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Original poster

Eton College conditional place - help finding a prep...please!

37 replies

christmaswreaths · 11/07/2017 16:24

Hi all,
against all odds, my DS1 just found out he has a conditional place at Eton for Sep 2019. I am shell shocked really as it was a wild card. Nobody from his school has ever gone to Eton and we are quite far (we are in the North). I need to find him a prep school urgently for September as he will have quite a bit of catching up to do if he wants to pass the CE. His school does not prepare for CE...
I would appreciate any suggestions....we went to see Aysgarth and liked it, but is there any other school we should consider?
Thank you so much in advance - any suggestions welcome.

OP posts:
Cargundian · 11/07/2017 17:03

Congratulations! How does your DS feel b about boarding? (I mean, obviously he must be fine with doing so in 2019 but how about this September?) I've heard it said that Cargilfield, in Edinburgh, is the biggest Eton feeder north of Oxford, and certainly it sends several boys to Eton each year, including a King's Scholar this year. I'll strongly recommend it, though what I don't know is whether there'd be a place in the right year in September. Term has ended, but I expect there are still people in if you ring now. PM me if I can help with any questions you don't want to put here.

Original poster
christmaswreaths · 11/07/2017 17:08

Thank you!
He is ok with it, although difficult to say as he hasn't done it before. He has been to many residentials, but I appreciate it's not the same..
Edinburgh might be too far, as it's a good 4 hours' drive from here. Eton is too, but I would like to transition somewhere closer to home...!
This is all very new and we are a bit shell shocked!!!

OP posts:
Cargundian · 11/07/2017 17:09

PS I expect you realise that doing CE isn't essential - boys can and do enter from state schools. I don't know the details of how that works but obviously Eton can advise. I would imagine that it's easier to start at Eton having done CE, though, since the majority will have done and it's what teachers will be most geared up to expect.

Cargundian · 11/07/2017 17:10

Don't panic, it'll be OK! Do you want to say something about the geographical area that would work for you?

Original poster
christmaswreaths · 11/07/2017 19:20

Hi, thank you so much. It's so difficult....we are in Yorkshire.

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Rosieposy4 · 11/07/2017 22:01

Tricky in Yorkshire
Most of the preps are just feeders for their secondary so not very focused on CE.
Terrington?

Justalittlebitblondie · 11/07/2017 23:27

Friends sent their boys to Aysgarth and loved it - they had similar destinations on leaving - proper boys prep

Cargundian · 12/07/2017 00:14

I filed a list of schools that have sent boys to Eton some years ago (couldn't immediately find an up to date version on their website though). Apart from Aysgarth, and Malsis (now closed) the only other Yorkshire school on it was Cundall Manor School. As that goes to 16 it seems unlikely they do CE seriously, but I don't know.

AnotherNewt · 12/07/2017 12:36

Could you ask Eton if there's anywhere they would recommend?

How far would your radius be for weekly boarding?

peteneras · 12/07/2017 16:39

Hi christmaswreaths, Congratulations to you and your boy for getting an Eton offer. Must say you are very lucky as Eton is so much sought after these days, not only from UK parents but from parents worldwide. This list shows the (prep) schools in the various counties of the UK that have sent boys to Eton over the years that you may like to study. You may also like to consider schools that are immediately outside of Yorkshire. Further afield in Oxfordshire, Summer Fields is a prolific supplier to Eton including a number of King’s Scholars each year. Wishing you every success!

Original poster
christmaswreaths · 12/07/2017 19:11

Thank you very much peterenas. Our boy was very lucky, but I hope it wasn't just luck but also that the school saw a good fit. I will study your list very carefully. Thanks again.

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Dapplegrey2 · 12/07/2017 20:59

Christmas - many congrats to your ds! He'll have a great time. I will be eternally grateful to Eton for what it did for my ds. It's such a fantastic school.

Original poster
christmaswreaths · 12/07/2017 21:08

Thanks dapplegrey2. Much appreciate the feedback as we don't know anyone who went or is going!

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Dapplegrey2 · 12/07/2017 21:54

Christmas - I can remember to this day getting the letter saying my Ds had got a conditional place. We were walking on air for days.
Your ds will make a fantastic group of lifelong friends as well as getting a great education.
Does he have a lot of extra curricular interests? There's something for everyone there.
May I ask, why doesn't his present school prepare for CE? Is it because it goes from reception up to A levels?

Original poster
christmaswreaths · 13/07/2017 07:22

Yes that's correct, he is in a day school 3-18.. I don't think he would even have the time to prepare as it's a pretty full on school, long days and lots of homework.

I wouldn't want to risk it...

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Original poster
christmaswreaths · 13/07/2017 07:29

Ps he has loads of interests.. Music is a big one, but he is also sporty and will have a go at pretty much everything that sparks his interests!

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Edincro · 13/07/2017 13:13

Congratulations to your son!! Wonderful and exciting news.
I know you said it's far from you but Cargilfield is pretty amazing (I'm at another independent edinburgh school however have many friends there). Maybe it's worth a loook?
Good luck and I hope you find he right prep school x

sendsummer · 13/07/2017 19:02

Christmaswreath it does n't sound as though it was against the odds at all, sounds as though Eton will be a great fit for him and he will enjoy boarding.
I remember your previous thread and see that he has remained at his day school. A couple of comments. First why don't you check with Eton what they would expect from him for entrance if he stayed at his present school? You did n't move him before so you had your reasons for maintaining the status quo despite knowing what the possibilities for preps were so if he did n't have to do CE that might influence your decision again now.
Second is how keen a musician is he?
Unless a chorister a lot of boarding preps don't have a routine that encourages longer periods of practice (more than 20 mins) so a DC has to be very self motivated, particularly if he is focussing on making new friends and getting used to boarding routines. If he has ambitions to try for an award practice time could be important for him.

Original poster
christmaswreaths · 13/07/2017 20:37

Hi sendsummer, the reason we didn't move him was that we really like his day school and we didn't want to upset him. In fairness we had only applied to Eton and on balance he needed a reason to move..

Now we have this offer we are compelled to find a solution. He has to do Common Entrance but his day school is a very long day plus long commute, so there is no way we could fit any additional work in.

Music practice will be a struggle but he is not scholarship material as only g5 and he loves more the composing side than the performing... 😁

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sendsummer · 13/07/2017 22:10

If he is not from a prep school doing common entrance he may only have to do maths, English, science and a MFL so nothing extra syllabus wise to what he is learning in an academic day school. Obviously if the commute is too much that is a good reason to board. It however sounds as though there is nowhere reasonably near that he liked more than his day school.

GinGarden · 13/07/2017 23:51

Another vote for Cargilfield, also from a mum of another Scottish prep school but Cargilfield def good prep for Eton. Also, Mowden Hall in Northumberland, surprised this hasnt been mentioned. Yes to Aysgarth too but that is really about it for the north although I am hearing really good things about Belhaven Hiil (Edinburgh), new headmaster and def on the up again.

Edincro · 14/07/2017 08:21

Hi Gingarden, also a mum from another Scottish school. Never heard of belhaven prep, where is it?

SlowRiver · 16/07/2017 00:11

Cargilfield and Aysgarth definitely. C is coed, A is boys only. Does that make a difference?

Original poster
christmaswreaths · 16/07/2017 09:47

I think having been at a coed school up to now, my Ds1 would like to try an all boys school.. Although it wouldn't be a deal breaker.

I think distance at this stage more of an issue and Edinburgh is much further to us than many other places, so probably would exclude it on that basis! Aysgarth is looking top of the list at the moment Grin

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GinGarden · 17/07/2017 11:01

EdinCro Belhaven is in East Lothian (not quite Edinburgh) but included in all the Ed prep schools 'rounds'. Very popular with parents from the Borders, new HM who seems to be doing really well and parents very happy. The boys boarding house house is full which is always a good sign!!

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