Eton college - what type of boys ?

Fair enough, if it was me though, I'd have phoned up and given Mr Little an earful to get the problem sorted.

It's my son's decision to stay or go and whatever decision he makes I will stick by him but I would not make hasty decisions and neither would he.

If ds was unhappy at a new school I would not be making any quick decisions. I would be holding on to the courage of my convictions and the reasons for choosing it in the first place and hoping things would settle down by the end of the first term. If ds was still unhappy and it couldn't be resolved then I would look around for alternatives.

I know someone who got a junior scholarship to Eton about 10 years ago. Back then they didn't have enough state boys applying to award all the state places (or maybe the quality wasn't high enough of those who did apply).

I'm amazed at what Colleger is saying. He is somewhat of an authority on this thread on all things Eton/Winchester. Seriously though, if you are that unhappy with it all, and I mean totally honestly and not spitefully or anything, is it not time to consider moving your DS? I mean its bad enough if he's not enjoying it...and farnkly, no one should spend the kind of money we are talking about and be in any way dissatisified with the service we're getting in return!

The Head, Tony Little, was quoted as saying they want boys with 'something extra to bring to the party' and that could be any number of things, so it's very hard to define and very hard to know if your DS has it.

Enthusiasm and joining in are definitely important factors, I agree. They want boys who will use the school, and all that it has to offer.

You don't have to be an elite sportsman, but if you are then you will have fantastic training and facilities. You don't have to be a brilliant musician, but if you are you might find yourself playing for the Queen. If you are an 'ordinary' musician you will still be encouraged to play in an ensemble and perform in your house concert.

You don't have to have been head boy, or the coolest boy in your prep school. My DS was not in the alpha group at his old school because this was really defined by sporting ability, but since being at Eton if anything his confidence has soared. It seems as though they are really good at finding what each boy's strength is and encouraging and supporting him in that, rather than making unfavorable comparisons with other boys.

I think the school would really really like to attract more boys who are not coming from the Home Counties, Eton-boy-factory prep schools, but those schools are good at what they do and, in addition, a lot of potential pupils would never think of applying to Eton, so it takes time.

You don't sound all that convinced as to the quality of your son's £32,000/year education Colleger?

Did you not consider a nice day school instead?

orangeberries, in principle Eton would be more than happy to take boys from state primaries. The problem is Common Entrance which state primaries don't prepare children for.

Until about 3 or 4 years ago, a boy from a state primary had at the very best, a 1.5 percent chance (or less) of getting in to Eton. This is via the(ir) Junior Scholarship scheme where 4 places out of the average annual intake of appx. 260 were specifically reserved for boys from state primaries. Successful boys were then taken out of their primaries aged 10 to be put in a prep school of their choice for three years (with Eton?s approval - and they know just about every single prep school in the country; some approved and surprisingly, many not approved including some big names!).

Needless to say, this route to Eton was next to impossible to achieve as boys from the length and breadth of the nation came to compete for the 4 places.The Junior Scholarship scheme is now defunct; replaced with the New Foundation Scholarships.

I think my son would have been happier at Winchester but its done now.

Do they ever take any boys from state primaries? On their website they only talk about prep schools.....what's the reality surrounding this? Would a boy from a standard state primary have the same chances of getting in?

The joiner in bit is really important,its a school that works best for boys who are willing to give things a go and want to try new experiences,getting in however is as has been said a bit of a lottery,they dont always the obviously academic or sporting or musical,they are looking for a mix,children that are going to add something to the school,that can lead to really good candidates not getting in and other boys that are ho hum at everything getting in,but go and look at the school,forget(if you can) its Eton,and just see if its right for your dc and remember its got to be the right school for your dc not the right school for you.

My son also loved it from day one. He isn't musical or a great sportsman but is reasonably intelligent and a joiner in-er.
He made a fantastic and close knit group of friends - friendships that I hope will last forever. (though obviously children will make close and long lasting friends wherever they go).

bulletpoint, you don't need to play any instrument. My guess is that most boys don't.

They use the pre-test at 11 to try to establish that a buy has got the all-round ability to benefit from their teaching and not fall behind. This is all done on a computer. They had the test developed by Durham University. They then interview the boy. The interviewers are trained to bring the best out of diffident boys and to spot unfounded bravado. They say they are looking for enthusiasm.

Eton was one of the first schools to introduce this kind of admission process. They felt in the 1980's (as did many schools) that they were getting too many boys who were "too cool for school" and were wasting the opportunities and facilities they offer. So they love musicians, sportsmen, actors, natural historians (they've got their own museum), artists, etc etc

They want a mix of bright boys. This may explain why Colleger thinks it is something of a lottery. In a way it is.

I know many who do love it but there seem to be a large minority that really don't. I just feel its a school where many parents want to get their kids into and they don't really question if it's actually the right place for their child. Interestingly though, the housemaster said that boys who have boarded before often struggle the most because they are surrounded by excited boys trying to vie for alpha position but they don't have that excitement of being away from home or need to get involved. In the long run it can leave them quite isolated.

Colleger, my DS loved it from Day One. He came from a day prep school. He was 3rds (at best) at sport, middle-of-the-road academically and an OK musician. He had (still has) great friends from very varied backgrounds.
I agree it's a bit sink-or-swim to start with but the Housemaster and Dame were watching closely.

colleger you " dislike" the uniform you'll be stating that you like St Paul's next! X

I'm not sure how any school with a house system can have excellent pastoral care as every housemaster is different. My son's housemaster is an excellent man and we are very pleased with the house and feel he couldn't be in a better house, but that does not mean a child will be happy at the school or that it's not extremely pressurised. Boys at Eton have to be bright, go-getters and exceptionally robust.

I think one of the main problems is that the school feels and runs like a university and this may be great from third year onwards but it is a very hard environment for young boys coming from quaint little prep schools in the country. I also dislike the uniform. It's striking how it is very difficult to distinguish a first year and a sixth former, and im talking as a parent, when they wear that uniform and I wouldn't be surprised therefore if the first formers are treated in the same way the sixth formers are - too much responsibility, not enough leeway when they get things wrong etc.

1st year boys, it's called F block.

What is the F-Block? Sounds ghastly!

Admission to Eton is a lottery IMO, but I'm sure Eton don't see it like that!

I've known boys who would have been perfect and a complete package (sport, academic, music) and be turned down for boys who seem to offer very little. Any ideas that it is a true meritocracy are also false. My son was only at the beginner stages on one instrument and terrible at sport. He got in on academic ability but there were boys who got rejected whom I genuinely think we're better candidates. I've also been surprised at the abilities of the music scholars. Some are phenomenal and I am genuinely perplexed about why some other boys were given music places.

Tbh, the most important thing you need to ask is if Eton is right for your son. It's a very hard, pressurised school and really not for the faint hearted or the gentle boy, or those that are too compliant and worry about everything. It's a very daunting place for many F block boys and I know a fair few who are not happy or where it takes over a year for them to eventually find School palatable, and longer before they start enjoying themselves. This can be pretty uncomfortable for parents to witness. It can also be a terrible anti-climax...