Winchester College Open Day

just I suspect that the reason this thread has been so informative is because it's not been hijacked by either the anti independent ed. brigade busy either telling us how immoral/unfair independent ed is and how our children should be educated in their "community", or how their state comp offers identical opportunities , the oh so tedious anti boarding brigade and let's not forget those who think they know all about WC but in reality know nothing. I doubt any of us with DS's at WC think it's perfect but we do clearly like it weird irrational little quirks and all.

Just. The essentials about the other schools. Fewer trees in London but perhaps made up by lamp posts. As for the other by the castle, they must have cut down a lot of trees for oars, boats and flashy buildings. Thus all lacking important facilities. All else is peripheral. Woof.

Well...... I think I now know as much as I could possibly know about WC without being reincarnated as a boy and passing the entrance exam!
I just wish there could be similarly detailed threads about SPS, Eton and Westminster....
I will now just try to relax and enjoy the next few years before it becomes time to make a decision....!
Thanks to everyone (and your dogs) for sharing such insightful comments.

I can imagine all giving eminently sensible and highly articulate reasons why they shouldn't have to go to chapel every Sunday. The keepers must be so bored.
"Yeah yeah we know you think you shouldn't have to go to chapel on Sundays, and you think you've found a way of getting out of it can we change the record now?"

HG. Marwell if no refund for used gorilla? Though it is full of argumentative anti-chapel OWG already I heard.

No gorrillas I've just ordered one for DS's up coming birthday do you think I'll get a refund if I send it back?
I'd better put the dog in for election he loves marking all tress.

Totally agree HG. It would be awful to not mix them in classes. Another down side as collegers: with the gown, it is not possible to dress warmly and stay dry on really cold and wet days.

HG. You obviously did not read your correspondence either! Gorrilas are banned because of risk of primate virus jumping to canines. Over crowding of primates in College was to blame. New not so trivial privilege is that collegers can mark any tree but commoner just some.

The good thing is that although scholars all live together in college they are all educated with the commoners my DS has scholars in all his classes.

Ok tern I'll register the dog for WC instead of Milton Abbey which I was never completely convinced was that suitable for him. He has a younger brother completely barmey do you think ..........

Many dogs would make ideal candidates for College since they tend to be inquisitive and motivated to learn to get their owners work for them. They always do well with aural for languages.

Sorry HG. Case of reading and not registering. Match it is before I slip back to Day.
Election only requires a minimum of 3 optional papers ("4 is reasonable") and WC does not recommend taking many; best 3 counts. So if languages and classics are weak, there is no need to take them. Same applies to other subjects.
Seriously question if special sets or classes are really useful for Election (for KS yes and languages perhaps but not for other subjects). As for prep school track record, I would just flag that correlation not being the same as causation, classic pitfall of single aspect analysis of success. Worth asking yourself how many who got elected may have done so without (or despite) special tutoring and classes and (no so easily done) looking into those who didn't. Indeed there are quite a few in most years who only spent 2 months getting used to the style of Election questions. This year's roll says something. Not about cleverness or best academic performance, just inquisitive traits. Can't see how in a selective school like WC anyone there could be not clever and/or diligent. College does not care about what the boys know but how they figure things out and how motivated they are.

The dog would have beaten them all at French when my son was asked by a French teacher who was assessing his French (or lack of it) "Quelle heure est-il?" he looked completely blank (6 months before the entrance exam) at least the dog looked at the clock he just crap with numbers.
You can understand my surprise when he was telling me he now loves French and he would love to be fluent so much so he is considering doing it at Pre U a real tribute to the MFL teaching at WC.

HG, from reading your comments, I think your son would have done very well in most of the Election papers although your dog might have had a better grade in French

Let me try again termofuse you've not been reading your WC correspondence its been renamed Winchester Match.

"There are a few trivial privileges for scholars."
Someone told me scholars are allowed to have two gorillas commoners only one don't know how true this is but I suppose it could sway your decision.
"Winchester Day is next Saturday."
termofuse you've not been reading your WC correspondence its been renamed Winchester.
My DS also didn't go for the election heavily influenced by his dislike of college.
"it is only in the final year that pupils may need to be taught specifically for Election / King's scholarship"
I agree and for this your going to have to be at the right prep small non selective preps just don't have the resources number of children to run separate classes. If your serious you need to fund a prep with a recent and regular history of success in either/or the election/KS e.g. Summer Field. The language papers are a problem for prep schools the head once told me that many coming from preps don't do well in either Latin or French in the entrance exam so I'm sure the same problem applies to the election.

