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Original poster

Charterhouse

40 replies

Uloves · 21/03/2012 14:02

My son's headmaster has recommended that my son sit Charterhouse for common entrance as our original plan was for Tonbridge. Does anyone have views or experiences to share on the two schools? My son is average academically but has strong music and acting ability. He's offered Music scholarship at Tonbridge but our headmaster feels Charterhouse will suit him better acamedically.

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happygardening · 21/03/2012 18:51

What a difficult posititon for you and I think the school is a little unfair to spring this on you so late in the day.
I thought there was very little difference between the CE result for Tonbridge (which IMO is a nicer school) than CH. If you DS is currently scoring 55 - 60% on a mock CE I would also have thought that is not impossible to pull this mark up to the mark required for Tonbridge. Although I do know that Tonbridge are very strict and you do have to get the required mark. Some children at my DS's prep scored less than 40% in their mock CE and managed to pull it up to 60 - 70% when sitting the actual exam. From now on its likely to be exam practice all the way to CE and this should make a big difference to his eventual mark. But of course you may not want him to scrape in.

Original poster
Uloves · 21/03/2012 18:40

Email from head re. C. They think we should look elsewhere so back to drawing board now 2 months before CE! very distressing..

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EdithWeston · 21/03/2012 14:42

They may have a long waiting list now for conditional offers. But one hopes they are managing their list well and as first choices become settled, they will have the right number of the right calibre on the list, and therefore have the tolerance for a near miss (if prep head agrees it is mess up on the day, not true ability level).

Two possibilities to think about: a) they already know they have over-offered and may have to fail some boys at CE and/or b) music notwithstanding, they think your DS is a less sound candidate academically compared to the achievement of the field as it looks now; they are ready to give him the chance to prove himself, but prove himself he must.

If either of those are the case (though I doubt it would be possible to establish it) it'd mean quite a lot of stress for you and DS in the run up to CE. Does he have the big match temperament to rise to that sort of challenge. If you stuck with T, but it went wrong, do you think your headmaster would be able to help you find an alternate acceptable place in a last minute scramble? Are there any non-CE schools you could also approach? (Though if they have competitive entry exams, this only adds to the load and may not be much of a safety net).

Colleger · 21/03/2012 14:34

I did think CH was pretty academic so agree with Milkshake. Is he a day boy? Can you do some intense tutoring?

Original poster
Uloves · 21/03/2012 14:34

will be off for about 2 hours and catch up later.

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Original poster
Uloves · 21/03/2012 14:33

Mikshake3 - ok.....we have been asked to look at Stowe Brighton College or Malvern College. I haven't look at bradfield.

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Original poster
Uloves · 21/03/2012 14:31

Colleger - yes, we have paid two deposits! He didn't sit the music scholarship at CH as I wasn't encouraged by the head of music when we went there. Subsequent to that, when he sat for all arounder award (which he didn't get), he has been offered exhibition award for music.

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milkshake3 · 21/03/2012 14:28

At C the academic pressure ramps up quickly, so even if the entry level is slightly lower I think your year 2 onwards experience will be similar to T. Any other schools to consider - ? bradfield

Colleger · 21/03/2012 14:26

Tricky one. Maybe the prep Head doesn't want to post 99% success rate instead of 100% on his website!

So have you paid two deposits then? Did he sit the music scholarship to CH?

Original poster
Uloves · 21/03/2012 14:22

He has been offered music scholarship at Tonbridge. We spoke to the school that should he not make the minimum 62-65 and is within 55-60, will there consider. Their response was that they have long waiting list, that although they would love his talent, if there are boys who perform better than him then they may not take him. The problem with common entrance is that you have to sit for one school. If we put T down as second choice, they said they won't like it either so we are caught up in this trap of whether we risk it or play it safe with C.

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nokissymum · 21/03/2012 14:19

Uloves - i thought you just said he had a music scholarship to Tonbridge ? Or did you mean he will be sitting for one ? I like the sound of Tonbridge more.

Original poster
Uloves · 21/03/2012 14:15

Milkshake3 - I personally had more warmth at Tonbridge. My son doesn't mind but after being through the scholarship and familiarise him with the school, he said, he want to try and get to T. However, if we are realistic, unless he push himself than he currently is, he may struggle. On the point of leaving it late, he waited for the mock and wasn't encouraged.

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Original poster
Uloves · 21/03/2012 14:11

With a push he can make Tonbridge but headmaster feels since charterhouse has slightly lower entry, he can safely make it there. Plus, if we push, can he sustain it?

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milkshake3 · 21/03/2012 14:10

What did you think when you went round them both? Where does your DS want to go? What suits you as a family? Congrats to your DS on music scholarship to T. Shame to waste all that hard work and practice to go elsewhere.....!!! T won't be very happy either!! What does your head perceive to be different academically between them both? He's left it quite late ( assuming its for CE exams in 3 months) to be giving you this advice.

Colleger · 21/03/2012 14:04

Has he got a place at Tonbridge? Do they think he'll fail CE at Tonbridge? Personally I think Tonbridge is more genteel than Charterhouse.