Senior schools for boys (London day or boarding)

An exhibition is for those not quite scholarship material. So for example if 100 children sit an academic scholarship exam the first 12 will get the scholarship the next 4 the exhibition there are usually less places available for an exhibition. I'm assuming its the same principle for music the best get a scholarship and then a few who are not quite that good can get an exhibition. When large sums of money were attached to the awards there was less money with an exhibition. I think you often get free music lessons with a music scholarship and I think I read on one schools website with an exhibition you didn't get so many free lessons. Two boys at DS2 prep got music scholarships/exhibitions into Harrow both were one was grade 8 and the boy who got the exhibition was the next one up from grade 8 cant rememeber waht it was called. On the other hand another boy got a music exhibition into Stowe and he was grade 5 on the trumpet and bloody awful in my opinion. So the standard varies from school to school

I have a question....what does music exhibition mean?
is it a scholarship?

laurent - I have no idea how far you're prepared to travel for boarding but you might like to go and visit Malvern College. They have a fabulous new sports complex (highlighted in the Tatler guide) and they take sport seriously. They also have strong drama but they still achieve great things on the academic side. I chose it for my girls because it suits them both (they are VERY different) and because, although it is co-ed, the house system is very strong so they have a lot of single-sex time too. It is a campus school and they go back to their house for break and for all meals - and even to shower and change for sport if they want to. I feel it's a bit of a hidden gem - no ridiculous waiting lists or hoops to jump through to get in.

Good luck in your search.

Sorry for spelling errors typing with sons netbook and haven't got glasses on!

suppermummy ggod luck. Do look at Kings Canterbury if no joy we know lots of children there at the vast majority love it.

Thanks all ...you all have been sooo helpful.
I will try an speak to the music department...at eton
My son is sitting for his interview at Harrow this week ....just hope he make it....he is a bundle nerves.

suppermummy I don't want to be unhelpful but I know too many families where the parents have tutored their boys from the crib to get into St Paul's or KCS - where this has been against the advice of the prep or they have got in on the second or third attempt, the boys, in my experience, have rarely been happy and have sometimes left after a few years because they were square pegs stuffed into round holes or just struggling academically. The right school for your son will the school that opens its arms to welcome him. Ardingly, Lancing, Ampleforth, etc., might all be alternatives - or indeed Kings Canterbury - and I wasn't being damning about it further up - it's my family school at the end of the day!

Thanks Happygardening, very helpful. Let's just hope he gets in, as he has set his heart on Winchester.

I understand that not all housemasters do the same thing. I think he had to write about what makes you particularly good a chosen sport, and a verbal reasoning and non verbal reasoning test there might have been a comprehension (or at least the housemaster told us he sometimes did this) if he did then he read a passage and the housemaster asked him questions about the passage. The interview was very relaxed talking about family, friends, hobbies and interests and also questions like who do you admire and why? In his case it lasted well over two hours and when we picked him up we could hear the two of them laughing together. His friends were interviewed by different housemasters and did different things. The housemaster was recently telling us how he can tell when children have been prepared because their answers are what they've been told he wants to hear rather than what they really think. E.G. Do you like music? Yes I like classical music. Which composer? Mozart (boring).

Happy gardening, can you tell me what sort of written test your son did at Winchester in Year 6? I am assuming it is something along the lines of verbal and non verbal reasoning, or is it straight forward maths and English. My son due to do test next term. I am sure he will quite enjoy an 1 and half hour conversation with an adult, but NVR is not his strong point.
By the way, I hope your son is enjoying his new school. Do you spend hours wondering how he is getting on?

At Eton you are not interviewed by a an actual housemaster for a place in his boarding house until you've been offered a place ay Eton itself. You are offered a place after you've been interview by one of the beaks (teachers) the interview lasts no more than 10 mins, sat their computer generated psychometric test and and a reference has been taken up from your sons prep school. At the end of this process you are either offered a place, or a place on the waiting list or are declined completely. I know from boys at my son's prep that it is quite difficult to get off the waiting list you have to keep telling Eton about your son's achievements e.g, captain of first 15, major part in school play, prefect etc. It is at Winchester where the housemasters do the interviews and select the boys they want for the school and their house. The parents meet the housemasters before hand and choose one that they like and register there son with that house. Boys are then guaranteed an interview which is rather nicely described as "conversation" it last about 1 1/2 hours at the end it there are four options: 1. you are either offered a place in his boarding house, 2. you are told that your son is not suitable for his boarding house but suitable for the school and another boarding house might want you, 3. you are put on the waiting list, 4. refused place. I've no idea how easy it is to get off the waiting list.

