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Original poster

Reading School vs top Public School?

40 replies

BlueElephant90 · 03/03/2012 13:37

My DS has been accepted by both schools. he could accept the RS place now and start in September or go to a prep school for 2 years and join the Public School at 13+.
I know they are very different choices: day/boarding, ....but I am really confused especially when I read some threads on this site. Any feed back will be much appreciated.

OP posts:
Original poster
BlueElephant90 · 03/03/2012 15:55

My ds loves all subjects, he is learning Latin on his own. However he is a scientist at heart so more likely he will be heading that way.

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Original poster
BlueElephant90 · 03/03/2012 15:51

Sorry I've just seen the other posts.

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RoverJones · 03/03/2012 15:50

Reading is a very good school, but it is much less selective than Eton, if that bothers you. I used to live in Reading and four of my friends' children (of average intelligence) got into Reading Boys. And the Humanities department is less good than the Maths or Science departments. However, if that doesn't bother you - your son is likely to want to do Maths or Science - and you aren't snobbish, Reading is a wonderful school, especially if your son doesn't want to board.

redglow · 03/03/2012 15:49

Go for reading be a lovely sensible mum and do not get caught in the snobbery of going to Eton. Your son is obviously clever and will do well whatever school he goes to. Also how nice it will be to see him everyday rather than packing him of to board.

Original poster
BlueElephant90 · 03/03/2012 15:45

Thank you so much for all your feed back.

mummytime- you are right to detect my feeling of guilt. That's exactly my problem.

Grovel- I really appreciate your input as I know you had a ds in Eton, I find it conforting and reassuring:)

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sue52 · 03/03/2012 15:44

Children can change so much between 11 and 13, he might one day decide that boarding and Eton are for him. Would the 2 years at prep school leave him more options?

Bue · 03/03/2012 15:36

I think the MN education section can give a terribly skewed vision of the world. Your son does not need to go to Eton to be a success in life! FWIW the one old Etonian whom I know well is very averagely successful. And yes he went to Cambridge, but he probably would have gone to Cambridge regardless of what school he attended. Oh, and he despised Eton because he didn't want to be at BS.

So if you don't want him to board and he doesn't want to board, for crying out loud, send him to Reading.

mummytime · 03/03/2012 14:45

Reading school is a top Grammar school. Despite what you may read on mnet at times, lots of very very successful people have gone to ordinary schools. There are kids at Oxbridge from comprehensives, one I knew at Oxford, who is now a Professor at Cambridge didn't even get into Reading school but went to one of the comps. If you look at the most successful people in the UK a number of them didn't even go to university.

On the other hand I used to have a window cleaner who had been to public school. If your son doesn't want to go to Eton, and you don't really want him to go, then don't feel guilty about not sending him. Especially when the alternative is somewhere like Reading.

grovel · 03/03/2012 14:35

If he does not want to board he should go to Reading. It's a fantastic school (better than many independent schools). You are not facing the normal issues faced by MN'ers. You have got a choice between two great schools and one is free. The free one does not expect your DS to board. No brainer.

If it helps, our gardener (all of 2 hours a week) had a son at Reading. The son is at Cambridge. Our Etonian son is at Durham (great but still not Oxbridge if that's what you care about).

Original poster
BlueElephant90 · 03/03/2012 14:23

He doesn't want to board and I don't want him to board either. Although I don't contribute to the threads, I do follow what's being said. It seems that if you don't attend one of the top Indies you will be a failure!! I know it's not true but I can't help wondering sometimes...I am not English so it's all new to me.

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MollieO · 03/03/2012 14:18

I think there is a big difference between a day school that has a very small amount of boarding and a full boarding school. Which would your ds prefer? Nothing to stop him starting at Reading then transfering to Eton although you'd then have to find a way of preparing him for CE.

mummytime · 03/03/2012 14:10

What does he want to do? They will both give your DS great opportunities, I'd be inclined to give him the option to decide.

grovel · 03/03/2012 14:04

My DS left Eton recently. Loved it.

Reading, though, is a fantastic school.

Is your DS on a scholarship to Eton? The mention of 2 years at a prep suggests he is.

Original poster
BlueElephant90 · 03/03/2012 14:00

Eton

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MollieO · 03/03/2012 13:44

Reading has boarding too, at least it used to. Which public school? Co-ed/single sex, day+boarding or boarding only? Hard for people to give advice when you've given no info about other school.

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