Durham

[mrsrhodgilbert]

I'd love to hear from anyone with recent experience of Durham through their dc. Dd2 loved it at the open day. As a fairly local state school pupil she is on their Insight programme. We are in Yorkshire. This is designed to help/encourage such students to apply not just there but to other 'good' universities. Her school, state but high achieving, think she is a suitable candidate and have a number who go each year, so have some experience.

I have looked through old threads and whilst there isn't a lot of information I am getting the impression that it is very public school. Presumably Durham think this themselves, hence the Insight programme. I think I saw statistics that quoted roughly 50:50 state/public entry.

So my questions, exactly what form does this public school influence take, I've read the term 'rah' and if you have a state educated child did they feel happy there? Similarly if you have a public school educated child, did they choose Durham to be among their peers?

Obviously the choice is hers, I've just heard some negative stuff and would hate her to feel excluded.

[secretsquirrels]

Well if she gets an offer there is an opportunity to try it out before she decides, and beware they are often slow to make those offers.
DS (state sixth form college) had an offer and went to the offer holders days. It involved an overnight stay in his allocated college. They spent day one on college based activity and day two on the subject.
He desperately wanted to love it and pick it as his insurance. He loved the course but hated the public school atmosphere. He said he felt that he would never fit in.
I don't want to make him sound chippy. He's been on lots of summer schools and residential courses which were dominated by fee paying schools and made some good friends there but he thought Durham was different. Maybe they were all trying to make an impression, lots of peacock displays. Maybe he was unlucky.
Anyway he turned it down.

[Hazelanne]

I went to Durham from 2006-2009 having been entirely state educated and while I didn't meet many other people from the same educational background it was never remotely an issue. Lots of people educated in international schools and state grammar schools as well those from private schools (both the very posh high fee type and the less glamorous type).
There was quite a link between which colleges within the university were considered more or less welcoming to non-privately educated people but that was within the student body rather than any official policy. Generally speaking the 'hill' colleges were considered much more open/friendly and much less 'rah' than the 'bailey' colleges.
From what I've heard from friends who have left more recently (after staying on for Masters, phds etc) the balance of state educated student has been gradually increasing and it seems to remain the case that no one really cares where you're from once you've got through freshers week, which I think is probably try of any uni. All the best to your DD wherever she chooses to go!

[mrsrhodgilbert]

Thank you both. She is a very outgoing friendly girl, quick to make friends and keep them. I would hate to see her personality squashed in a place where she may be frozen out. Her school sixth form take a lot of students from private schools who come to do their A levels and they tend to stick together. So as not to come over as chippy myself, DH went to public school so I'm not biased. So far two quite different responses.

[sugarquill]

I was there until 5 years ago (couldn't leave, it was amazing )- if she plumps for a 'Hill' College, she will likely find it to be less full of public school 'rahs'.

Saying that, every College is more balanced now. In the early 00s, this definitely wasn't the case. I totally know what you mean about the cliqueyness.

I would advise she picks a College that's not one of the smallest and that is on the Hill. Perhaps Van Mildert, Trevelyan, or Mary's.

[sugarquill]

Just to give you an example of the early 00's snobbery in the Bailey colleges, I overheard my old bitchy roommate talk about her state-school educated friend, saying she "hadn't bloomed yet" and didn't have "social polish" that presumably she had, having been to boarding school and the like.

Some of the rahs just don't have a clue.

[CatKisser]

I loved it - was there 2003 to 2006 but have had involvement with the university until last year as a mentor for new students. It's a brilliant place. As others have said, the Hill colleges are a lot more...er... Down to earth, whereas the Bailey colleges in the centre are more "rah." Obviously a sweeping statement and there are lovely people and dicks in all colleges, but there's truth in it.

The city is nice - there used to be a massive town/gown divide, but in my opinion this is much less significant since Durham has had new leisure areas bull and, obviously, everyone wants to use them!

[CatKisser]

Van Mildert all the way, sugar quill!

[sugarquill]

I was next door, at Trevs I used to love popping over to VM's bar. In fact, it was our first stop for bar crawls!

Yes, town/gown has definitely improved, though not many students used the leisure centre/new restaurants/Loveshack when I was there - it was seen as local central.

There used to be more student nights in the bars, but these have stopped now.

I think Newcastle is probably more popular for student nights out now as the time for big club nights in Durham are over.

[CommanderShepard]

VAN MILDERT! DOING IT FOR THE BISHOP!

Ahem.

2001-2005 so I must've overlapped with catkisser; state school. Never a problem.

My husband is a Hatfielder though...

[secretsquirrels]

You don't get a real choice of college though. DS put a preference but was allocated a different one.

