Independent senior schools in Poole area
Discussion
I don't know the area and although I have a list of 5 within 30 minute drive I have no idea what each is like except for their results, website etc. They all have entrance exams .. I don't know how difficult each is to get into. Does anyone know how each of them compare with regard to admission difficulty??
Canford have an entrance exam, taken in Yr. 6, and will give you a decline, wait listed place or a confirmed place, depending on the child's results. Wait listed places aren't confirmed or rejected until the child is in Year 8, which if they're not successful doesn't give you a lot of options. They also ask the Prep/junior school for a report, and I'm sure that goes towards their decisions. Exam results from the place are good, the ground and facilities are stunning. Great swimming/rowing etc. £10K+ per term. Saturday school is mandatory, so for day pupils, doesn't leave a lot of family life.
Talbot Heath girls in Bournemouth is excellent, Year 7 onwards, places confirmed soon after the child's entrance exam in Year 6. Then if accepted and good enough, they're invited back for scholarship exams. If successful in those, you get a discount etc.. Flexi boarding available too, so the girls can have special nights, i.e. halloween up there together on a grown up adventure. Results are actually slightly better than Canford, and it's half the price, or even less with a scholarship.
Bryanston is super stunning. Makes Canford facilities look half rate! Boarding only. They do flexy boarding too, but you have to pay for the bed anyway, and it doesn't really work as a day school, as they have lessons until 9pm on some days.
Clayesmore is where the thickos go. Always has been. They always have places available in Year 9.
Yarrells have closed their Year 7 & 8, so not sure where their pupils go after Year 6. Castle Court & Dumpton still run Yr 7 & 8, on the very traditional independent schools track, with scholarship exams for the likes of Canford in Yr. 8.
Boys grammar school in Poole is very good. Selective entrance and free.
My son had a confirmed place at Canford, my daughter was waitlisted. My son also passed his eleven plus, and my daughter passed her scholarship exam at Talbot Heath, so not sure in what light that shows up the various entrance requirements.
Don't know about BCS or any of the others I'm afraid.
Talbot Heath girls in Bournemouth is excellent, Year 7 onwards, places confirmed soon after the child's entrance exam in Year 6. Then if accepted and good enough, they're invited back for scholarship exams. If successful in those, you get a discount etc.. Flexi boarding available too, so the girls can have special nights, i.e. halloween up there together on a grown up adventure. Results are actually slightly better than Canford, and it's half the price, or even less with a scholarship.
Bryanston is super stunning. Makes Canford facilities look half rate! Boarding only. They do flexy boarding too, but you have to pay for the bed anyway, and it doesn't really work as a day school, as they have lessons until 9pm on some days.
Clayesmore is where the thickos go. Always has been. They always have places available in Year 9.
Yarrells have closed their Year 7 & 8, so not sure where their pupils go after Year 6. Castle Court & Dumpton still run Yr 7 & 8, on the very traditional independent schools track, with scholarship exams for the likes of Canford in Yr. 8.
Boys grammar school in Poole is very good. Selective entrance and free.
My son had a confirmed place at Canford, my daughter was waitlisted. My son also passed his eleven plus, and my daughter passed her scholarship exam at Talbot Heath, so not sure in what light that shows up the various entrance requirements.
Don't know about BCS or any of the others I'm afraid.
Edited by catfood12 on Monday 27th December 16:34
catfood12 said:
Canford have an entrance exam, taken in Yr. 6, and will give you a decline, wait listed place or a confirmed place, depending on the child's results. Wait listed places aren't confirmed or rejected until the child is in Year 8, which if they're not successful doesn't give you a lot of options. They also ask the Prep/junior school for a report, and I'm sure that goes towards their decisions. Exam results from the place are good, the ground and facilities are stunning. Great swimming/rowing etc. £10K+ per term. Saturday school is mandatory, so for day pupils, doesn't leave a lot of family life.
Talbot Heath girls in Bournemouth is excellent, Year 7 onwards, places confirmed soon after the child's entrance exam in Year 6. Then if accepted and good enough, they're invited back for scholarship exams. If successful in those, you get a discount etc.. Flexi boarding available too, so the girls can have special nights, i.e. halloween up there together on a grown up adventure. Results are actually slightly better than Canford, and it's half the price, or even less with a scholarship.
