what should i do my son has been rejected by westminster, shrewsbury, marlborough, winchester and st pauls

[PerkyExpert]

hi guys i am really in a sticky situation at the moment, we thought our son was bright enough for these schools but clearly not so. Any ideas what i should do?

Posting fictional schools was funny, the first time

Oh and re the iseb result, I’d ask one of the three high flyers. They will take great pleasure in telling you:” oh he got a great score of x but WE only take sensational scores of z.” 🙄

For the more general feedback ask one of the other two, because you need to know why they didn’t consider him. The other three it may well be academics alone. But if his school supported him applying there, I’d be surprised if academics alone him out at the other two.

OP - what have the prep said? They have steered you pretty badly imo as Winchester etc are super bright and Marlborough is tough to get into purely because of competition.

How about Stowe?

Excellent school.

Local state school like 93% of the population. You will save a fortune too.

In a previous thread you said your DC had been offered a place at Radley, Westminster and Eton, is that not the case or can’t you just take one of those?

Shrewsbury is not normally that hard to get into. Something is wrong that your son didn’t pass to any of the schools. Does he have a learning disability?

Previous poster mentioned Giggleswick and I rarely speak badly about a school but I wouldn’t send my dog there. It was the mid 90s, and at 13 years old the children were having sex in the bathrooms. Family were horrified their son was 14 and having sex with a girl who was 12. This was brushed under the carpet.

Two years later I dropped off a friends child after exeat weekend and the boys were drinking beer, there was damage on the walls next to the pool table and housemasters were nowhere to be seen. I had just left my all girls boarding school and none of this behavior would have been tolerated for a minute. If you raised your voice, that was a problem. They had absolute control over us, in a healthy and safe way, that ensured all children were safe.

You need a Tim nice but Dim school. St David’s in north wales is good for non academic boys. Lots of sports and art. They have boarding but also lots of support for dyslexia.

I think school holidays are here already. Maybe OP bunked off for the day.

It's so clearly a wind- up post.

@Calliopespa

That said OP, your school has badly let you down. A boy who wouldn’t walk into Marlborough or Shrewsbury should never have been entered for Westminster, Winchester or St Paul’s, and his current school should have had more of a gauge of which level was appropriate.
vs.
we thought our son was bright enough

I would politely suggest that it may well be the OP who has put her son forward for these schools against the better judgement of his school, in the belief that he is more academically able than he actually is.

It is not a school's fault if parents won't listen to things they don't want to hear. Every single parent at the primary I teach in is told from Y5 onwards to apply for, and accept, a viable state place. If the OP hasn't done that, it is not the school's fault.

Where do you live, OP? It sounds like London or thereabouts so there will be many options available to you if you set realistic expectations for your son.

I hope this helps.
DD looked at 22. Five offers and five nos.
Some were vile. Her previous school had gossiped. One cotswold school even questioned her sexuality!
She was a boarder and had four secondary schools (the fourth due to one finishing at 16.
She ended up in the village school in special measures. They were great with her. Now a med student. My DD is SEN and very anti private schools now.
I would find out where he wants to go and also consider his favourite subject. Could he manage at a local school and get himself there and back if you have big careers?

Try a non selective boarding school like Worth or go to the local state option.

Look at previous threads this person has made.

I doubt their veracity.

The vague ''hi Guys''.. {small h }

A parent with a good Public school in their sights wouldn't be doing this.

Can you tell us a bit more @PerkyExpert ?

Is he going to be a full time boarder or day boy?

I suggest you get hold of The Good Schools' Guide. Talk to Gabbitas (excellent.)

It depends on his strengths and weaknesses.

There are plenty of smaller independent schools, like Box Hill (just outside Dorking) which is part of the Round Square Conference group along with Gordonstoun. Not top notch academic but good pastoral side and if he's the outdoorsy type.

Other schools like Frensham Heights is good for art and drama.

Christs Hospital, Horsham?

Greshams?

All of these are sound schools but it depends what your son is like.

If regular MN users suspect a thread we are meant to press the ''Report'' button.

If you think they are a troll, report it.

OP could be dyslexic for example.

Also, you don't need a capital P for public school.😂 People in glass houses, eh?

Aiglon - Villars sur Ollon - you could probably (?) get a discount/scholarship although it is v. expensive. The kids love it. Very good education and they meet an international crowd.

Or Brighton College?

Aiglon is part of the RSC like Box Hill and Gordonstoun.

Maybe capitalisation and grammar is more hereditary than you thought. Have a wonderful summer off school, whichever one you're currently at OP.

yup I think we fell for it

Maybe there aren't any good state schools nearby? Maybe OP wants her child to be taught in smaller classes with better facilities and extracurricular activities. Maybe boarding school is what she and her son want? Maybe she wants her child to associate with well-off people? Maybe she wants her child to gain the connections that come about from being at a good public school?
Who knows but people can do what they like with their money and that includes paying for private education.

Good point well made ... :)

Dauntsey's (about 30 mins west of Marlborough) is a lovely school. 50/50 day/boarding, roughly 800 pupils. There is an an entrance exam but nowhere near as stringent as the schools your son was rejected from. There is also a fabulous learning support department who have worked wonders with students who need that extra academic and organisational support. I know it well and generally very happy students, parents and staff. There are plenty of high flyers but also enough 'average' students that your son wouldn't feel inadequate and so many extra curricular opportunities.

The only criteria needed as a parent paying for boarding school is money.

That's their entry test.

Try Worth. It's a non selective boarding school.