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I read in the Telegraph (I know, I know, but bear with me) that there are a couple of websites with warts and all independent discussion of private senior schools...

80 replies

MintyDixCharrington · 16/10/2007 12:33

but I cannot for the life of me remember what they are called, nor can I find the paper I read it in. Anyone have any idea? Not the good schools guide - more informal. I have a feeling one was called Peter something but I may have made that up.

Alternatively, I've been hearing some pretty hairy things about Marlborough College recently - anyone have any info about it?

Ta muchly

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bearsmom · 16/10/2007 14:46

I live near Marlborough and my experience of the college students is mixed. The boys we encounter seem mostly aloof and rude but the girls are generally friendly (though I suspect this is because I normally have my lovely 4-y-o ds with me who melts most people's hearts ). Went to visit StF in P last week and the deputy head there was raving about MC but I'm not convinced (like Heifer I've heard bad things about MC most of my life). I am ex-D (1980s) - academically in those days it was very good, pastorally not so good, but I suspect it's changed a lot. StMC, when I was young, was the place Jade Jagger got expelled from, that's the extent of my knowledge about it!! I'm finding schools a big problem around here and sometimes wish we were back in the city.

mwamwa · 16/10/2007 14:41

I mean www.schoolsnet.com

mwamwa · 16/10/2007 14:41

schoolsnet.com?

mwamwa · 16/10/2007 14:38

there is this coming up www.schoolsshow.com

MrsBadger · 16/10/2007 14:28

idly browsing the Tatler one and found this

"if your name is Peyton and you have a child between the ages of 13 and 18, then don?t hang about. Derek Peyton, who died in 2002, left the school (Brighton College) a six-figure sum to be spent on educating a child who shares his surname. No one has come forward yet."

All impecunious southern MNers named Peyton, take note!

MrsBadger · 16/10/2007 14:25

I know really
was just saying it's a very different experience
much harder to go out on the lash in Camden or Islington on your half-day if you're proper rural...

MintyDixCharrington · 16/10/2007 14:19

a day school in london is a bit tricky for someone who lives 2 hours drive away though...

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MintyDixCharrington · 16/10/2007 14:19

no not that article, no not tatler (!), not schoolsnet -

it sounded a bit like mumsnet but about schools (if that doesn't sound horrific. which it does!)

never mind

I know Heifer, saturday afternoon in pizza express is pretty revealing isn't it...! I do keep hearing awful things but then I think "well, it is so close, how bad can it be" but I must just snap out of that sort of wishful thinking...!
Must go and look at D. StMC is currently frontrunner but C is such a dump and it is v small

aurghghgh

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MrsBadger · 16/10/2007 14:17

day schools utterly different
ditto London schools

EffiePerine · 16/10/2007 14:12

think Facebook shows there are a lot of hideous public school graduates out there. Personally, most people I know who went to a public school hated it. The ones who enjoyed it aren't really my type. The exception, oddly enough, is St Paul's, but that's a day school so perhaps different rules apply?

EffiePerine · 16/10/2007 14:10

ah I was relying on DH's link. Will rap across knuckles and advise to check date next time

MrsBadger · 16/10/2007 14:09

the Tatler schools guide is always worth a squint as well. Quite unvarnished.
(2007 edition now out, Effie)

heifer · 16/10/2007 14:04

I think I live in the same county as you Minty and to be honest I have heard pretty hairy things about MC all my life!

It has never had a great reputation locally, I always thought people with more money than sense sent their children there... or people who put tradition and reputation above all else..

Have you ever walked around Malborough at the weekend? I would really recommend it, you will learn an awful lot.

Did you ever go and look at D? As I think I have said before if we were staying here we would definately be sending DD there, but as we are moving up north it is not an issue for us, but have certainly been impressed with the number of decent, intelligent, respectful teenagers I have come across that go or have been to D...

EffiePerine · 16/10/2007 14:01

DH suggests this may be it:

www.tatler.co.uk/Schools/2006/

EffiePerine · 16/10/2007 13:56

you got there before me Shreddies

shreddies · 16/10/2007 13:51

Was this the article? Links to crappublicschools but also mentions the facebook community thingies

EffiePerine · 16/10/2007 13:49

thre is of course this

www.crappublicschools.org/

maybe not quite what you're looking for

Lilymaid · 16/10/2007 13:48

There is Schoolsnet but that covers independent and state schools. You have to register to use it.

MintyDixCharrington · 16/10/2007 13:47

oh thanks effie, would be v interested to see what he comes up with

no rate my teacher isn't really what I want although I think that was mentioned in the article as well...

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EffiePerine · 16/10/2007 13:44

There's I Went to a Proper Public School or similar. Full of, er, interesting types. DH knows lots about this - will try and get some info

clandestine · 16/10/2007 13:43

Could one of them be that site where you can rate the school and the teachers, that MB has spoken about on here?

MintyDixCharrington · 16/10/2007 13:41

do you think I could tutter? wouldn't I sound like a madwoman? hmmmmm

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MintyDixCharrington · 16/10/2007 13:41

oooooh
where effie where?
the article did talk about facebook and myspace but then had 2 sites of sort of independent discussion of schools, if you really wanted to know what was going on at eg sherborne or whatever. and apparently recent leavers were contributing too... oh poo. they sounded really interesting

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Tutter · 16/10/2007 13:40

why don't you contact the torygraph, mintypeas?

MintyDixCharrington · 16/10/2007 13:39

no it was probably about a month ago
could have been ft
could have been times...
have trawled through all three sites until I'm blue in the face

no it wasn't the times. It was a broadsheet and the article was about a quarter page on the verso. and I'm pretty sure the page was white. Saturday telegraph, therefore...

my photographic memory only takes me so far

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