[sugarquill]

Did he apply for Castle by any chance?

Some Colleges are much more oversubscribed than others. In my day, Mary's and Cuth's were the least popular.

[sugarquill]

Oh yes, VM had the most AMAZING DUCK Formal one year. Abseilers from the dining room balcony and everything.

went to far too many Formals in her time

misses Formals

may have got DP to dress up in his gown for pretend Formal occasionally

[balia]

I live near Durham and was asked by an old friend to keep an eye on her DD when she started there - maybe 5 years ago? The DD was outgoing, bubbly, confident so I really didn't expect her to have any problems but she loathed it. She was routinely in tears for several months. She was on the 'hill', too - but had room/house mates who were very unpleasant and she felt excluded by the atmosphere and the expense. It was the first time I had heard of the delightful word 'paupers' when used to describe students who hadn't been through the private school system. She joined a group, something to do with the forces, and that got her through - lots of trips and social events away from the 'rahs'. This is, of course, only one experience.

I love Durham, it is a beautiful city - but it is quite a 'small' city, IYSWIM. 50/50 is actually a massive number of private school pupils - I think there are only a couple of Unis that are higher (Oxford and Cambridge being 2) and the average is much more like 80% state, I think. And the number of state pupils they take is decreasing since the £9,000 tuition fees. There is a very different atmosphere in Newcastle, just a few miles away. I'd make sure she visits lots of places before she makes up her mind.

[friendface]

DS is going to Durham, also from Yorkshire. What really swayed it for him was that they offer an overnight open day after you've received your offer when you really get a feel for the place and your college. DS did get his first choice college, but he applied to one of the big hill colleges. I think now that they've changed the method of allocating colleges to just a random ballot there isn't the same level of snobbery at the bailey colleges. Obviously DS hasn't started yet so can't comment on your precise concerns but he's really looking forward to starting and has been made to feel very welcome through contact from his college. It seems a great university - I'm very jealous of DS getting to study somewhere so beautiful!

[CatKisser]

Sugar quill, I was at that one!!!!

[sugarquill]

Jeez, "pauper" comments at a Hill College? Disgusting people!

At Trevs 5 years ago, I would say that about 15% of students were overtly the public-school stereotype, and yes they banded together, and dominated bar events, but we learned to avoid them.

[friendface]

As a bit of background - DS went to a state school all the way through school and then to a local private school for sixth form. He said he was expecting to be surrounded by 'rah' types but everyone just seemed normal! The only comment he did have was that he didn't hear very many Yorkshire accents!

[BOFster]

Dd1 is off there next week, and will be in Castle. I don't really know what that implies, but we thought it looked nicely Hogwartish . She is from an ordinary comprehensive, and a Liverpool one at that, so I'm not sure what they'll make of her . She sounds a lot like your daughter though, and is a good mixer, so I'm sure she'll be fine. She has already made some friends from the Open Day and is in touch with them on Facebook, which I guess is a good sign.

[IAmAPaleontologist]

I was there Erm. ... Must be 2003 to 2008 ish. I was in castle. It was fun, the colleges make it easy to get involved in things as there ate small theatre groups, choirs, sports teams etc as well as the uni ones. I spent a lot of time mucking about with the scout and guide group (uni society not college). Good memories and I still live locally . married to a chadsman.

We used to laugh at the rahs . bless them.

I loved the college system. It may not be academic but it is more than a hall of residence. You get some great fun traditions going on too such as one day a year when chads ceremonially invade the castle and steak nekkid round palace green at midnight .

In all honesty there are a fair few rahs around but they certainly don't spoil it, you get them in plenty of places, go walk the streets of Newcastle and you'll see a load too. We had fun .

[sugarquill]

Aaaaah CatKisser! We might have even sat at the same table and never known it!

Unless VM did the abseiling thing every year, but the VMers I asked said that was a first.

[sugarquill]

And yes, definitely more Southern accents around than Northern. As a Lancashire lass, I was positively foreign.

[IAmAPaleontologist]

oooh Yay a small Castle fresher BOFster!

gentlemen of castle, come from near and far. Now the race is over, are 3 heading for the bar boom boom boom nearer still and nearer on to victory VICTORY!...........

[IAmAPaleontologist]

Do they really do random ballot now. That makes me quite sad .

[sugarquill]

Does Castle still have their Marilyn Monroe statue in the bar that we trophied?

[IAmAPaleontologist]

I don't know! She was missing for a fair while . congratulations, twas well played.

I have a card that allows me into Castle for free. Sometimes I feel like sneaking down for a smenergy for old times sake.

Anyone want to do it?