peter symonds winchester views?

No idea Talkinpeace sorry still getting to grips with it all! DS says it's HE+ does that ring any bells?

theresaMay
Now in some elite group at PSC (can't remember the name but you need an overall average of 7 points at GCSE or something) which pushes them towards Oxbridge/RG unis
I've not heard of that.
DD is doing 5 AS having got 13 A/A* GCSEs so above 7 average
I thought they do the Uni filter during careers week?

DS is 17 and has just completed his first term at PSC, he's doing 4 AS levels. He went to a good comp before and got good GCSEs and is now in some elite group at PSC (can't remember the name but you need an overall average of 7 points at GCSE or something) which pushes them towards Oxbridge/RG unis. He loves it at PSC and is very happy there. I am impressed with the pastoral care - I had reservations because of the size but this hasn't been an issue at all. teaching is first class. Relationships between staff and students appear to be very constructive. There is no messing around in any of his lessons. Students seem to be all well-motivated and committed. I can't speak highly enough of the place. No experience of drugs, the only thing anywhere near it was some incident of smoking in a bus shelter. I don't recognise any of the things that are worrying you.

PSC is fab - go for it and save yourself some money!

(I never saw drugs in the school - plenty outside though)

I was at St Swithun's and then went to PSC.
I must confess I was already fairly off the rails before I went, but this was exacerbated by the lack of supervision and collegiate atmosphere of the place and I often went to the pub at lunchtime and stayed there.

There was certainly a large number of students who did this

I am thinking it might be different now, but in the 80s there was nothing to do but go to the pub and take drugs in Winchester!

St Swithuns girls go to parties in town.
Just your DD has chosen not to tell you about them

And yes, top schools expel for drugs.
But other top schools happily take the pay cheque - a girl in my year was expelled from 4 top schools

But Swithuns girls fit in just fine at PS - they are nothing out of the ordinary in brains or looks or manners or wealth.

PS has, ?4000 pupils. So if 1% dabble that would still be 40 kids. To catch kids bringing drugs onto site they would need a 'drugs bust'.

A 'top boarding school' would have ?200 pupils total in the 6th form. Any pupil doing drugs would be quietly told/asked to leave with as little publicity as possible. Easier to demand emptying of pockets, searching of study room etc too I would think.

I can understand the OP is concerned due to the big jump out of the controlled environment of a relatively boarding school to the large free flow masses of PS. I do feel it is more fear of the unknown. The majority of the kids that go to PS will have come from good comps with good behaviour expectations. Parents who don't wish to / can't afford private still want their kids to behave well, work hard, stay away from drugs etc.

The impression I have regarding PS is that hardworking, self-motivated, independent kids will do well there, regardless of where they were at school before.

(Though my eldest is still on y11).

Ok, now I see that it's a "top boarding school" so not the schools I mentioned. I went to a "top boarding school". It was and is a fantastic school but nonetheless from time to time there are reports of kids there being caught with soft drugs or drinking. Similarly at my siblings "top" schools.

Her current school has never had a drug bust as it doesn't have the need and whilst it does go I'm sure the majority of children are strongly against it!

Every private school I have ever known has had kids who are involved with drink and drugs, particularly boarding schools. It's incredibly naive to think that private and strict = no drugs, no drinking. I am struggling to think of any private school within 20 miles of PS which could claim to be as sheltered as OP says her daughter is. This school doesn't sound like co-ed schools such as KES, HCS, The Greggs.

Just dropped ds off at PS. Kept the windows up, to be on the safe side. Ds glad of a capacious Jack Wills coat in order to hide his stash.

OP, your dd is clearly a very special snowflake and should definitely not sully herself by mixing with nasty PS children.

By the way - "Raising money for orphans" - ROFL!!!!!

Oops, meant small fish in big pond! !

I was not sent to private school but did go to a great secondary in Hampshire which was a pretty close everyone knows everyone type place. I was fairly independent and streetwise though but found PSC a culture shock, felt like a big fish in a small pond which didn't suit me and I struggled.

I made friends there from state and private schools and would say that the boarders and private school students enjoyed the relative freedom and loved it there. It is a good college and despite being geared towards high grades there IS brilliant support if you need it, I did and I got it. Some brilliant teachers and a wonderful chance to mix with students from all walks of life. I did go there 10 years ago so may not be with the times!

Ha ha, ever met some of the girls from godolphin! My state school DS was quite shocked!

OP
Get a life
let your DD get a life while she still comes home for supper.

Lorimeed I went to peter symonds and I'm a massive pill head who only got into a red brick. But don't worry I was happy with that as I never was very private school as I had never been to one.

Unlike all my friends who had left wincol and st swithuns to avoid that awful discrimination they faced during the university application process due to their private education. They just spent their time rocking in the corner trying to avoid being tempted into a life of sex drugs and rock and roll by the great unwashed of Winchester. Those state school chavs of Winchester don't have a political opinion between them after all.

I completely understand what you mean, Lorimeed, but think, as parents, we need to realise that our children are growing up in a society where drink and drugs are available in every arena. My dds are not at a private school (Southampton girls' comprehensive) but have chosen friends who choose not to be involved in this scene. My recently-16 year old had several friends for a birthday sleepover/pizza party. Other girls there have had huge house parties where drink and probably drugs have been available. Neither of my daughters have experienced any bullying about NOT wanting to partake. Most pupils seem to mix with like-minded friends and are accepted for who they are.

This sounds a bit preachy - not intentional! - but hope you can see the relevance for your dd. My Y11 daughter has been accepted into the St Anne's sixth form which is small and achieves excellent results .......

Frankly if she takes her lead from you I think that rather than accepting her with open arms Oxford university will guide her towards the Ox & Cow Secretarial College (if it still exists!) which is ideal for the narrow-minded and ignorant.

ROFLPMPL
If you think you'll get a better deal by sending your DD to South Wilts that is fine by me
Unless you have an internship lined up at Daddy's firm, sooner or later she will hit the big bad world world.

I went to selective private gels school in London and was utterly un prepared for Uni.
DD has that wonderful halfway house of "uni" with "coming home for supper each night"
what's not to love

If kids get involved in the coke / dope / whatever scene, that says a lot more about the parents than it does the school

FFS
I have always worried about any school that did not have drugs busts.
Combine hundreds of intelligent relatively wealthy teenagers and its a given.