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Original poster

Eton

62 replies

Riversiderunner · 30/09/2015 21:55

Our son is 8 (Year 4) and quite bright - not amazingly so, but pretty good. Best reader in his class, top set of maths, quite shy though, which holds him back. And appalling handwriting, but hopefully he's getting better.

He is currently at a good state primary. And I am wondering what his chances would be of getting into Eton.

Can anyone advise? I've got the Good Schools Guide and see they take some from state schools, though not many, and understand why that may be. I also know he'll need to do a couple of years post-primary before he goes to big school anyway.

I just wondered if I was mad thinking he might be able to, or if competition is so fierce that there's no way a child who hasn't been at a prep school can get in.

(I know quite a few OEs and I've got to say they're not exactly all of them the sharpest tools in the box. They're confident, charming, at ease, blah blah, but certainly not my cleverest friends, by a long chalk.)

On another note, would we be better off putting him into a private school for years 5 and 6 before he does the test Eton puts them through? Or should we leave him in his good and lovely state primary and hope that he does well in the test I think they offer for children from state schools.

If anyone has any thoughts I'd love to hear them!

OP posts:
Gruach · 01/10/2015 23:05

Hah. Coming after the posts above mine it looks as if I'm disagreeing about the level of cleverness required. I'm not of course.

I also was tempted to ask why you'd want your DS to go to a place whose alumni you hold in such scant regard. But I'm sure by now you've realised how much things have changed.

Hobnobs From my experience of current pupils (in addition to OEs) I can honestly say that if they leave the school charming and accomplished it's because they entered with those qualities. I don't think the school can be blamed.Grin

Gruach · 01/10/2015 22:46

Don't rely solely on the prospectus. The website is constantly updated with illuminating nuggets of information.

Perhaps it's not helpful to hang out with OEs who are not representative of the boys currently there; in saying you'd hope the school would give him confidence you are slightly turning things upside down. I honestly don't think an evidently unconfident boy would get through the admissions process.

But you do have a decent amount of time to see how your son's personality develops.

Boys at preps that regularly send to the school have the fun of working towards CE/KS with their friends rather than alone - but I don't think it makes any significant difference once there. I do think there's an advantage in having boarded at prep - but obviously lots of boys don't and still thrive as boarders at senior school.

This year roughly half of the new 13+ entrants took the KS. I'd imagine at least a similar proportion of state school applicants, if not more, work towards the New Foundation Scholarships - so there can't be much room for anyone in either group who isn't prepared to put in quite a bit of effort. But you certainly don't have to be a genius!

IndridCold · 01/10/2015 22:45

Oh, and there is no such thing as an Eton 'mould' by the way...

Original poster
Riversiderunner · 01/10/2015 22:25

And thanks TeaandHobnobs - opening up the Good Schools Guide right now! x

OP posts:
Original poster
Riversiderunner · 01/10/2015 22:24

Fair enough Dapple, I think I worded that pretty badly. Sorry to offend.

OP posts:
Dapplegrey1 · 01/10/2015 22:06

If the OEs that you know are not clever, then why do you think it would be a good school for your son who you say is pretty bright?
If you think that because your OE friends aren't bright then the entrance exam can't be difficult, then you are very much mistaken.

TeaandHobnobs · 01/10/2015 22:00

I think Winchester is definitely worth considering.
I know lots of Wykehamists, and the "type" is definitely one of quiet, smart but quirky boys.
I also know a lot of OEs, and although they are all extremely accomplished and very very charming, I do find them, on the whole, terribly fake.
Yes, Eton must open up an awful lot of opportunities for the boys, but personally I wouldn't want my son going there - mostly because his personality doesn't seem to match with what I consider to be the Eton mould.

Original poster
Riversiderunner · 01/10/2015 21:52

Thank you all, really interesting replies. I do have reservations about him being shy, though paradoxically that is also why I'm drawn to Eton as it might give him confidence.

I've got the prospectus and will study it further.

Thanks also for the tip re: Winchester. Unfortunately I once snogged a rather unattractive (I was 15 and desperate!) Wykehamist which ridiculously has always coloured my view. I think I need to reconsider!

Thanks all!

OP posts:
IndridCold · 01/10/2015 11:20

As the others have said have a look at the website, and go and have a look round. I don't think you would need to send him privately to prepare for the test, but if he won a place you would probably be better to send him to a school where he will take Common Entrance.

You mention that he is quite shy, which rings a bit of an alarm bell with me. Etonians are famed for their self assurance, but the school deliberately chooses boys who already have a lot of confidence to begin with. It is a fiercely competitive environment in every field, and boys are thrown into the deep end right from day one, and have to be able to manage themselves and their time in quite an adult manner.

Of course your DS is still young and this could change, but it might be worth also considering Winchester, which has the reputation for suiting boys with a quieter personality

Gruach · 01/10/2015 08:51

You may want to start by reading their website and prospectus from end to end - to dispel any misconceptions. Grin

All the questions you've asked are fully covered there. As a pp has said, entry is very competitive - you cannot base the current intake on your adult friends.

You don't need any special preparation for the pre-test. And there is a clear route for state school pupils. The main question (beyond passing exams) is whether your DS would cope and thrive in a fiercely energetic boarding environment.

Jeelba · 01/10/2015 08:34

There are some very useful threads on mumsnet about entry to Eton and what kind of boys tend to thrive there. If you search for Eton, plenty of fairly recent information should show up. My grandson is off today for the computer-based assessment test and interview...

Kuppenbender · 01/10/2015 07:51

No, you're not mad. Boys do get to Eton from state primary/secondary schools.

I would say that your observation about OEs that you know might not be all that relevant. Since 2002, all admissions have been through a highly competitive entrance procedure. The well-connected but dim are much less likely to slip through the cracks.

Of course, this means that Eton, as probably the best known school certainly in the UK, if not the world, is extremely popular choice for many 'amazingly' bright children from (increasingly) around the world. Don't let that put you off, but you (and more importantly your DS) should be realistic about your chances.