Charterhouse School ...

[lovinit]

Can anyone tell me what their view is on this school? It used to have a reputation as one with boys who were over privilged and there was talk of boys being exposed to too much "recreational paraphernalia" on school grounds. Love to know if things have changed ...

[Notenoughsleepmumof3]

I don't think much has changed and most boys I've met who are there or men who have gone there are not very nice people. Entitled and smug without much else.

[SleightOfMind]

I had a look at Charterhouse for VI form but decided to stay at my school instead.
The girls were a bit vacuous and the boys a bit and childish.

This was nearly 20 years ago though!

[GregoryPeckingDuck]

Watching with interest. Their drama department seems well funded and geberally much talked about. Does it actually deliver?

[Notenoughsleepmumof3]

GregoryPeckingDuck, in what way do you mean deliver. I'm a professional in the arts and there is a real shift away from hiring elitist school graduates with regard to actors, directors, designers, writers, etc. IME kids who come from these schools may be well-educated in the literature of drama and have seen more productions than some other kids, but they have been living in a very specific bubble that can stunt them as artists and creators. So while a school may spend loads of money on a department with state of the art facilities, it may not really prepare them for a career in the arts because of the narrowness of the community with which they are being educated. If this is the direction you think your child is going in, you are better off finding a more well-rounded school with a diverse (ethnically and economically) intake of students. IE go for a good school with a great English department and a good drama teacher, then get them involved in your local youth theatre.

[THEsonofaBITCH]

My recent experience of Charterhouse- great education, diverse groups of boys, big on participation and disciplined. We like it obviously but have heard some of the houses are a bit much - nothing specific. The all co-ed starting in a few years is expected to be a good and "softening" thing for the boys. I like the expansions and the education and the social activities and the trip opportunities.

[JulianDickGeorgeAndTimmy]

"I had a look at Charterhouse for VI form but decided to stay at my school instead.
The girls were a bit vacuous and the boys a bit and childish.

This was nearly 20 years ago though!"

Are you sure it is the same school - I thought Charterhouse had only recently gone Co Ed?

[Cismyfatarse1]

No. I was offered (and declined) a place in the Sixth form for 2 years culminating in A Levels in 1986.

[GeorgeTheBleeder]

I have no knowledge of or interest in Charterhouse but - goodness me, Notenoughsleepmumof3 you make some very sweeping statements.

How on earth can you be sure that every independent school pupil has been living in a very specific bubble that can stunt them as artists and creators? The best such schools are very aware of trying to build a school community that is diverse in as many ways as possible. Because that's what makes the place exciting and progressive. Are you honestly saying that the 20% of pupils on bursaries at the country's most famous school (for instance) would all automatically be rejected by you - without further enquiry? Even though some of them may actually be poorer than anyone you currently socialise with? And even though they spend only a proportion of their life at school.

[cakeisalwaystheanswer]

This looks like one of those dodgy threads that pop up occassionally just to invite criticisism. They annoy me because most people posting on MN are trying to be helpful.

OP - there have been some positive comments from recent parents on other threads if you search around. Their A level results dipped significantly last year so I would want to ask about that. But A levels did the same at DDs school which was due to the ridiculous amount of unconditional offers made by very good unis and the pupils giving themselves a year off. CH may have had a similar problem.

[Notenoughsleepmumof3]

Of course I would never automatically reject working with someone because of where they have gone to school. Never. But, equally I don't choose to work with someone because of where they went to school. I've worked with people from all types of backgrounds. It's about talent and the development of that talent. IME the best most interesting creatives, artists, actors, directors, writers, the visionaries etc do not come from elite schools. And I do believe that is because of the narrowness of the intake in the private sector. Kids learn as much from each other as they do from their institution, probably more from each other. The privilege and entitlement mentality that often goes along with privately educated kids often shoots them in the foot. Yes, schools do have bursaries for kids, but I question your 20% figure (depends on the school) and I would say, 20% of bursaries in a private sector of less that 10% of the population of students is a very small amount. For this reason, I ask in what way do you think it will deliver? Because, I don't think it does in my field.

[SleightOfMind]

JulianDickGeorgeAndTimmy

Went co for VI form two years before my year.
Very close to my parents house so I thought I ought to have a look. Stayed for a weekend to do scholarship exams and remember being very unimpressed

As I said, 20 odd years ago.

[abbey44]

I had sons there between 2006 and 2016 and overall I (and they) were very happy with the school. There were some over-privileged boys (showbiz/oligarch parents) but there were an awful lot of relatively normal and down-to-earth families too, and they were in the majority of those I came across with my sons' friends. The pastoral care was good, and I think that applied across the board generally, but obviously every house differs to some degree, depending on the housemaster and matron.

Both my boys came out with good results - I did hear that variations in the league tables had something to do with the fact that they offered IGCSE and IB, which affected the ratings, but that's something you might want to look more closely at.

