Winchester College reserve list

ClaraHB · 2024-03-12T15:09:00+00:00

Has anyone had experience of house master allocation when bumped up from the waitlist ? Were you able to have any involvement in the process? And does anyone have any House Masters they rate or would advise avoiding ? We had a bad experience on the interview day so we’re not sure if we should bother hanging around or move on.

PinchMe · 13/03/2024 12:30

Hi ClaraHB. DS had a terrible interview at one house too, so much so that he refused to even consider the school. His prep school intervened to give DS a push, and persuaded him to give it another go. We spoke with the WC Admissions team about best fit for a new housemaster, we were very concerned about it after the first attempt, but they found a perfect housemaster for DS second time around. DS is very happy there now and his housemaster has been amazing. I think the personal nature of the house system selecting boys can go awry at times as both sides need to click, but when it works you can get very strong relationships built.

I’d speak to your prep school and the admissions team - we found them very friendly and helpful.

Calliopespa · 14/03/2024 08:59

PinchMe · 13/03/2024 12:30

Hi ClaraHB. DS had a terrible interview at one house too, so much so that he refused to even consider the school. His prep school intervened to give DS a push, and persuaded him to give it another go. We spoke with the WC Admissions team about best fit for a new housemaster, we were very concerned about it after the first attempt, but they found a perfect housemaster for DS second time around. DS is very happy there now and his housemaster has been amazing. I think the personal nature of the house system selecting boys can go awry at times as both sides need to click, but when it works you can get very strong relationships built.

I’d speak to your prep school and the admissions team - we found them very friendly and helpful.

Agree with this assessment.

My only caveat would be I’ve only known one person to get an actual place from waitlist. That might just be my sample of people on it but I think you need to pursue other back ups as most I have known on the waitlist ended up elsewhere.

Original poster

ClaraHB · 14/03/2024 13:36

Many thanks - that’s very interesting. We also have a confirmed place at Eton and he’s at a day school that he could continue at happily.

OP posts:

TheCricketers · 28/03/2024 23:35

Interesting…DS also had a bad interview there. He emerged white faced and red eyed, and refused to talk about it. He’s clever and reasonably articulate but Winchester interviews seem to be much longer and far more rigorous than anywhere else. I think maybe they forget sometimes that these are ten year old boys, not 20 year old undergraduates.

Jabberwocky8 · 29/03/2024 07:06

I would see it as a lucky escape @TheCricketers. Apparently they have always been known for their poor pastoral care. I wish that I had known this before DS started.

The teaching is mediocre at best, many should have moved on years ago. One does wonder who would be drawn to a boarding school these days, this is very evident....

TheCricketers · 29/03/2024 13:09

I thought it was a pity because there are some things about the pastoral side of WC that I really like. Eg they are much tougher about mobile phone access/use than other schools, which is both brave and smart.

Calliopespa · 29/03/2024 13:42

TheCricketers · 29/03/2024 13:09

I thought it was a pity because there are some things about the pastoral side of WC that I really like. Eg they are much tougher about mobile phone access/use than other schools, which is both brave and smart.

There are lots of good pastoral aspects but I suppose it can be HM dependent. I’m not sure I’d agree about the teaching being mediocre. I’d say it’s a league of it’s own .

Jabberwocky8 · 29/03/2024 13:48

They have recently made some attempts to crack down on mobile phones because things had got so out of hand. With so little oversight ,I don't think it will made much difference
They talk a good talk but rarely see things through.

Our housemaster has been utterly useless, we had a slightly better experience in the younger years.

ForSnappyPombear · 07/02/2025 13:02

PinchMe · 13/03/2024 12:30

Hi ClaraHB. DS had a terrible interview at one house too, so much so that he refused to even consider the school. His prep school intervened to give DS a push, and persuaded him to give it another go. We spoke with the WC Admissions team about best fit for a new housemaster, we were very concerned about it after the first attempt, but they found a perfect housemaster for DS second time around. DS is very happy there now and his housemaster has been amazing. I think the personal nature of the house system selecting boys can go awry at times as both sides need to click, but when it works you can get very strong relationships built.

I’d speak to your prep school and the admissions team - we found them very friendly and helpful.

Would you say go with the housemaster or the cohort? i have met a few of the boys in the allocated house who seemed introverted and like everything except sport-
which house is filled with boys who are aligned with sports?

ForSnappyPombear · 07/02/2025 13:04

Calliopespa · 14/03/2024 08:59

Agree with this assessment.

My only caveat would be I’ve only known one person to get an actual place from waitlist. That might just be my sample of people on it but I think you need to pursue other back ups as most I have known on the waitlist ended up elsewhere.

Show quote history

@Calliopespa did you get a house of choice? which house was it and would you say look at housemaster or cohort whether your child will fit/click ?

PinchMe · 07/02/2025 15:34

ForSnappyPombear (great name). My inclination would be to go with the housemaster. I just don’t think you can tell much from brief meetings of the cohort. If you met the boys on a house tour, it may be that the sportier kids are out and about training or at matches? I suspect the sportiest house changes by year, so you may think you have picked a sporty house but find most of the pupils in x year are more interested in forming a band. That said, mine does a lot of sport now despite not being very sporty at prep school. A friend sent her distinctly uninterested in sport son a few years ago and by Christmas got a muscle bound rower back.