Eton College or Harrow School 2019

"Nothing to do with Harovians??? the school IS Harovians. Do they empty their bins at silly-o’clock and wake you up?"

The boys at Eton are called Etonians. When they leave the School they become Old Etonians or OEs. And they will be called such even beyond their graves! Their teachers are called beaks, not Etonians nor OEs after they left Eton. Barnaby Lenon is not an OE and never will be even though he had taught at Eton for 12" years.

As opposed to Harrow, the bin men who empty Harrow's dustbins; the matrons who look after the boys; the cooks who prepare their meals, oh, and the teachers who teach there are all Harrovians! And of course, the whole lot then become Old Harrovians when they retire.

That's the different between Eton and Harrow, OP!

And I don't see any Old Harrovians making any stands anywhere, do you, TonTon?

I suppose this is Harrow teaching them in school on the hill - just keep hush and follow the leaders.

No need to apologise. If you are brave enough to comment then be prepared to take all responses.

Talking of which, why areOEs featuring endlessly everywhere you look?

Yeah but usually not talked about in a good way.

That is because of media bias, not because all OEs are terrible people. Whenever Boris is mentioned, so is Eton, being an OE is just one of his many failings.

When an OE wins an Olympic gold, or a Nobel Prize for science, or is a leading environmentalist, like Jonathan Porrit for example, then Eton is miraculously, never mentioned!

"Yeah but usually not talked about in a good way."

Some are not, but the bulk are. Like I said, take it or leave it.

"As have many teachers up and down the country."

And they all go on to become Headmasters of prominent public schools. Amen!

Talking of which, why areOEs featuring endlessly everywhere you look?

Yeah but usually not talked about in a good way.

zzzzz, as far as I'm concerned every single post on the millions of threads at MumsNet is a personal take. You either take it or 'chuck it' like an OE is known to have said (Brexit).

Talking of which, why are OEs featuring endlessly everywhere you look? Have you looked at this fact, OP when deciding Eton or Harrow?

the quality of teachers at Eton, many of whom have spent long years there, first, learning their craft and later perfecting their skills all at this same medieval school.

As have many teachers up and down the country.

"I guess your objections to Harrow Peteneras stem from personal reasons, for example a poor experiences at initial school visits, your DS or other friend's' DSs not being offered a place or bursary or even your DS having a bad match experience with them It is an easy trap to shift personal objections to more general criticisms of a school."

sendsummer,

1. Yes, my objections to Harrow is highly personal.
2. No, have never visited Harrow though I live in north London neighbouring Harrow.
3. No, DS not offered a place nor bursary - simple fact being no applications were made for either.
4. No, nothing to do with matches nor Harrovians - my gripe is strictly with the damn school.

"(Pet, you are being a bit unfair on Harrow in some of those comments)"

Could be a bit unfair but certainly not untrue, Xenia.

But there again, Harrow was even more unfair on me when I approached them.

They most certainly do, of course, BareBum. But I think you're slightly missing the point I was trying to make to impress the OP about the quality of teachers at Eton, many of whom have spent long years there, first, learning their craft and later perfecting their skills all at this same medieval school. Almost all are specialists in their own subjects and quite a few of them have written and published their own books.

Others, for personal development, leave to take up a more senior position at another public/independent school.

Peteneras, don't most head teachers start out as classroom teachers?

No one would surely choose Harrow over Eton. There is nothing worng with Harrow and we know it well but if he can get into Eton that is where he should go.

(Pet, you are being a bit unfair on Harrow in some of those comments)

Bear in mind that Eton is twice the size of Harrow. They take 250 boys a year, with upwards of four applicants for each place (it might even be more than that). They are also working two years in advance, plus all the younger boys who are going through pretesting. That is pushing 4000 sets of prospective parents for them to deal with at any one time!

OP, you say that you have met, and chosen, a HM at Harrow, but not yet at Eton. When you have had the chance to visit some Eton houses, you will have a much clearer picture of what school life is like there. Visiting the school on St Andrews day is fun, but it’s a big fête day, it won’t give a real picture of what it is like to be a pupil there.

I guess your objections to Harrow Peteneras stem from personal reasons, for example a poor experiences at initial school visits, your DS or other friend's' DSs not being offered a place or bursary or even your DS having a bad match experience with them It is an easy trap to shift personal objections to more general criticisms of a school.

Harrow is very well known and always will be from its very famous alumni.
You can hardly object to it for its success in setting up international schools; UK universities follow the same path, indeed the ex headmaster of Eton is monetising his Eton experience by a very well paid job in an international schools company.

And not without reasons, Sally.

peteneras your posts really aren't coming across well. You don't like Harrow we get it.

We felt like Harrow was as much a club than a school, with Old Harrovians looking out for each other in later life (work experience e.t.c). Is that the case (or not). If so, does Eton have what we've perceived to be this kind of old boys network

You are asking whether Old Etonians have a network? Seriously