Bryanston is super stunning. Makes Canford facilities look half rate! Boarding only. They do flexy boarding too, but you have to pay for the bed anyway, and it doesn't really work as a day school, as they have lessons until 9pm on some days.
Clayesmore is where the thickos go. Always has been. They always have places available in Year 9.
Yarrells have closed their Year 7 & 8, so not sure where their pupils go after Year 6. Castle Court & Dumpton still run Yr 7 & 8, on the very traditional independent schools track, with scholarship exams for the likes of Canford in Yr. 8.
Boys grammar school in Poole is very good. Selective entrance and free.
My son had a confirmed place at Canford, my daughter was waitlisted. My son also passed his eleven plus, and my daughter passed her scholarship exam at Talbot Heath, so not sure in what light that shows up the various entrance requirements.
Don't know about BCS or any of the others I'm afraid.
Catfood, Thank you very much for taking the time to reply in this detail. Our shortlist is now Talbot Heath, Canford and BCS. Not sure what we do if we don't manage to get her into any of them! As she would be going straight into year 10 in September it someone would have to leave to make way. I've started the admissions process with All. I'll let you know how we get on!!Talbot Heath girls in Bournemouth is excellent, Year 7 onwards, places confirmed soon after the child's entrance exam in Year 6. Then if accepted and good enough, they're invited back for scholarship exams. If successful in those, you get a discount etc.. Flexi boarding available too, so the girls can have special nights, i.e. halloween up there together on a grown up adventure. Results are actually slightly better than Canford, and it's half the price, or even less with a scholarship.
Bryanston is super stunning. Makes Canford facilities look half rate! Boarding only. They do flexy boarding too, but you have to pay for the bed anyway, and it doesn't really work as a day school, as they have lessons until 9pm on some days.
Clayesmore is where the thickos go. Always has been. They always have places available in Year 9.
Yarrells have closed their Year 7 & 8, so not sure where their pupils go after Year 6. Castle Court & Dumpton still run Yr 7 & 8, on the very traditional independent schools track, with scholarship exams for the likes of Canford in Yr. 8.
Boys grammar school in Poole is very good. Selective entrance and free.
My son had a confirmed place at Canford, my daughter was waitlisted. My son also passed his eleven plus, and my daughter passed her scholarship exam at Talbot Heath, so not sure in what light that shows up the various entrance requirements.
Don't know about BCS or any of the others I'm afraid.
Edited by catfood12 on Monday 27th December 16:34
Do you want day or boarding ? There's limited day places at Canford, and there's always a bit of a scramble. The turnover is quite high however due to the avocation and nomadic nature of many of the international parents.
The Head Mistress at Talbot Heath, Mrs Holloway, is very approachable and open, more so than the Head at Canford. The TH hub is amazing, they've built a fantastic art/textiles/DT block, encompassing their old pool, which is an outstanding facility in the area.
I have mixed feelings about Canford, they're slightly imperious, as they're always oversubscribed and they can pick and choose, however on the open days I've met children that weren't intellectually superlative, but all had that independent school confidence and manner.
My daughter is loving TH, which is the main thing, and the access to and dialogue with the teachers is very genuine and supportive. It was my wife that initially didn't want our daughter to go to an all girls school, hence it originally being a second choice.
The future path for them both will certainly include sixth form at Canford, but for now, I couldn't recommend TH highly enough.
My children were lucky enough both to be sent to an excellent local prep school, and my wife and I were overwhelmed with the choices of where to send them next. It was never like that in my day!
PM me if you want to discuss more.
The Head Mistress at Talbot Heath, Mrs Holloway, is very approachable and open, more so than the Head at Canford. The TH hub is amazing, they've built a fantastic art/textiles/DT block, encompassing their old pool, which is an outstanding facility in the area.
I have mixed feelings about Canford, they're slightly imperious, as they're always oversubscribed and they can pick and choose, however on the open days I've met children that weren't intellectually superlative, but all had that independent school confidence and manner.
My daughter is loving TH, which is the main thing, and the access to and dialogue with the teachers is very genuine and supportive. It was my wife that initially didn't want our daughter to go to an all girls school, hence it originally being a second choice.
The future path for them both will certainly include sixth form at Canford, but for now, I couldn't recommend TH highly enough.
My children were lucky enough both to be sent to an excellent local prep school, and my wife and I were overwhelmed with the choices of where to send them next. It was never like that in my day!
PM me if you want to discuss more.
Gassing Station | South Coast | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff