Ds7 is very sporty and bright (top of top sets) and a bit of a general allrounder. We've done the rounds of schools and are left with 2 that we both like for different reasons and would appreciate any thoughts. He'd be starting next year at 8, with a view towards Eton or Radley. We are really torn between the schools. We feel that SF looks a little bit more serious, studious and slick, whereas Cothill looks more fun and muddy (I may of course be wrong). SF feels almost like a university it's so impressive yet I do appreciate the boys aren't 8 forever and need room to grow! I worry less about the academic side at SF, whereas I do slightly worry about Cothill. I worry too about the pastoral care at Cothill and am not mad about the lack of "house system" and prefer SF's boarding system. We've been more "impressed" with the boys at Cothill who seemed a bit more happy-go-lucky than the SF boys that we met who were much more focused and bookish but that may also be pot luck. We prefer the slightly more rural feel of Cothill but prefer the slightly more organised feel of SF. Final worry is the Cothill Trust rumours, but they may be just that and should be ignored. None of this is helped by the Headmasters being so different. We want an academically robust school(DS's current school in SW London which has a vibrant prep have said that if he were staying on and moving into their Prep next year they would have put him forward for a full or all rounder scholarship and expected him to get one) that can tool him up to get into his next school, where he can play loads of sport, and have as much fun as possible. Any guidance much appreciated.
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”He'd be starting next year at 8, with a view towards Eton or Radley.”
catanddog, although you said you’re torn between the two (prep) schools but somehow I detected a slight bias towards Summer Fields. And why not? If the view is towards Eton (particularly), I think SF would do a better job than Cothill. I’ve met many SF boys in Eton previously and I’ve always been very impressed with the way they carried themselves, their confidence and ease in talking with adults, their good manners, etc. Once upon a time not too long ago, Summer Fields used to dominate the Eton Election Roll and if your boy has an eye on the Eton Scholarship, I’d have thought SF would be a safer bet. But having said that, it’s the other Oxon prep school, Dragon, who’s currently dominating the Election Roll together with Westminster Under School with 3 Scholarships each this year alone, i.e. the two schools fill up almost half the entire KS Roll!
summerends, I’m impressed with your knowledge of feeder schools for Eton scholarships, not just here but your other postings too. 
rather sad is n't it peteneras . Derives from the Venn diagram of schools. In certain schools with a critical mass Eton and Winchester scholarship candidates are taught in the same group so they tend to know each other and what their previous schools were like.
I would rue the day when my secondhand knowledge of any school was a source of pride. No to your second question 
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