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Original poster

Any experience of Winchester College or Sherborne school?

33 replies

Smulen · 06/06/2020 22:17

Don’t shoot me down here as I know there’s a LOT going on in the world right now but... DS is in year 4 and next year we have to think seriously about secondary schools. We’re currently in the state system and don’t currently know anybody with children at either of these schools. Would be very grateful for your views if you have them - the good, the bad and the ugly.

OP posts:
Greenfinch50 · 08/06/2020 15:28

Hi, my DS has several friends at Sherborne and a couple at Winchester. Sherborne attracts families who want old school name, traditional. I can confirm bullying is an issue. One of his friends left and one changed house after a lot of fuss. Winchester took two bright academic boys from his prep, it is a bit tired from a facilities point of view but they are still there and doing well. Best advice I can give is visit the schools you are interested in and go with where you feel comfortable, an hour away is my limit.

As regards coming from state, the days are much longer and school on Saturday, lots of sport (to suit all sorts, not just rugby). Even if the child is day they will be expected to stay in for prep until late evening. Best of luck.

Parsley1234 · 08/06/2020 11:19

No they went to Kings Bruton I was completely wrong. Good luck with what you choose

TheCatsHouse · 08/06/2020 09:02

@Parsley1234 would that be Clayesmore that they moved to?

mateysmum · 08/06/2020 08:22

I have a friend whose son was at Sherborne, left last year.

I get the impression that it is a VERY traditional school which is focussed on boarding. Are you looking at day or boarding? What area does your "neck of the woods" cover?

Day pupils are expected to stay till pretty late in the evening and have little home life. Fees are pretty high, but if you're also looking at Winchester then looks like that's not an issue for you.

My friend had a lot of "debates" with the school about how they supported her son whenever he didn't wan't to pursue life in the way the school thought he should, even though he is a bright and sporty boy.

But of course others will say it's an excellent school.

Parsley1234 · 08/06/2020 08:12

The school with good pastoral care is nearby but I can’t remember the name ! Let me think the woman I met at a match whose child was mercilessly bullied at Sherborne had jumped ship there. He was not the only child I had heard was bullied there my friend sent her son there and I have been less than impressed

Original poster
Smulen · 07/06/2020 22:55

Thankyou Parsley1234, do you know anything about other schools in that neck of the woods?

OP posts:
Panicmode1 · 07/06/2020 17:44

Shocking that bullying is STILL an issue at Sherborne. I knew several boys who were mercilessly bullied there in the late 80s when I was at a nearby boarding school which used to have dances with the Sherborne boys.....

Parsley1234 · 07/06/2020 17:36

Terrible bullying at Sherborne over the last few years pretty endemic across the year groups. Children have been removed from the school due to lack of pastoral care