<p>So No to Downe then...many people seem to have bad experiences at Downe-I've asked at other forums too. So strange.</p>
<p>Anyone know anything about Wycombe Abbey? I'll check St. Paul's out.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the info. so far!</p>
<p>Wycombe Abbey's quite hard to get into, and there is a very high drop-out rate at the school (students can't take it, so they leave). They also make you cook your own meals, at one point, so if you're not the best chef, then maybe you should check out some others. Most people I know have not been very happy at Wycombe, but I'm sure there are always exceptions. St. Pauls is an excellent option, however, so I highly recommend going there, if you were to go to a school in England.</p>
<p>thank you so much jlg. I always had the opinion that wycombe abbey is like the IT school for girls.</p>
<p>They seem to have the most brilliant way of promoting via their website, and their results are pretty good. Thanks for this other perspective though- eeks. a lot of dropouts!! Not good.</p>
<p>One last school I was interested in is St. Swithuns. I've done my research there too, but I want a personal opinion on it. Anyone?</p>
<p>Cheltenham Ladies College? <-- not sure if I spelled that right XD</p>
<p>Is that a good school?</p>
<p>St. Swithuns is highly regarded....but watch the % of foreign students there, since I'm not sure that it's very high. When my d was at an English school, the assistant houseparent in her house was a St. Swithun's grad. </p>
<p>As for Chelt Ladies, it's one of the most highly regarded schools in England....very traditional, very smart girls, also thought of as somewhat of an academic hothouse, but probably not as much as Wycombe Abbey. My d was accepted there (Chelt) but felt more of a "fit" at other schools....good luck. There are loads and loads of English schools, so do LOTS of research and VISIT if you're seriously considering them....</p>
<p>Do you know the Independet Schools Inspectorate?</p>
<p>They inspect all independent schools every few years and write a quite detailed report about the quality of the education they provide. I think the most interesting point is number 8 (Achievement and Quality in Subjects and Activities). </p>
<p>Maybe it can help you a bit with your search.</p>
<p>You absolutely should look at the Inspectorate Reports, which you can get in detail online for most schools. Observe the dates, though, that the last review was done, as it can have been a few years since an inspection was conducted, and changes can have occurred in the meantime - for good and bad. Good luck</p>
<p>Thank you so much all you folks.</p>