Question about UK schools

[amari_z]

I suppose I could spend a couple of fun hours googling this, but I should probably spend that time actually writing, so I'll see if you, trusty flist, have any suggestions:

I need the name of a fancy public school that a wealthy/prestigious family would send their daughter to. It would also need to be a place that might take some scholarship students whose families could not pay full tuition. The more elite and snobbish the better. The women who attended the school would now be between about 30 to 35 years old. Any ideas?

Um, I suppose I could offer a prize for the answer I end up using, but it would only be fun for someone who is reading Resurrection. Okay, then, here’s the prize, should you choose to accept it: you get to pick Lillian Delaney’s school-girl nickname. (Make it a good one. ;) )

Comments

[darklyscarlett.livejournal.com]

I'll tthrow my hat in:

Queen Ethelburga's College, in York. I'm serious -- it's a real public school, with both boarders and day students. Fees cut by 40% for day students! You can bring your horse for free! It's co-ed, but the name is a winner.

Lillian Delaney's nickname was Boom-Boom, derived from a rather unfortunate fall from her horse during an national equestrian event (she bounced and hit her head twice -- once, against the barrier, and then on the ground). She had been leading in show jumping up to this final round. She lost to Zara Phillips.

[anitabuchan.livejournal.com]

I think Queen Ethelburga's College might win. But I have lived in Rugby, which has a private school. You used to see the students walking around in daft uniforms, and you knew when it was parent's day because of the number of helicopters arriving. The students used to get all sorts of special treatment: for example, in the cinema, if a coach of them were there, everyone else had to sit and wait for them to leave first. Because otherwise they might have to walk behind one of us commoners :).

But they did do scholarships, which were originally supposed to be for working class kids, but of course only upper-middle class kids could afford the tutors to help them pass the exams. And you were supposedly bullied if you didn't have your own swiming pool.

They were famous for drugs and shoplifting as well.

[starry-diadem.livejournal.com]

The two top boarding schools for girls are Roedean (http://www.roedean.co.uk/) and Cheltenham Ladies College (http://www.cheltladiescollege.org/welcome/index.asp)