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Original poster

Winchester College

55 replies

24663664 · 17/04/2014 18:07

Help please from others more experienced than me. DS has a firm place at Win Coll but, strangely, is far more interested in Clash of Clans and Candy Crush than learning French irregular verbs. Latin doesn't quite do it for him either - with DS it is more a case of 'give up and run for it' than 'veni vidi vici'! His maths and science are brilliant though. Scared that Headmaster may free up DS's place for another more deserving! Do any other parents witness that titanic strugle between the screen and academia? How does WC manage the screen these days? DH thinks they ban it but not sure and afraid to ask. Guidance gratefully appreciated. Thanks so much. WC parent to be (maybe!)

OP posts:
happygardening · 17/04/2014 20:50

I believe one house has a reputation for lots of gaming.
My DS backs up what summer says in his house even amongst older boys who are less supervised gaming is not that serious in school time they are very busy but out of school ........
Good luck to your DS too OP.

Original poster
24663664 · 17/04/2014 20:47

Thanks summerends. Relieved to hear it. Sounds like Win Coll is just right for DS in terms of moderating his e-passions. He loved Win Coll from first sight and has a firm place...don't want him to ruin all by playing Grand Theft Auto when he should be doing Toyetime...much appreciate your sagely counsel. Thanks so much once again and best wishes to your DSs as they go through WinColl...

OP posts:
summerends · 17/04/2014 20:31

Interestingly even once they are allowed their laptops at least some of the boys seem to want to keep their serious gaming for the holidays and a bit on their Sundays. TBH they don't get much time during the week for computer time and in any case the younger two years do their prep under supervision so are extremely unlikely to try to game when they are supposed to be working.

Original poster
24663664 · 17/04/2014 20:16

Really helpful - thanks for your very helpful reply, happygardening. The anonymity on MN assures me of what is actually the case rather than the official party line. I wish your DSs all the best as they progress through Win Coll and onwards through life generally.

OP posts:
happygardening · 17/04/2014 18:32

No personal lap tops/computers till at least the third term of the 2 nd year later I believe in some houses. There are communal computers in houses ?2-3 I think in my DS's.
No wifi.
Technically they are not meant to have smart phones but all do.
They are really clamping down on computer games etc. we were told this at a recent parent teacher meeting and my DS was telling me how a few weeks ago but to be honest I can't remember all the details he's currently out but I will ask him later. A friend told us before my DS started that a work colleagues DS was expelled from Win Coll for gaming.
If you have a firm place why would they take it away they don't know he's a gaming nut unless he writes it all over the exam paper!
I think you'll find many boys are mad on gaming when at home.
He's going to have to put some effort into getting on with languages most do at least two MFL and I believe all do Latin.

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