Agree. Boys' attitude is key. KS is at CE level or slightly stretched. Election is at of below CE, maths in particular is below CE in terms of breadth of knowledge needed but the little you need you have to have profound understanding of it. Somewhat true for Election science too.

Again just from personal experience, it is only in the final year that pupils may need to be taught specifically for Election / King's scholarship and in fact there is no major difference between the syllabus required to be covered for the Winchester entrance and election. It is an advantage ( for both entrance and election ) to be at a school with good language teaching but the mindset, personal enthusiasm and interests of the boys is key IMO

Just in case, Winchester Day is next Saturday.

Forgot to mention that WC does not need to know about your Election decision until three months or so before the May exams. Prep schools invariably want to know two years ahead for special preparation. Frankly, one should question if such long organised preparation (for exam questions and interviews!!) is healthy. Once you have seen some past papers, you can judge for yourself.

Election is really about wanting the College environment which is quite different from the other houses. It is better if the decision comes from your DS rather than parents or school or others. Obviously, apart from the College environment, there is the question of the exam itself. Again, it is better to have a look at some past papers, if your DS finds them fun (and he likes College), then his decision would be fairly straight forward. For some, Election exams are definitely easier as they are less academic (as in requiring lots of studying). It is important to see some past papers because of the myths and misinformation surrounding Election. Doing it for prestige (for whomever) is bad because no one cares within WC, and the pressure/disappointment could be immense if the eagerness is not there or the style of questions is not compatible.
The chambers arrangement can be quite stimulating; older boys do mix well with and inspire younger ones. Different from mugging halls in other houses. Toytime for first and second years is done in School rather than in their chambers. Chambers have real fire places. College food is generally accepted as the best in WC. New HM and tutor are excellent and well respected/liked by collegers (Previous also a biologist and well liked/ respected, became second master in Harrow). There are a few trivial privileges for scholars. Accommodation is arguably inferior to other houses though they don't seem to complain. Mobile reception is non-existent inside and making calls means going outside which is not so great on cold rainy days. There were talks about not allowing those on the roll to opt out of College as exhibitioners in commoner houses, but it seems that it is still allowed. The Election form still gives that option at least. New HM may have made some subtle changes to the Election process if you read the tea leaves by comparing this year's roll with the last few.

Thanks again HG and Britishsummer/Oxymoron. I guess we still have time to find all that out / but you did give me some great ideas, especially regarding music management. 2/4 hours or music practice would do us nicely/as for having outside lessons on Sundays - well, we've done that before when DS was much younger. I guess going to the College is completely different kind of experience and it it quite early to decide. Will discuss it with his current school.
Hopefully in 2 years time I will be giving a very useful advice to nervous prospective mothers. Back to my toy-time learning the Notions .

Sorry, to answer more specifically pianomama's 2nd question, if your son does the Election, on the Election form which is filled in towards the end of the Spring term of year 8, you choose whether if successful you will accept a scholarship and go to College or only accept an Exhibition and go to your selected house. Obviously if you get neither you will go to your selected house anyway

After today's weather my username is a confirmed oxymoron.
Re housemaster and activities, our personal experience from the early years is that the housemaster and team do guide and supervise the choice and balance

Re pianomama's question, yes my DS is a musician but not an amazing one at least in part because he also enjoys doing other things. He thinks his teachers ( including piano) are fantastic. You might be best meeting the head of music and attending some concerts with your DS to see what you feel about the playing and therefore the teachers. In theory I suppose he could continue outside lessons on Sundays.
My DS loved Winchester when he was taken there without us but he was in year 7 and perhaps better able to judge at that time. Particularly for competitive younger boys, sometime the kudos of a particular school with their peers may sway their judgment in thinking they want to go there?
Re election, DS was in the Eton / Winchester scholarship set at his school, and really enjoyed the teaching but in the end decided not to do the Election, reasons being that he did n't strongly want to go to College after a visit, is not very competitive and was a bit nervous about doing the exams outside his prep school.. Since he is n't brilliant enough to have done well when anxious, it seemed the right choice and his confidence was boosted by his entrance results. At his school the boys in his year who got Eton and Winchester scholarships were all boarders and did n't appear to have had extra tutoring.

Some boys probably don't need advise I don't believe my DS asked for it he arrived very keen on a certain activity and is delighted at how often he do it in a week. Others probably need encouragement and maybe even help to decide what to do.
Our HM is very keen that the boys participate in something on most days although as its not compulsory there will always be those who don't. At the end of the day we all know the rather over used but very true saying about horses and water.