I might(!) be biased, but I'd say my DSs and their peers came through the Charterhouse system well-grounded, personable and very far from entitled and smug. As with every school, you'll get as many variations going in as coming out - sweeping generalisations aren't generally true or helpful.

[juliettatrax]

SleightofMind 30-odd years ago!

[SurreyMumDD]

I know some lovely Surrey families that send their DS and DD(currently VI Form) there and are very happy..facilities are amazing. I suppose you will get a few highly privileged DSs there..... but definitely the minority. Interested to watch for my DDs when goes co-Ed ..... hear good things locally about head.

[dolphin50]

I know it is co ed now I think. That gary linekers children went here. That the 8 year old boy from the britains youngest boarders documentary about sunningdale school ended up here.

[cakeisalwaystheanswer]

And having opened up with a few digs and inviting everyone else to pitch in, the OP never returns.

I do question the motives of people who behave like this.

[nolanscrack]

Doubt that Charterhouse want to be reminded of Mr Lineker or his son..

[outoftouchwitheverything]

Back in my day (a long time ago, granted) the boarding kids were bored out of their heads and got into pot in a major way! Hopefully nowadays the school keeps them entertained.

[outoftouchwitheverything]

I must add, i know a girl currently there who is very happy and, importantly, so are her parents!

[lovinit]

Have just caught up on messages , had not been alerted for incoming threads and so was surprised that I checked in and saw all the converstaion. Thank you for the comments.
Abbey44 , reassurign to know. It is so hard to switch off the various comments around from parents, and normally the negative comments come from those whose chidren are not at that school.
I guess as in all walks of life, its a case of " different courses for different horses" and really down to the individual and family.
The new head seems very forward thinking and has younger chidlren and so understands the relevance of a modern thinking school and also understands what they are exposed to.

Met the head of the Football Academy who seems totally committed to improving the current structure and so for those whose children are that way focused will be pleased.

[lovinit]

I am very much interested in the comments as we are considering the offer given.

[Adad50]

I have 2 children at Charterhouse and do not recognise some of what has been written above. The school places emphasis on the academics and boys have to pass an entry test and interview; regular reports/grades are posted online for parents and are discussed with tutors.

Outside the classroom, the standard of sports is very high (it obviously varies from year to year - but, for example, one cricket A team was unbeaten, seeing off Eton, Harrow, Radley, Wellington, Tonbridge etc). It is a football school so size need not matter in the same way it does at the rugby-playing schools. Pretty much every sport you would want is on offer, with ex-international players coaching major sports.

Pupils are also expected to engage in a wide range of artistic and cultural activities and there is an impressive choice of societies to join. Again, these activities are discussed with tutors in regular meetings.

Some pupils are from very wealthy backgrounds, but most are from the more traditional public-school background (still relatively well-off, of course). Geographically, most are from the Home Counties and London, with some foreign students (although no more - or fewer - than most similar schools I'd say).

There is a new HM who seems to have hit the ground running, and the school will be 1,000 strong when fully co-ed in a couple of years - rather than reducing the number of boys to make space for more girls, the school is building new houses to accommodate the extra pupils. The boys seem to be looking forward to the arrival of more girls.

The house system is strong, with houses varying in character depending on house-master and reputation. Though some of the 1970s houses do not look great from the outside, they actually work on the inside and the fact they are located near each other encourages inter-house friendships. The main school is one of the most beautiful you will find, and the cricket and football pitches cannot be bettered.

Socially, there is a lot going on, in and out of school. Discipline is strict - and they are super aware of any bullying. Pupils are also made aware of how lucky they are, and engage in social programmes.

All in all, a pretty impressive traditional but forward-thinking school. Pupils are kept on their toes and, from what I have seen thus far, turn out very rounded and very well on the whole. My hunch is that the school is going from strength to strength, and will be even harder to get into once fully co-ed.

[Adad50]

Ought to add that the school is taking steps to ensure the school shall be a proper co-ed boarding school and not just a boys school that takes girls; by way of example, centrally located football pitches are being turned over to be used by the girls for their sport.

[GreyBasket]

I have heard they have sold out to a for profit Chinese company who plan to open dozens of charterhouse schools across China. A bit different to what other schools have done (where one or two or a few schools have proper partnerships), but if it bring cash into charterhouse UK, that could be seen as a positive?

[janeyjane38]

My DS has just finished year 9 and loved it and can't wait to go back. The teachers and houses are great and there is emphasis not only only on academics but sport and extra-curricular stuff. Yes, there are some wealthy individuals, but we are not (we're making very big scraifices) but do not feel out of place at all.

So to say, 'I don't think much has changed and most boys I've met who are there or men who have gone there are not very nice people. Entitled and smug without much else' is a generalisation at best and frankly rude at worst. I doubt any of the boys there would be taught to make such sweeping judgemental comments on something they have never been involved with first hand. On the contrary - respectful and tolerant of other systems more like.