"My son sat for the interview at Eton .Unfortunetly he didnt make it." - suppermummy

I assume you're referring to interview with a Housemaster. Just wondering which House was that? Just say the initials (of the Housemaster) will do. But don't they give you a choice of 4 different houses?

As for music scholarships, Eton don't care too much about high grades. It's the quality of musicianship and potential that matter. The Precentor of Music has just retired after many long years of service. Who knows what his replacement is like; it's worth giving it a go, I'd say.

Please don't tell Harrow that your DS has had interview at Eton. They do not like to play second fiddle!

?I've only now realised that finding the right school might be a bit problematic as they're such different characters.?

It?s not really as daunting or problematic as you think, laurent. Can?t speak for other schools that you listed but certainly there is one school that I know that can cater for your twins of different personalities with absolutely no problems at all. The problem is to get in.

ETON!

There are many sets of twins and even 3-brother-siblings at Eton. They all come with different personality traits and expectations and Eton have seen and catered successfully for them all. Some prefer to live at the same house and others live apart in different houses and yet can be close to each other. Plenty of playing fields for DS1 to get muddy and there are more than enough academic and drama boys to give DS2 a run for his money. Problem here is to keep up with them as they are extremely competitive.

Oops sorry pressed wrong button as in was saying two were seriously bright but eccentric non conformists and the other two were probably never bright enough and got into Harrow. The selection process at Eton is very sterile and they admit that they don't take the top 10% who sit that computer generated IQ test. In my opinion Eton is a good school and you never hear parents complain about it but it is looking for a certain type of boy and they know what they are looking for and lots of very able boys who are quirky are not suitable for it and are turned down but this is proabaly for the best.

Assuming your head has tried to get Eton to change it mind already then I think you are going to have to give up on that one the head at my DS2 old prep always tried but I don't think ever succeeded. Do you know why he failed to get in your head should be able to find that out. If it's any consolation four boys in DS2 year were turned down two are seriously bright but n

happygardening....thank you for the information.
i did speak to winchester but they said that we are late to submit the admission form.he has an interview lined up at harrow...fingers crossed hopefully he makes into this one.
do u think he stands a chance at eton if his current school headmaster pushes the case a bit?

suoermummy I know little about the Eton musical scholarship apart from the fact that your going to have to be really really good ultimately they are going to take the best so I suspect you would have to be grade 8 unless its an unusual instrument. At some schools you can have an informal audition with the head of music (Winchester I believe does) so that you can get an idea if you even within a shout of the level required. Have you tried Winchester more academic than Eton and more quirky they interview and select at yr. 6 but I know of two boys who were offered places later in yr 7 and 8. A different school to Eton and Harrow and again not every ones cup of tea; what it offers is perhaps less obvious if that makes sense.

Esperance ...didn't mean to offend...I am really stressed ...do you think I can meet the registrar Mr.Milne to seek advice?Is he helpful?Does he meet parents one on one?
We are so keen on Eton ...I really want to make this happen for my son....

(Sorry Laurent for participating in the slight hijacking of your thread.)

Suppermummy. I am sorry but I don't have any special insight on this topic. One of my sons went to Eton. The music scholars there are a talented bunch but I am sure that is the case at all the schools mentioned in this thread.

Have you spoken to his instrument teacher(s) and to the music dept. at his school?

I would also encourage you to look at the websites of other schools and where possible to talk to the music dept at the various schools. For instance Charterhouse is happy to see boys before the formal examination. I would guess that all the schools are looking for the same qualities. So, exploring other schools will give you more information.

In my experience, most independent schools are very willing to help parents.

Isn't there info about the music scholarship on the website? I believe the standard is very high so from that I'd expect they mean grade 8 at age 13.

esperance thank you again i did look up the link you mention ...requirements are grade 5-8.
are you more eligible if you hv sat upto grade 8.

Happygardening please can you give me some advice .you seem to know a lot about eton n harrow

esperance thank you for your advice ....

My son is going to sit for his cello and piano abrsm exams (grade 5) in July.
Just wanted to know what is it that they are looking for...upto what grade do they have to reach to be even considered for music scholarship .
I am told that these examinations are really challenging.
i really need help.....want someone to throw some light ....need some advice.

Suppermummy.
Eton holds a separate examination for music scholarships.

www.etoncollege.com/MusicScholars.aspx