Senior schools for boys (London day or boarding)

Happygardening - Of course they should feel very free to make comments about St Albans School. I doubt they'd manage to say anything remotely offensive as they've probably never heard of it. It is remarkable in its lack of remarkableness and we are all very pleased with it.

Mrs Prufrock, you've had the misfortune to stumble upon the couple of arch arrivistes [though I think happy is just being helpful even if Latin is not her thing]. To think that any school would take their views on who to appoint into account, Deputy House Master of College is not exactly taxing, though "David" is far too well mannered to express an opinion of flamenco girl[?] or the type of anticipation with which he awaits the arrival of a certain young Master Colleger's mum. At least "Tim" has had some early warning by e-mail.

Agree with grovel that boys tend to turn out fine even if they don't make their first choice, especially if their parents are anything to go by.

I think that arrogant attitude is well fitted to Habs!

MrsJAlfredPrufrock this is a completely harmless thread you may not like it/understand it but I don't see why you need too make snide remarks. I'm sure many who post on here could make comments about your choice of school (ladies see St Albans Boys versus Habs) but we are refraining from doing so.

LOL at this thread. So arriviste.

Btw happymummy the plural of prospectus is prospectuses (fourth declension) how funny that you think it might have an apostrophe.

Grovel - thank you for your wise words....I was with a group of parents from my school last night and there was a lot of angst from those who are waiting. It would be great to get a quick peek at the future, and know the kids turn out OK, even if there are disappointments age 11 !!

Good luck to all waiting for the postman.

I think Ralph is a massive loss to Eton but I'm sure Tim will do very well.

I suspect that David Goode would/could have succeeded Ralph if he had wanted to. He is an Eton legend but maybe not an administrator from choice? Ralph was also ex officio musical director of the Windsor and Eton Choral Society etc. He was brilliant but not everybody would want to do it.

Thanks grovel, I was aware Tim Johnson was to succeed Ralph Allwood as Precentor of Music at Eton. Personally I favoured David Goode for the job, someone who was quoted as a musician of ?Olympic standard? - whatever that means. But his mastery of the organ is certainly of world standard; not to mention the awe-inspiring piano pieces I heard him play at the Collegers? concert last year.

Colleger, you might have heard David Goode play the organ when he accompanied the boys from Purcell School earlier this year when they came to Eton to perform.

Btw David is also a Deputy House Master of College as well as the Head of Tutoring. I suppose it is almost impossible to take on the role as Precentor of Music too?

Good luck to boys awaiting results from Eton and elsewhere in the next few days. For musicians who don?t make it this time round, there?s still a chance to enter Eton in a few years time on the back of the new Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Scholarship. Andrew?s own son attended Eton too.

Good luck to all of you. I can remember waiting to hear from Eton - DS and his three best friends did the Eton test together. Only DS was offered a place.

What I can say is that DS and the same friends (who went to Marlborough, Canford and Hampton) have all ended up at Durham. All are delightful. All have done extra-curricular stuff to a high standard. You would not know the Etonian.

It is right that we beat ourselves up about school choices. We are parents. I wish, though, I could have seen the future a few years ago!

Hi I'm also watching the post each day waiting for Harrow and 4 others in my son's class are also waiting. I'm sure it will be any day now (but the waiting is awful isn't it?)

Colleger, phone them.

This is the same director that ignored all my emails when we were looking at Westminster for DS2. Not a good sign when only 30% of the school played an instrument! In fact since Ralph left I've also had two emails ignored by the music department. :(

peteneras, Ralph Allwood's successor was Director of Music at Westminster. Tim Johnson. A live wire.

Lots of mail goes missing too at this time of year and one school forgot about my boys on four occasions so it is worth calling up!

Does your head not know when the results come out? I know its nowish. It's dreadful waiting I know just how you feel.

Sorry just seen your post above suppermummy. When DS had his Winchester interview the housemaster also raved and said he was the brightest boy he'd interviewed in years. I didn't want to count my chickens but he was offered a place so I think with the comments above its likely he has a place. I'd call up though just to check when results come out.

Do you mean as in Pre-test results or Pre-test appointments? I believe they start in Year 7 but don't know if they do it in the same way as Eton and have the oldest children tested in the first half of the year and the younger ones in the last half.

anyone heard from harrow for 13 plus 2013 entry

I am not sure why the logistics would cause a problem in sending them to separate schools. I can see that it would at prep age, but by senior school I imagine they will be travelling by themselves. people with children of different ages have to deal with it where (say) the older child gets into a competitiive school and the younger child does not make it through the admissions process, or whey they have B/G and are fans of single sex education.
What woudl you do, for example, if they dont both get offers from the same school?
I would consider individually which schools are right for them and decide on that basis. if it happens to be the same school, all the better!

laurent you are still in time to register for St Paul's if you haven't already done so but you must register before May of yr 4 otherwise you will be put on a waiting list.

Depending on where you live Merchant Taylors in Northwood might be another option. I know a few people with boys there and they like it. It gets good results and is a friendly school.

Yes that right...we will find out infirst week of december.

Sounds positive I don't think housemasters are stupid they know parents will analyse every word they say hoping to get a clue as to whether or not they like your child so I'm sure they pick comments carefully.
How long do you have to wait; they let you know near to Xmas don't they?

my son sat for the assesnment at harrow yesterday...the house master who interviewed him said that he wz very impressed wt my sons cv.
he spoke to me for 30 min. explaining to me how well my son spoke through out the interview and he went on on on...does this mean anything...do you think he will get a place at harrow...

happygardening ...Thank you very much....