If Winchester College don't accept DS1 what about Charterhouse?

A couple of boys on my DS old prep went to Oundle I understand it has an excellent science dept. The boys who went are very happy although one found it very difficult initially. There are lots of London children there. Win coll head came from Oundle. Buy still wound not have sent my DS there if he had not got win coll or St Pauls. We sacrifice a lot to pay th school fee and will only do it if it is exactly what we want.

Yotty, it has just occurred to me that you should consider Oundle. Fantastic academics and although there are day pupils the boarding is very strong and children do not leave at the weekend. In fact the school has no Exeats so you would not need to worry about pick-ups until half term and end of term. I know a number of prep Headmasters who have chosen the school based on it's boarding routine because they could not get away from school to pick up their children quite so regularly. It would definitely be my co-ed school of choice based on academics, music, extra-curric and nice environment.

Nearest airport would be Luton with Birmingham and Heathrow the next nearest.

The only activities at Win Coll on Sunday afternoon are the DT and art rooms are open and i think the gym. But the boys are so busy the rest of the week this is the only time they have to do nothing so I don't think it's a bad thing. They can of course go into Winchester many houses have their own areas for football and games etc and their own libraries.

yotty do remember that if the schools you are choosing do Saturday school in the morning and sport on Saturday afternoon then Sunday is their only downtime. At prep school IMO it is vital that they are kept busy but at senior school it is less important. We too lived/live overseas and needed full boarding. Our DD (who is now at university) used Sunday to catch up on work and just relax. There were some trips but she seemed happy to chill out! Our DS is at a different school and the same is true. They seemed to be busy on Sundays when he first joined at 13/14 but since then and now in the sixth form he is happy to watch a DVD, walk to the nearby town to buy food or complete his prep. That is if he is not away doing an outdoor activity with the school.
It is of course important to have a core of full boarders regardless of the weekend activity programme.

Westminster is fab. but boarders are in the minority I think if my memeory serves me correct yotty doesn't live on the main land. I always think when it comes to choosing a boarding or day school with boarders you dont want to be in a minority especially if you parents aren't close by.

Have you thought about Westminster? I found it to have a feel of Win and Eton combined. Uber academic and very quirky. It was my preference but DS wanted to go to Eton.

We have the best perfoming comp in the county on our doorstep DS1 attends. It frequently out performs some of our less selective local private schools. I suspect that if DS2 hadn't got Win Coll/St Pauls we would have sent him there till 16 and then reviewed the situation again.

Abingdon is highly regarded I live fairly near to it and I know the last head he's very nice and charming but conservative with a small c. The school has significantly improved under his leadership but the general opinion locally is that it is very conservative. Lots have no problems with this but it is a bit of a contrast to Win Coll. There are also not that many boarders and I would have thought unsuitable if you want full boarding.

For me, there?s no substitute for a premier school with ultra modern facilities coupled with a traditional classy uniform that most people only ever wear it once in a lifetime ? on their wedding day. But eight hours later the uniform soon morph into patched jeans and tracksuits and whatever else ultra modern teenagers wear. Floreat Etona!

Yotty, I would not be put off a school based on whether they took two boys that you deem (where is your evidence) are not interested in academics. Schools take a wide range of pupils so that the school will be balanced. I know Winchester has even admitted a handful of slightly below par boys who have siblings at the school or are exceptional at music.

Magdalen College School and Abingdon are also very good schools. A small number leave Winchester to go to MCS each year and the boys are very similar. It has no boarding but Abingdon has and I know a number of exceptionally able boys there with the majority being very bright.

Thinking about it (its seems so long ago now) the only other school I looked at was Tonbridge; head at one time sir master (deputy head) at St Paul's and it has a very similar feel to it. But only a handful of full boarders mostly weekly boarders and 40% day so you have to either live locally or London (good train links) and I don't do either any more. I think you were interviewed in year 6 like Winchester. A good academic school maybe not Win Coll or St Pauls but definitely pretty selective but the downside is its very sporty, fab sporting facilities (well it might be a downside depending on your child) but it has a similar 21st century feel to it that you find at St Pauls. My DH would also say full of Kent people who he thinks are not exactly cosmopolitan and broad minded!!

Sending off iPhone so keep pressing wrong button! I spent hours agonising over a Plan b but could never come up with a viable alternative to either one suspect we would have looked at the state sector as we have an excellent comp where we live I don't think I would have been prepared to pay for any of the others!

We never had a plan b we were just fortunate and got both wincheste and St pails before I knew I spent agonis

St Pauls is a wonderful school but I suspect that if you like leighton park which I've discovered is a Quaker school then I suspect it's not for you a bigger contrast would be harder to imagine. I was just using it as an example of a very selective school. Winchester is much gentler.

I think boys would be happier at Winchester than St Paul's!

I know nothing Leighton Park but in my experience and opinion very bright children are much happier in very selective schools like Winchester and St Pauls. I'm sure lots will disagree!

I wouldn't chose or discount a school based on uniform. If it was the best school then I would send a child there, regardless if the uniform appeared absurd!

I am considering Leighton Park for my 2 sons, any advice? I love the school, the new head and the feel of the school but I am not sure. My sons are both highly able.

Maybe I'm just a slob and I am very opposed to outdated ridiculous uniforms, no names no pack drill, but I don't think the boys look that scruffy! I thought the boys at St Paul's looked scruffy not that it bothered me.

good to hear that from happygardening. we didn't think the maths was especially difficult; for the english you need to familiarise yourself with the format of the papers but thereafter quite fun and ditto history -but you need to point out to ds that one needs to back up opinion with facts or examples, not just factoid. it's all about getting dss to think. the interview with the headmaster emphasises that too. btw, school ds is at is just as scruffy in terms of attire.

dottyT is right the Latin and French papers for non scholars are difficult and extra tuition maybe required, Winchester are aware that both are often poorly taught in prep schools so I understand are less worried about "poor" marks in those subjects than in Maths (not an easy paper either) or English. If your child is at a boarding prep. school you do need to keep a particular eye on whats going on and check regularly that your DS is getting appropriate level of teaching. They should at the very least be in the scholarship stream because the exams require detailed discursive answers rather than descriptive answers or just regurgitating facts onto paper as required for CE. The best thing you can do is be at a prep that has recent experience of the exams.

With regard to weekends yes lots of boys do go home or shall we say out on Sunday but this also happens at Eton and I suspect Marlborough as well its just how things are but there are activities all day on Saturday right up until bed time and my DS says as the boys get older they seem less inclined to go home.

once he settles down there won't be a problem. and it is a fantastic school - would have been thrilled if DS had decided to go. (NB - the latin and french papers at the standard non scholarship level are testing and one friend says that at her DS's prep school - well known, academic - the Pauls, Westminster and Winchester applicants are all advised to have separate tutoring on top of their ordinary schooling in those two subjects. But once you're there it's fine and at this age it's not hard to catch up; boys come from a variety of backgrounds and schools. )