and discussing admissions arrangements with the
Admissions Officer Gillian Daniells.
Next stop for Les was Bootham, an all-through Quaker school
in an enviable position near the centre of York. Bootham prides itself on
offering a broad education “founded on moral principles” and this is evident in
the friendly and welcoming atmosphere of the school. He was struck by the
fabulous new facilities for the music and the visual arts, areas in which the
school excels.
Meanwhile I spent a very pleasant couple of hours at Queen
Margaret’s, where I was honoured to present a Top Girls Boarding School award
to the school for their 2014 A Level results. This lovely school was buzzing
with the sound of cheerful activity, from ballet and gymnastic practice to
girls chatting to their housemistress over home-made cookies before the Easter
break. It was good to meet Director of Marketing, Katherine Walker and I really
enjoyed seeing all the school has to offer.
Our last visit in Yorkshire was to the hugely impressive campus at QE (Queen Ethelburga’s). The school has risen impressively in the A Level league tables and we were pleased to be able to present the principal, Steven Jandrell, with a Crystal Award in recognition of the school’s position as a Top 5 Co-Ed Boarding School.
This really is a school like no other for the sheer extravagance of its facilities, which include plasma satellite TVs in the study bedrooms, professional standard sports facilities for a vast range of sports, and a state of the art social centre - “The Muggles” – where students can relax in their spare time with X-Boxes, roller blades, go-karts and a 3D cinema….. Combine this with the impressive academic results and you have a school that is bound to appeal to both students and their parents. It comes at a price though, with annual fees exceeding £40,000 for international students.
On the way back to Kent we were thrilled to be able to spend
a morning at Loughborough Grammar School where we were treated to a tour of the
facilities by two 6th formers who were excellent ambassadors for the
school and who had nothing but praise for the education they had received. We welcomed the opportunity to meet the
Headmaster, Paul Fisher, and his Deputy, John Weitzel, and had an interesting
discussion on the merits of single sex education for boys (see next issue).
This is an outstanding school and, although the vast majority of boys are day
pupils there are facilities for a small number of boarders making it a very
attractive option for international students looking for a quality British
education at a reasonable price.
The last big boarding school on our tour was Rugby, which is actually where the game started, when
in 1823, a boy called William Webb Ellis, picked up the ball during a game of
football, and ran with it (and there’s a plaque on the wall to prove it!). It was particularly nice to be able to visit
a boarding house for lunch and mingle with the students – a very friendly and
down to earth group of girls who had joined in the 6th form – and
then to have a tour of the many buildings and playing fields that make up this
famous school. Despite its fame and the
large numbers of students that progress to top universities, Rugby is not an
academic hothouse, as Registrar Guy Steele-Bodger was keen to point out. The
school looks for good all-round students who will contribute to
extra-curricular activities.
Our last stop was for a chat with our old friend, the
recently appointed Principal at Bosworth Independent College, Fiona Pocock. We
hear nothing but positive comments from families who visit the college and are
impressed by the strong focus on academic success combined with an approach
with genuinely cares for each individual student. It was also good to catch up too with Sue
Griffin, Director of Admissions and Marketing. It is still exceptional value for money,
particularly for day students.
Other visits in March included the presentation of Top 20
Girls Boarding School awards to two excellent schools – the Royal High School
in Bath and Badminton School in Bristol (Right). At Royal High I was warmly welcomed by
the registrar, Lynda Bevan, and enjoyed an excellent lunch and a very
informative tour of the school. I was struck by the very positive atmosphere
everywhere – this really is a school that believes in the potential of young
women and encourages them to achieve in every area, all within a very friendly
and supportive environment. At Badminton
I had the pleasure of meeting the headmistress, Mrs Tear, and also the Head of
Boarding who received the Crystal Award with a senior prefect on behalf of the
school. The subsequent tour of the
school revealed a busy and vibrant community of intelligent girls enjoying
wonderful facilities end inspiring teaching. The colourful displays in the Art
rooms where students had been working on a Mexican theme were particularly
memorable.
Seeing schools and making and renewing contacts is a vital and
most enjoyable aspect of our work. We are always grateful to schools for their
hospitality and time and are already looking forward to the next round of
visits.
