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Winchester College Open Day

80 replies

timmytoes · 07/06/2012 17:03

We are off, en famille, to visit Winchester College this weekend at their annual open day. I know that not everyone rates the day as useful but we are going to try to get the best out of it . Does anyone have any tips that might be useful specifically re our visit so we can decide whether it is worth going back for a more tailored visit early next term.

OP posts:
yotty · 11/06/2012 14:39

Yes, we would consider coed. HG, I like Kings, but DH can't get his head round the logistics so may look at Marlborough as it does fencing and is full boarding and does exeats that start on a Friday, so DS could come home. Just a bit worried it might be too macho and posh though.

Colleger · 11/06/2012 14:21

What about Harrow?

Colleger · 11/06/2012 14:21

It's very hard but to even have been offered a waiting list place is a massive achievement.

Colleger · 11/06/2012 14:20

I'm so sorry Yotty but don't despair as he will move up the list and maybe off it. Remember that he won't be the bottom of the academic pile. My son is not the brightest in my opinion and we also don't have a house. What you need to do is to keep remaining in touch with them and let them know what your son has been achieving over the last 3/6/8 months. Enquire about how you can work to prepare him for the entrance exam as you still want him to sit it even if he is on the waiting list. There are parents who will mess schools about and pull out at the last minute. If you can show that you are committed to sending him there then he'll be one of the first to get moved of the list. Lists are generally not based on order so if a musical boy turns down a place then they'll offer a musical boy from the waiting list place.

happygardening · 11/06/2012 14:11

Kings Canterbury is full boarding academically selecive and Jamie Miller is very involved in the fencing and he's one of the countries leading epee coaches lots of GB hopefuls at Kings.

nokissymum · 11/06/2012 14:05

Yotty - So sorry to hear its not the news you wanted, but i'm sure you will find a very good school for him all the same, would you consider co-ed ?

happygardening · 11/06/2012 14:03

I'm so sorry you must be really dispapointed. St Edwards although maybe a bit too sporty

yotty · 11/06/2012 13:58

Worst case scenario has occurred. Only a waiting list place for DS, not even a guaranteed place with no confirmed house. What to do? Immediate thoughts are to look else where as even if he is offered a place closer to 2014, I think he will be rather low down in the pecking order when he gets there. He may feel more comfortable in a school where he is higher up the academic pecking order, despite the fact that he is rubbish at sport.
Any suggestions for alternative schools? The only sport he is passionate about is fencing.

happygardening · 11/06/2012 13:46

I?m always delighted when someone gets a place at a school they are particularly keen on. Wine

Colleger · 11/06/2012 13:39

I turned it down for my eldest. In hindsight it was a big mistake but my experience of the day and the fact that the prep Head said we weren't X parents I dug my heels in and sent him to X! I also accepted X because I thought Ds2 was more suited to it but a couple of years on I couldn't have been more wrong. That is one of the problems of having to decide so far in advance...

nokissymum · 11/06/2012 13:12

Happygardening..... I'm sure your delight knows no bounds right now.....Wink

nokissymum · 11/06/2012 13:07

Grin you said further up that you turned it down based on the open day, so i was a bit confused. DS must be so excited!

Colleger · 11/06/2012 13:01

Winchester College!!! Lol!

nokissymum · 11/06/2012 12:52

Colleger - congratulations! Really excited for you here, by the way which school is it Blush ?

Colleger · 11/06/2012 12:37

Yes he did. A mixture of delight and terror. I really, really hope DS gets a place. There is always some quick movement in September as Eton results are out in the summer holidays and many apply for both schools.

yotty · 11/06/2012 12:28

Colleger, I assume from your last post that your DS has a place. Fantastic news. We are still waiting for the postman to arrive. May have to make a phone call if he doesn't arrive by 1pm.

Colleger · 11/06/2012 11:32
Grin

I cannot compliment the schools admission process enough. Even if it had not been good news they have been so courteous and helpful from the very beginning and look beyond exam results, the schools boys come from and they see the boy for who he is.

DS thrilled but we have less than two years of seriously hard work as he's effectively had no academic lessons since January. I'm worried...

goinggetstough · 11/06/2012 11:20

Fingers crossed for you both. Hope you get your letters soon.

Colleger · 11/06/2012 11:14

Actually I'm very chilled out about the whole thing. No idea what my reaction will be though when I read the contents.

happygardening · 11/06/2012 10:59

Are you sitting by the letterbox?

Colleger · 11/06/2012 10:54

Our mail comes anytime from 7am-4pm each day so nothing yet!

grovel · 11/06/2012 10:52

Any news?

Colleger · 08/06/2012 23:01

Thanks everyone. DS will be devastated in one sense but in another sense he'd be relieved as the next two years will be nose to the grindstone!

nokissymum · 08/06/2012 19:50

Yotty and colleger Hope you both hear good news soon. Smile

yotty · 08/06/2012 17:55

Thanks Grovel. Let's hope it's good news as DS will be devastated if he doesn't get an offer. Not sure how I will break the news to him, but will definately wait until after his exams if it is bad news.

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