Marlborough waitlist - is there any chance a space will come up?

[Cocodmackie]

Hello my son has been offered a place at Sherborne boys for 2028 entry and waitlist for Marlborough College. Marlborough is our number 1 choice but wondering if it’s even worth waiting? Don’t give you a rank as to where your child sits and the likelihood of even getting a place. Anyone have any advice please. I think I need to look at some other boarding schools as Sherborne logistically isn’t ideal for us. Many thanks

His father William did well enough at Eton. Sarah Chatto's sons also attended Eton. So there have been members of the royal family who have coped and even thrived there. So you assertion that royals aren't bright enough for Eton or Wellington is rather a prejudiced exaggeration.

Schools like Eton and Harrow have upped their academic pressure since then. They have a far higher intake now of wealthy Indians, Chinese, Singaporeans, etc. and their work ethic is intense. William fared well enough back then but I am not sure he would have enjoyed the experience quite as much if he had attended Eton today. This recent article touches on the issue https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/13/private-schools-are-bribing-the-british-to-come-back/

Gift link: https://archive.vn/e9haa

I know students accepted to Wellington. It is a lovely school but as far I can tell certainly isn't seen as in the same level of academics as an Eton (or Winchester, or Westminster or Tonbridge, for example).

JulietteHasAGun · Today 17:06
Does anyone think he actually needs to pass entrance tests? Do people think Harry passed the tests for Eton? He got in

As AlertMentor said, given the circumstances surely it was reasonable to allow Harry to go to Eton with his brother and near his family, even if he wasn’t academically up to it.
Yes, I know lots of people suffer the loss of a parent but very few have it played out in minute detail - some of it very unpleasant - across the world for weeks on end.

So you assertion that royals aren't bright enough for Eton or Wellington is rather a prejudiced exaggeration.

I agree, though it’s a popular mumsnet view that the Royals are all thick. Having said that, it’s also a popular view on here that all Etonians are thick 😂.

It was appropriate of Eton to allow Harry to attend but at the end of the day, I suspect he would have been much happier at a smaller, more gentle, less academic school.

Good point, I’d forgotten at what stage of education his mum died.

William did okay (although still below par by Eton standards) but his brother struggled badly.

And Eton has become significantly more intellectually rigorous since the 90s.

We will never know what might have happened if Diana had not died. It was her father and brother who had attended Eton previously and she would want her boys to follow in their footsteps. On the other hand I do recall some speculation in the year before she died that they were considering an alternative for Harry. I believe that parents should aim for the school that is the best fit for each child even if it means they attend different places.

Definitely. I think William and Katherine seem more likely to really think about where is the best fit for their individual child rather than just go somewhere as that’s expected or following in family footsteps. It might be Eton, might not be. They will know best.

My only addition to this conversation is the security element. Having recently visited Oundle, I’d say it would be incredibly difficult to provide a safe, paparazzi free environment for a royal given it is so spread out within the town. Very hard to maintain any privacy there. I am guessing they went to visit Oundle to show the public they are looking further afield and less “typical” school for royals. I would think Price George would go somewhere more private, secure. Just guessing obviously

and honestly who really cares lol. My thread was really about the waitlist at Marlborough and whether people one the waitlist ever get full offers 🤣🤣

Grammarly is a lot cheaper than these schools and would really help some of you.

They may have been looking at Oundle for Princess Charlotte.

Any waitlist movement on Oundle? Any thoughts on the Leys?

Miaow! 😂

Just announced that George will indeed attend Eton. So if some people's theories are correct, the Marlborough waiting list should have quite a few more available spaces soon.

Wow well I definitely thought it would be Eton and interesting to see what happens with the waitlist at Marlborough. I am now questioning whether it’s the right school or if it is too “flashy”, rather than more down to earth. We still loved Uppingham most followed by Canford but my son really liked Marlborough. Thank you

I am a bit surprised that he's going to Eton, truth be told. It has become even more academic than when Harry and William were there, and that's a lot of pressure on a young guy who already looks quite serious. But, it's nice that the school is close to home, and I'm sure they have picked a school they feel is well suited to George. Good for him!

For what it's worth, I was rather put off by Marlborough's reputation here on mumsnet as a flashy, nouveau riche school. But my son attended a "future students" day held in the autumn for students who have been accepted to enter in 2027 - I spent six hours with other mums and carefully watched the other students who attended. What I saw was a decidedly unflashy crowd: the kids my son spent the day with (true, he tends to gravitate to other children who are similar to him) seemed bright, polite, sweet and wholesome. The mums I talked with over coffee for hours were down-to-earth, interesting and warm.

I'm still not sure if my son will attend Marlborough, partly because of distance and partly because I'm not sure if Full Boarding would be best for him. But I have no qualms about the kind of families who will be in that community.

Gosh thank you, this is most helpful and reassuring!! The boys my son did the assessment day with all seemed down to earth and a nice sort, so my son said. I sometimes find people spread opinions of schools they didn’t get into, so hard to know isn’t it. I hope you come to a decision soon. I find it all very difficult deciding when they are so young still for 13+ entry

This was our concern. It is one of the only exeat schools left - most are weekly board which means an extra cuddle and check in at the weekend during the critical teen years. Our school historically was a feeder to Marlborough with noticeable presence. This has completely dropped in recent years. Only one down for 2027 and they are likely to go elsewhere. The Prince George effect has been pretty awful in attracting people for the wrong reasons. The assessment day was an eye opener on some of the parents social aspirations (quite frankly embarrassing). As Prince George plays sports against my children, the parents were far removed from the environment he is currently around (sheltered and protective) . I feel dreadfully sorry for him. He is a child in a glass fish bowl hounded by the media and the worst of society. From a terrorism threat perspective, this was why we didn't pursue our Marlborough place. Now he isn't going, this isn't an issue... for now.... until they announce where Charlotte goes. They have been seen quite a bit at the school in the last 18 months. I can't say Im disappointed we aren't going. We have a friend who's child left due to a dreadful bullying issue - although I can't say that doesn't happen in most places. Their feedback was the school was lax with controls when things got out of hand. We have also heard of another pretty awful situation which thankfully the media haven't heard about - again not great and the undercurrent of internal publicity no school would want. Our Headmaster states schools have ebbs and flows. Marlborough is at the top of its peak currently (as is wellington) but it is all cyclical so will be interesting to see if much changes.

Can I ask which school you chose then? I find so many people are negative about the schools they didn’t choose to go to but don’t offer up alternatives. Which would you then recommend. Thank you for your insight.

You seem to hear a lot of rumours. It was Wellington last time...

Bullying in Oundle or marklborough?

I do wonder if now its been confirmed that Prince George is going to Eton those who were desperate for Marlborough may look elsewhere.

Yes I should some spaces will free up at Marlborough now.

A friend of DC has gone to Marlborough and is a lovely girl, bright, sporty and friendly but her dad said it hasn't been plain sailing making friends as there is a large London contingent who already knows one another and are a clique.

Oundle and Rugby sound more down to earth.

And for those saying how academic Eton is we know two very lovely brothers who are good chat and sporty but definitely not intellectual heavy weights and they got in. Another boy who is distinctly academically average and heavily tutored got in but didn't get into Winchester.