Is there anyone on mumsnet with sons/nephews/close friends at BOTH Eton and Winchester ...?

[TRL]

As title says, is there anyone who has sons or close contacts with both schools. We have offers from both for Sept 2016 and are really floundering in deciding between them. Am very happy to PM you if I know who to PM...?!?

I have read many threads where people extol the virtues of one or other but I'd really like some compare/contrast advice from someone in a position to see the differences ... if any ... suspect lots?!

Thank you

grovel. I thought that was Eton's prerogative (with Socrates on horseback only for the King's scholars). Winchester's pretty good at croquet though, I left that one out. Worth it just for that.

I kid you not, summerends, my BiL was Captain of Tiddlywinks in College at Winchester. A long time ago. He's now a very senior judge.

Pastoral care can be poor at Eton. Neither of the housemasters I had really had a clue what was going on in the house.

It is very, very exam focused. GCSEs, A'levels and trials (school exams) are taken extremely seriously.

Grovel I looked up tiddlywinks on wilkepedia. The writer of that entry claims that the strategic planning in tiddlywinks is as cerebral as chess whilst combining the technical skills of golf or snooker. Maybe you have n't been sufficiently respectful of your BIL's past tiddlywinks glory .
BadLad is that in recent years?

Not that recent for me. I have a cousin who has only just left, and one of my contemporaries in the same house is now a teacher there. No other boarders in the family, so my cousin liked having someone to talk to about school. His housemaster seemed more switched on than mine - my first just didn't give a damn as long as there were no obvious discipline problems and the second was just clueless and struck up no rapport with the boys at all. We were dismayed when it was announced that he was taking over. Perhaps he settled into the job as he got more used to it.

I obviously cannot speak for every house at Eton but my experience of their pastoral care has been extremely positive. My DS was involved in an incident last half, and I was very impressed at how swiftly, sympathetically and fairly it was sorted out, not only by their HMs but also by the Lower Master.

They also have older boys in each house who are known as pastors, who are keeping an eye on things or who can be approached if there is a smaller problem.

Thank you to all who've contributed here - I have no idea still which way we'll go and DS sees wonderful prospects at both, but we'll have to decide before Sept 1st as we don't want to pay 2 deposits/go into Yr 7 with an extra place .... Toss a coin?!?!

I know boys who have lost parents who have been very well supported at Eton.

We ALWAYS have match teas when our son's school plays there, but the boys from Eton never attend these.

TRL have just re-read some of your earlier posts and would like to add that both music and drama are excellent at Eton. They also don't put that much pressure on boys who don't like sport, and there are lots of non-competitive options available too.

I wish your DS happy schooldays whichever school you decide on.

Pastoral care is very subjective, a lot depends on how you gel with the individual teacher whose looking after your DS and of course what the issue is all about. I wouldn't have mentioned it but the two who are less than impressed with Eton's pastoral care are current parents. Old Etonian parents which we know lots have never commented on it.

TRL toss a coin and then you can change your mind . I would probably go for Eton as it is the nearest to you!