state school child got into Eton

Have you considered options other than Eton?

For example, there are state boarding schools which combine excellent academics and extra-curricular activities with a broader social mix(Cranbrook in Kent is one). They are also a lot cheaper.

Also, if you are going to go for a grammar school, it ought to be one that you and he would be happy for him to stay it if he doesn't get into Eton.

You should also prepare yourself for the possibility that after a couple of years elsewhere, your son doesn't really want to go to Eton, but might be too scared to admit it to you. Please don't make it the be-all and end-all.

Grammar school places are typically taken up by children transferring into the area not by local children who didn't get into their preferred school at 11+.

seeker
why would they not?

I (luckily) do not live in a grammar school LEA - all vacancies are open, fair and transparent
But if a grammar school vacancy comes up - as surely they must do how are they filled?
Is there a clear and transparent process?
Is the child who would have had OP's DS's sons place top of the list?
Or do they put children through the torture of more exams.
If not, surely there is a case for holding fire for a vacancy in year 8 / 9 / 10
but if the next most "deserving" do not get the space, the grammar school system (which is luckily rare) is even more corrupt than I thought it was.

The OP's child will be depriving a local child a place at a desirable school. With the sole intention of using that school as a springboard to a different type of education. The child who is displaced by the OP's child will not get the place two years down the line - he or she will never get to the school that he wanted to go to at 11. I understand that this is legally fine - but to me it is morally unacceptable.

but by extension llareggub, if you were in a situation where you lived in an area served by two comprehensive schools, one excellent and one failing, but knew you would be moving away in two years time, would you say you should put your child in the failing school so someone else could benefit from 5 years at the better school? I don't, and I don't really see why it makes a difference if it's a grammar school. In fact, in a true grammar area if your child is of the right ability range for the grammar it might be rather unfair to send them to a secondary modern that didn't cater well for their ability (even seeker would agree with this I'm fairly sure).

yes i was also thinking since she is not quite clear on what to expect, how to best prepare, she really does need to speak directly to someone at Eton about this.

Kris, have you been told this directly by Eton or have you picked it up from the website?

If you really want Eton, or any other well-rated boarding from 13+, you need to find a school which prepares for the CE or to be extremely confident about preparing them yourself and hope that the extra work they're doing doesn't disadvantage them at their existing state school, which tend to teach to the NC rule whereas the CE doesn't expect that and expects both more advanced knowledge and a different way of thinking.

I'm already looking ahead 12 years and planning (and I don't even know whether this DC is a boy) the best way to get them through the CE at 13 without going through the prep system and most people tell me it's impossible. So it's looking like prep for Y6.

King's Scholars are exceptional students. Verging on genius, if not actually there, they have outstanding analytical and evaluative skills combined with the ability to think laterally, exeptional general knowledge, very advanced vocabulary and are in the top 5% across the board, usually showing particular flair in one area e.g. science. If the scholarships mentioned above are the state equivalent of that then your DS probably stands a better chance taking the CE with whatever prep you can give him from a state school. Going for that scholarship basically means you are relying on your DS's natural intelligence and skills to mark him out as the 1 from every single other boy taking that exam. I doubt they provide tuition in French and Latin, I suspect they will be relying on natural flair and intelligence for them to pick it up.

From what I've read (thanks to google) they're also aimed at those who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford the fees, which doesn't seem to be the case for you. They also say this about the admissions process:

"The scholarships are awarded after examination and interview. Round I of the testing enables us to identify boys who are potentially academic high-flyers, ideally also with other talents to be developed in sport or in the arts, and with the personality to adapt successfully to the life of a boarding community. Round II involves examinations which are based on the National Curriculum with compulsory papers in English, maths and science. In addition, there will be a general academic interview, the emphasis of which can be determined to a certain degree by the candidate himself."

That's a pretty tall order....

Prep also has the advantage that your DS will know other boys going to Eton, which eases the transition, and be accustomed to some of the other traditions associated with public schooling. It's increasingly likely that those boys will have come from state school too, especially with all the 11+ stage prelim testing which makes Eton et al more accessible to those in the state primary sector where the change is at 11.

It's important to remember that Eton do not expect every boy to have attended prep. They merely expect every boy to be capable of passing the CE with flying colours. Any boy, state or privately educated, can go for the exam. Private schools have the advantage of not being bound by curricular restrictions and can devote more preparation time to it. If you're sufficiently familiar with the system then you could prepare your son yourself, but making him do additional work whilst at a state school does deprive him of some of the opportunities his grammar school peers will have AND mark him out from them, which rather defeats the point of giving him immunity from Eton-bashing.

And I would completely discount your original option 3 btw.

It is a question of intent, though, isn't it? He is taking up a place that he won't use beyond age 13, so a local child will be deprived of a place. Different to someone who intends to stay there but finds that they need to move for other reasons.

It just doesn't feel right to me.

llareggub
Are you really implying that there is no turnover of pupils in grammar schools?
That every child who starts year 7 stays to year 13?
The reality is that "churn" in all schools is around 5% per year group per year for a thousand and one factors.
The OP has an excellent opportunity for their son, should possibly have used google before posting, but will not be depriving any child of a chance.
By going private they are in fact freeing up their taxes to finance another child's grammar school place.

Well, legally perhaps but I wouldn't go as far as morally right. To deprive another child of that place when the OP intends to send her son elsewhere is pretty poor behaviour, IMO.

seeker,

As a taxpayer, the OP will be perfectly within her legal and moral rights to a grammar school place, as with any state school place.

When her DS leaves, someone else can backfill.

Nothing to worry about at all.

time and money permitting, I would suggest that you begin to get your ds started on Latin and French anyway. He will have a lot to get adjusted to when he starts in Eton if it all goes according to plan. No harm in laying the ground beforehand. Good luck.

Eton is a rather strange choice for someone who says finances are an issue.

Careful Kris, I think you could be talking about this :

"In year 8 (age 13): a boy with great academic strength from any educational background can win a King?s Scholarship, and an outstanding musician with good academic qualities can win a Music Scholarship. We are also introducing a New Foundation Scholarship which will create an entry opportunity for a small number of boys from UK state schools at age 13; although such boys might find preparation for the King?s Scholarship difficult to achieve, they will have intellectual potential comparable to that of a King?s Scholar, and will sit a special examination based on the national curriculum but designed to draw out that flair."

This is seeking out boys from the state system who have the same potential as the King's scholars. I have found this just by looking at Eton's website. I think you need to do more research. Obviously, I know nothing about your son, but this will be a highly competitve entry and unless you are sure it is very risky. If you have the funding CE via a prep school would be less risky.

Check out this 'New Foundation Scholarship' they are talking about and ask on Mumsnet what they look for in Kings Scholars. I know a few boys who entered for Queens Scholars at westminster and this is on a completely different level to CE.

I'm glad your questions have been answered. Just wondering - how do you feel about your ds taking a place at a grammar school when he is only going to be there for 2 years - thereby denying another child the place?

hypocritical

Nobody who knows you would make that mistake for long, seeker! ;)

Irrelevant, I know, and hijacking as well, but I hope I didn't leave the imression that I was a supporter of the grammar school system........

You're not silly, kris123. And Eton is a good school. I know lots of kids who've been there and they are all good people. I find them chatty and approachable.