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Original poster

Watford grammar boys v.s. private schools (MT, HABS)

34 replies

Smilingapple · 06/10/2022 21:16

Hi my son is doing 11+ this year and haven't got the results yet. Private school entrance exams are yet to start next month. However I'd like to ask for some opinions about the schools we are considering. My son is very musical and he's applying for music scholarship from the private schools. He's more of an all rounder than being super academic. We went to visit Watford boys and were really impressed. It felt like they run the school in the same way as a private school and the boys we met on the open day were all very well mannered and confident. However can I please ask some honest opinions if it's still worth sending my boy to Private schools like MT or Habs? Obviously Watford boys is only partially selected whilst the other two are 100% selective. Thank you!

OP posts:
Cosyblankethottea · 12/10/2022 14:38

Depends on the schools @PeterPomegranate - the privates in and around London are extremely ethnically diverse because lots of Indian/Chinese/Nigerian etc parents prioritise education above most other things. So depending on the area the grammars can be less diverse than the private schools. Plus if you look at the free school meal quotas of most grammar schools, it isn’t actually a cross section of society, not in the least.

Cosyblankethottea · 12/10/2022 14:35

A close relative’s son had a music scholarship at MT and had a great time there and did very well, but they are rich so the fees did not impact them (still very nice house, cars, lovely holidays, enough into savings and pensions etc). So it really does boil down to how much money you have and if you are not going to miss the extra cash that goes on private school.

PeterPomegranate · 12/10/2022 14:35

“Better off parents” - you know your children at some point will have to go out into the world and mix with people from a wide range of backgrounds / incomes?

There are plenty of sound reasons to choose a private school but I’d say the lack of diverse backgrounds is a disadvantage not an advantage.

Cosyblankethottea · 12/10/2022 14:32

Also check out the too long holidays in the private schools… unless this is something you want. It can be 4-6 weeks extra a year and if you work, it is a right pain

Cosyblankethottea · 12/10/2022 14:31

Go for the grammar OP- there are so many musical opportunities in and around London for musical DC, you don’t need the private school for that. Plus my DC’s friends at private schools with music scholarships are always complaining that the school expects them to be in every orchestra even if it doesn’t benefit them directly and that they end up missing academic lessons for free music lessons etc etc. Grammar has shorter days too typically so more time for music practice and as long as your local offering and music teachers are good, that is a much cheaper way to do it. Plus still time for Saturday orchestras without private school sports pressure/matches.

Pomelo1980 · 12/10/2022 14:06

Yes, excellent academic and pastoral support. And Better results than the local private’s

Original poster
Smilingapple · 12/10/2022 13:10

Thanks both for your input! @Pomelo1980 is your son at Watford boys?

OP posts:
Pomelo1980 · 11/10/2022 21:36

Watford boys is fantastic.

Xenia · 06/10/2022 22:49

We had a son at Merchant Taylors (and a girl at Habs girls). Certainly a good few parents do school schools like Watford Grammar at this stage. My own view is it is worth paying for habs etc and they are better, better grounds, ethos, better off parents, entirely selective.

However I know people with very different views and children can do well from both. I only went to fee paying schools and my children and their cousins similar so I suppose for us state schools were not something we wanted.