13+ boarding SOS

peteneras I'm curious to know which school does a 3 hour interview in January I dont know of any that do this .

Your DS is to be congratulated OP.

It's confirmation, at least, that you're not attempting the impossible.

But it is such a long process. I hope in the midst of this you've been able to make progress with your moving plans and that he is enjoying MGS?

I am so sorry to hear this, firstboard. And to think they’ve strung you and DS along for half a year, what, also with that 3-hour interview (or was it 30-hour?) in January just to tell you this now is simply and utterly inexcusable.

Never mind, you still have the Harrow card in hand and I’ve a good feeling that he might just fit into Harrow nicely with his cricketing skills. Please do keep us updated and the very best wishes to the both of you.

I think those who've been offered firm places have about two weeks to confirm they definitely want it, others will confirm and then drop out along the way, a good candidates for Winchester is usually a strong candidate for an academic scholarship at a slight less academic school so freeing up more places in the future. Finally most who are successful in the Election will also have places in house which they will obviously give up. I would also Talk to the admissions dept in a few weeks about chances of getting offered a definite place IME they're very helpful about all things to do with admissions.

IME Wykehamists are generally very modest and self effacing the HM's are very used to it so I wouldn't overly worry.

Indrid -I have never seen that film , but I will see if I can get hold of it . It is Julie Christie IIRC ? I am sadly old enough to have seen Another Country on stage with Rupert Everett and I think Kenneth Branagh - I think you are right about The GB having an interest to boys making sense of the world. Thank you for reminding me about the film.

Anyway OP hope that my LP Hartley aside you got my post about my DS who went to Winchester from a school with no real history of sending boys there. Certainly not a feeder school. I will keep my fingers crossed for you that if he likes it he will get a place. Do let us know.

Gosh, the Go Between is one of my fave films ever and I certainly didn't know that! Of course, another fact is that the opening lines, about the past being another country, were used as the title for Julian Mitchell's play about Guy Burgess's time at Eton. (I think it was Julian Mitchell).

Interestingly enough, I showed DS the film during the summer and he really loved it, and I too was a bit surprised I must admit. I suppose it about adolescent boys trying to make sense of the adult world...

Grovel -Top Fact.

One of the boys in the film of The Go Between went on to be Herr Flick in Allo Allo. Not many people know that. Unsurprisingly.

Glad to have reminded you !
Off topic , my DS (teenager) read The Go-Between and really enjoyed it. The bits at the beginning with the spells and "vanquished" he found hugely funny.

Ah, I might search for that on YouTube. Seem to recall a couple of episodes of The Hireling on R4Extra last year - but it wasn't quite right.

Oddly enough the not quite teen in the family was asking about The Go-Between recently. I love sharing books with him but really couldn't see what he'd get out of it - nostalgia is still entirely foreign to him ...

I loved it too Zero, a sadly neglected writer. They did on TV light years ago...

That sounds excitingly positive OP. Perhaps you have found The One.

I do think there may be an element of "hanging around" at the beginning of any new period of boarding, regardless of how many activities are organised. It inevitably takes a while to process for oneself exactly what is going on and how you fit into it all.

But I really just wanted to hug EustaceandHilda. I saw your name and realised, with a slight pang of regret, that I've never met another person who's read it.

One quick point HG , and you probably already know this but just in case , as I wasn't aware until it happened , next year your DS will get a certain number of prefect's weekends , i.e. they can , with HM agreement go home for the weekend (Sat after school till Sunday eve). Doesn't help your public transport problem but at least the driving isn't all on one day. It does give them a break especially , as you say , in the terms with fewer exeats.

HG , That's a fair point - we're in London and dropping DS off last Sunday evening at the station , DH did say it was a bit like Hogwarts Express , plenty of W boys on the train. A little bit of taking that for granted on my part , methinks.

OP I know your son has done his interview , a little late to the discussion , but just to say my DS did not go to a feeder prep school , in fact his school does not have much of a history of sending boys to Winchester at all , so please rest assured it can and does happen that boys get in other than from the recognised feeder schools.
Best wishes to him.

Eustacea DS2 is in the L6th unfortunately he seems more keen to come home on Sunday than he did in the beginning. Nearly everyone in his house goes home, but as most live in a London it's doable for them but we don't have public transport links so end up driving for just under 6 hours every other Sunday.
Win Coll is a fantastic school, the staff are amazing and the myriad opportunities, with something to suit everyone, is just brilliant for my non team sports playing DS, the schools ethos and culture is unique, if only they could occasionally organise something for the boys on Sundays especially this term and next when we get less exeats.

Summerends , I think your point is valid. It is probable that given my DS is at the other end of his school life , we have forgotten a bit those first few terms . I do , now that you have said it , remember him saying there were (when he first started ) some bits when he felt he was "hanging around " a bit, and yes , some organised things might have helped . However, I think they learn to fill that time and certainly , not sure how old your DS is , but certainly mine, in his final year , appreciates the time that Sunday , after chapel , gives him. I suspect we are in violent agreement .
EH

Eustacea I don't disagree with you, even his first years DS once chapel finished appreciated the time to 'stand and stare' on Sundays, a precious commodity in a hectic boarding life. He also has quite a few friends stay in for Sundays both in his house and other houses so is not short of companions when he is there. I also like the idea that they have space that they can fill or not. I still feel though that in the first few weeks of year 9 when they are settling in (and maybe longer for some boys) there should be optional school organised activities as it is a bit hit and miss from the houses.

firstboard ,

Glad to hear it went well. My son is in his final year at Winchester , and he and we can honestly say it has been fantastic for him . Like your son , mine doesn't like rugby , but he has found other sports he enjoys and keeps up. He is never going to be a talented athlete but he bungs up and does his sport with enthusiasm and enjoyment. Also , he has other extra-curricular things he really enjoys and does well. It has been lovely for us to see the support he has had , both from HM and other dons whilst he has been thinking about university applications. (I am sure that seems an age away to you , but believe me , it comes round quicker than you imagine )

Also , the one thing I would say is that as they get older , I actually think that having Sunday to relax a bit, or choose what you want to do is not necessarily a bad thing . Take your point HG and Summer , but certainly in the more senior years I think having a day without organised activities is not actually a bad thing. (I do appreciate you made your comments re younger boys) .

Anyway I wish him all the best of luck OP

EH

Good luck to your DS firstboard we find the lack of Sunday activities rather tedious our only serious gripe. But talking to friends with DC's at other boarding schools few schools seem to organise much.
We've also found the relationship between the HM and the boys is excellent ours is extraordinarily dedicated.

Thanks for updating us firstboard. Winchester is a school where the relationship between the teachers and boys and keeping the boys happy is far more of a priority than talking to the parents (not a given for certain other private schools). Sounds as though your DS's chat could have been the first step in that direction being very much between him and the housemaster.

I would say though that a minor disadvantage for the younger full boarders is the absence of organised trips on Sundays that quite a few other boarding schools have. Not a problem for my DS as he has enough to occupy him. I suppose the advantage is they are free to do as they want rather than be organised.

Bless them, they can never remember a darned thing can they? And there's you turning yourself inside out wanting to know how it went .

Sounds promising though, I hope it works out for you.