Harrow School - what are the alternatives if the Waiting List doesn't clear??

has any one heard from st pauls for sept 2013 (reserved list)...
has there bin any movement in the reserved list

Stowe is full for this year afaik (I also wouldn't want to send a child there personally).

I rather think Oundle might be full too.

I have heard good things about Uppingham

You may find you don't have many choices at this stage though.

We have recently (within last couple of weeks) got children in on late entry at St Edwards and Bloxham. I know of someone who has only just registered with Uppingham too.

A boy at my DS2 old prep got off the waiting list. Dont know where he was on it but he was offered a place fairly soon after being offered a waiting list place.

Coldglassofwine, I have no idea whether Stowe is a good school or not. I was snorting because whenever I think of Stowe the image of those upper class twits in Fresh Meat springs to mind. Obviously it's only fiction and I'm sure the pupils at Stowe are lovely but it does make me giggle.

My dd will be going to Stowe this September. Before you listen to people's snorts, go and have a look. It may not be super selective academically but my understanding from friends is that the bright are pushed and do exceptionally well there. The sport is fantastic, Darren Gough is the cricket coach and they have had great success with the rugby. The head is inspirational , the surroundings beautiful , the art, music and drama are all strong and over 90% of children board.We wanted a traditional school with an emphasis on the individual and somewhere where we felt dd would be happy. She's very bright but didn't feel the need to find the 'top school in Britain',just somewhere where the fit was right for her. I don't think you can tell this unless you look around a school. We were impressed by the friendly relaxed atmosphere of the school and the kids there all seemed really happy. Happy school hunting !

Stowe (snort).

St Eds has about 750 children of those just over 100 are day but they have to stay till 9 pm no weekly flexi boarders. The only full boarding schools with no boarders; maybe Eton and Radley. Win Coll has 4 day children I don't know how picky your being.

Have you considered deferred entry. Apparently there are two boys at my son's prep on deferred entry to Winchester and will be a year older than their cohort. I've queried it with my son but he's convinced it is the case.

I also don't think you should underestimate the KS. There are many questions that have no right answer and it is seeing how the child responds to the question is of more importance. After Westminster it is the most oversubscribed scholarship and there are, sadly, a number of companies in London that tutor heavily for the exam.

Trix you will have to call St Edwards. It is becoming increasingly popular. I don't know if they will have spaces for Sept 2012. They've just sent out their Sept 2013 offers. The CE pass mark is 55%. Did you not have a plan B when your DS sat for Harrow in year 7?

Oh yes, Malvern has day students. But I'm not sure why you want all boarding - do such schools even exist? The boarding community at Malvern is massive - it seems odd to write off schools because they have some day students too

I suggested strike Uppingham, because IMHO Oakham is currently the better school, is closer to the A1 and has a train station. But, like the others, it accepts day pupils as well as boarders, so you might want to strike both off, plus all those mentioned in OP.

OP: if you want full boarding, then my suggestions weren't exactly useful, as both have day pupils too. But so do all the schools in OP.

Might it be worth getting on to someone like Gabbitas and Thring, as you have firm criteria and a short time frame?

Trix, what grovel says is right - the boys don't choose their friends on material grounds. They are living in close quarters in their boarding houses and personality not wealth determines friendship.
As regards pocket money, our ds didn't have that much, in fact the only boy in ds's house who did was a Russian.

Strike Uppingham, and look at Oakham. Slightly easier logistically, on a par (or slightly better) academically, great sport, Goid drama and art too.

Co-ed, about 50% of the school is full boarding, so the community at the weekends is fine.

And do look at St Edwards - it ticks so many of your boxes, and although the academic reputation as been in a bit of a dip, it's meant to be on the up again and there's no reason to think it cannot do well by an academic boy.

Eton KS papers are on line. Have you had a look at them?

Malvern is an excellent school - but OP has asked for all boarding. I thought (may be wrong) that Malvern has day pupils too?
Trix2323, I really wouldn't worry too much about the "snob" aspect anywhere. Even if there are some uber-posh/rich parents who can be aloof, the kids don't care at that age. They either like each other or they don't but that that choice will not be decided by money/possessions. I speak as an ex (just) Eton parent. I liked all the parents of my DS's year group in his house. 3 of the 10 boys were on some kind of scholarship / bursary. As far as I know none of the boys were on huge pocket money/allowances.

Trix - our dc's school fees are paid by their grandparents. Our car is old and our house is scruffy, but I don't think the other parents care or even notice. I don't notice what sort of car someone has got.
Anyway, I hope wherever your ds goes he is happy - that's the main thing.

Yes, the Oxbridge offers are all for this year. The school offers A Level and IB so is an attractive option in that sense: the school attracts a number of international students (because of the IB) so it is very much focused on the boarding (school life revolves around the boarding house structure).

I wouldn't say it is rigorously selective but the bright students are certainly well catered for and there is no shortage of stretch and challenge opportunities.

Sport is very important and there is a vast range of sporting opportunities offered (unless he's a rower...).

It's not that far from Oxford, i don't think (shows hazy knowledge of geography...) Direct train to London or Birmingham for airports.

Re the social aspects of Eton and Harrow I second what Propatria says. I only have first hand experience of Eton and all the parents I met were really nice. Also, as Propatria says, he will make a close knit bunch of friends for a lifetime.