Peter Symonds, Winchester- your opinions?

Hi _ I know Hills Road as my stepdaughter went there and did very well - it is extremely well thought of, and very well organised, with excellent results, really on a par with PS. My husband is an academic at an RG university and was totally impressed with both colleges, their standards and presentations - he said that HR/PS Open Evenings were better organised than most he had seen at some Universities, they ask alot, and expect students to respond accordingly and for many this means upping their game. Low attendance is not an option really unless for some very good reason. I guess it is all down to the individual child, their aspirations, characters etc in terms of what suits them. There is no doubt, they have to grow up quickly and 'act' more like adults and this would not suit some, each child is different and will flourish in an environment which suits them as an individual.

Attendance is monitored closely, and parents called in for meetings if it falls away. All absences are chased up and have to be accounted for. No holidays in term time are ever authorised, and only a set number of open days.

Most students adapt well to their new freedoms (free periods) but ex-boarders are most likely to struggle with the autonomy that they now have to plan their day. Or not.

UCAS see all schools that a candidate has attended from 11, so 3-16 at St Cakes won't suddenly disappear and make them look like totally state-educated kids. They'll look like what they are - which is kind of what you'd want a good system to do.

a friend of mine who is a teacher there confirms that bunking lessons there is DEEPLY frowned on - as the teachers are monitored for the performance of their whole group - so THEY get penalised for truants.

Those moving from little private schools - most cope. PSC has a vested interest in keeping them on board.
Mostly they are shocked to meet so many bright athletic kids from the free schools!

NB
Do not think of University Tuition fees in the same way as school fees.
They are NOT means tested
the loan is actually a graduate tax - only payable once the graduate starts earning enough - there is NO money up front.

Yeah - I guess I can sympathise with that fear, but I reckon I would rather test the water at a 'free' sixth form than at a £9k per annum university...

LittenTree if the sixth form college is anything like PS the students may in theory have the freedom to choose whether they attend classes. However, the reality is that if their attendance isn't up to scratch they will not last long! PS certainly bang on about how attendance affects final grades!

I have to say I was rather sceptical about 6th form colleges, as we moved from an 11- 18 education system where the 6th form was integral. They do have to grow up pretty quickly at college, take responsibility, are treated like adults from day 1, it is an excellent transition from school to university, already preparing them for life beyond high school, showing them their value and worth - PS is v academic and does have an excellent reputation for those kids who want to go on to University, but it seems more than that, it gives the kids a chance to be themselves to get away from the 'sausage machine' of High School if that makes sense. - Also, for those whose experience of HS wasnt great, it is a second chance for them to get going, as you say, 'reinventing' themselves to who they want to be. So far so good ! :)

That's really good to hear guineapiglet, it sounds like your dd has really found her feet. Although my ds went to PS from a feeder school he has completely re-invented himself - he has really blossomed in the last year.

Hi - we have just had an out of county move and my daughter has just started at PS- she is a different girl after only half a term - she struggled long and hard in Yr 10 and 11, but thankfully got the grades required and is now much more motivated and interested - she has made a great set of friends already and seems so settled and happy. Teaching is excellent, and yes, they are expected to work hard and do their best. We are really pleased we made the move, it will hopefully have been the best thing for her.

Just been round both PS and Barton Peveril. Both looked good, but dd's chief interest is in drama so she is hoping for BP. If her only interests had been in more traditional academic subjects she would have wanted PS. A friend's ds is doing science at Brockenhurst (preparing for medical school) and is very happy.

Colin Firth's brother, Jonathan was in my year at PS

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Symonds_College#Notable_alumni
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barton_Peveril_Sixth_Form_College#Alumni

PSC doesn't have toilet nuns but it did give the world Jack Dee (and I think I read somewhere Chris Martin) and my A level history teacher Andy Norriss who wrote .

No but PSC surely has the ghost of old Miss Taylor the Latin teacher - the scariest woman I have ever met - the knitting nun in the toilet never spoke, Miss Taylor didn't either, she growled and roared. Fabulous woman - if only I had thought so when I was 16.

now THAT is a thought to conjure with!
maybe Taunton's do ...

The toilet nun in my day stayed in the loos off the vestibule - open all hours from what I remember. Sorry OP for hijacking. Stick to PSC, my dad went there when it was a grammar during WWII, db1 was in the last grammar intake in 1972, db2 me and db3 went too as well as dn 1 2 and 3 and my mum still invigilates there. Are you picking up that at least as far as my family goes - its great!

LOL, I'm much older than any of you - St Anne's was direct grant when I started in the mid 1970's (eek!), i think it went fully comprehensive in about 1977. And yes, I had Sr Mary Oliver as my Year 7 teacher (1st year, in old speak). I would have had her as about 65+ then. I also remember the toilet nun very well - she used to sit in there and knit. They used to open the different toilet blocks on alternate weeks - never sure what that was about?!

Scary - I probably saw both of you going to school, eatyourveg when I was a student and whatever when I owned a student let!

Eve good call TBH - HCS do great things with some kids but their results still do not compare with the big comps in the breadth of education on offer.

1992-1997 I was there. She is timeless

Sister Mary Oliver was 70+ even when I was there! (v early 80s)

DS is year 9 as well & all these are options for him. Interested in views.

He's thinking engineering, but he's not top set, more middle set plus dyslexic which disadvantages him.

We chose not to go to HCS or private as state schools are so good.