Lastpudding:
I will respond, as you genuinely want to know, but I must state that mumsnet has proven to be very addictive, and I must step away from it to focus more on xmas etc. I know its bad, having obtained what I needed, but I need to focus on that grammar school place for the DS, and its time to start the work on the DDs too. Will revisit the site once a week.
Lastpudding, the answer for you:
The choice was very easy for us, as DS wanted it very much. He cried with happiness when he got the offer letter. He waited for it everyday for last two weeks expecting it in November, wondering why it is not coming, asking us if we hid it from him (we never would, but are certain some parents apply this tactic to boost confidence). It cannot get simpler than that. He is still super happy now, researching stuff on the internet etc. He might be even reading this post.
Undeniably we probably slightly helped him with the boarding decision, that its fun, great opportunity to meet friends, etc - but he always liked trips, ski schools, summers with grandparents and so on and he does appear to actually want the boarding part. He is happy there will be no more mummy, daddy, sisters taking his books, ruining his piano practice. We have a large family household, and he is the oldest child, so its easier for him to realise the advantage of the boarding system vs staying at home. Finally some peace.
However, specific elements to Eton he liked:
- he really liked the fact that each child has a single room - not the case at other boarding schools btw
- he liked the fact David Cameron was there just few months ago giving some speech as PM (something he read on the notice board before interviews)
- he is fascinated by the history of the place, the own words, the somewhat funny dress code, etc. He likes history so its good thing he can actually be in the place which is part of it. We asked him to read the prospectus before the interviews, so I am sure that Eton themselves helped us to convince him that they are the place to be.
- he wants to form his own music band at school and is happy that there are 250 kids a year to chose from, most of whom play some instrument (currently there are 40 and forming a band is impossible), and he is happy there is a recording studio there, and I think he suggested to them that he wants to do the school Eton band factor, or something like that.
- he likes the fact he will be able to go for half terms without us, as clearly he has outgrown our family visits
- oh yes, and he really liked the matron of one house there, who kissed him on his forehead to say goodbye and was like a sweet grandma and not the matron
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And to us it was an easy choice too.
We wanted real boarding only school, and i am happy its in small village like Eton, vs for instance Winchester which is not so small and can present challenges of the local town, possibly local community even (i am fairly sure that the local comp boys will dislike the local public school boys out of principle).
When we visited Eton the boys I met, who were really randomly stopped, all were friendly, very confident for 16y old kids, just stopped in the middle of the street, talking to 30 parents who are staring at their somewhat long waistcoat. Importantly they all - without exception - had a very good sense of humour. :) It was a good sample of kids I would be happy for my DS to be around.
Plus, I am kind of motivated to stop looking at others now, as he is happy and why confuse him when he is happy. The place is great, and why even potentially allow some other places to reject him, confusing him even more.
Hope this answers your question.
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Just before I log off, for good i am afraid, I can tell you that I actually now think, that him wanting this place so much himself, perhaps because of actually reading the prospectus the day before, was probably key in his interview performance. No games, no saying that he reads poetry for fun (apparently people say this?!), no interview prep at all other than one instruction from us... to talk a lot.