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Education

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Original poster

Winchester College , Sherborne School or Radley College. Also suggestions for full boarding preps .

57 replies

catoutof · 13/02/2019 15:04

My ds is currently at a boarding prep in the U.K. . We had hoped to apply to apply for Winchester College for senior school. The headmaster of our prep school is now advising us against this as he feels it is too academic for our son. He has suggested Sherbourne or Radley as better options. These schools do not seem to be in the same league as Winchester College we feel disappointed by this.

Our son is not overly happy at his current school .He feels that more attention is given to boys who live locally. He is correct in his observation and this is upsetting. We would therefore be happy to move to a full boarding prep where perhaps all boys would receive equal attention. We were led to believe that the vast majority of boys stayed over the weekend but found this was not the case.

Can any mums offer any advise?

OP posts:

peteneras · 13/02/2019 15:48

You may, or may not, be right in perceiving that Winchester is in a special "league" of its own. It seems to me that you are undermining the judgment of your son's present headmaster. From what you've said, it's quite obvious both you and your son are not happy with his school in which case it's better to leave. But how do you know whichever school you change to next the Head there will recommend Winchester as the No. 1 school for your son? I'm not for one moment suggesting that your son is not good enough for Winchester, rather, there may be other schools which are of a higher "league" than Winchester - whatever your definition of "league" is . . .

happygardening · 13/02/2019 16:13

My DS went to Winchester he left in 2016 Imp if you like it give it a go what have you got to loose unless of course your prep school head is really dead against it.
Summer Field Prep is or at least was full boarding Dragon is a big prep school with full boarders ditto Windlesham in Worthing all send boys regularly to Winchester. Hope this helps.

jeanne16 · 13/02/2019 16:26

There are very few full boarding schools left in the U.K. This is contrary to what they will tell you btw. Although they will be open at weekends, you will find most of the pupils go home and only a few pupils will remain at weekends.

Original poster

catoutof · 13/02/2019 17:01

Thank you for the responses. I will look at the schools which you have recommended @happygardening . I agree many schools tell parents that that are full boarding when it is not the case. Our school is becoming even more flexible, I wish we. knew this before we started. I don't believe that all schools have favorites who are constantly championed as is the case in our school. It seems you need to live within a few miles if the school to gain this privilege. We are after all paying the same fees.

From what I can see this only gets worse in the more senior years. I believe all children need to feel valued to achieve so our first step is to find the right preps school for our son and take it from there. I am aware that most boys who apply to Winchester are not successful in gaining a place but felt the suggestions make by the headmaster confirmed he did not know ( or care about) my son.

OP posts:

Iwantedtrianglesnotsquares · 13/02/2019 17:03

Have you tried windlesham house prep. It’s a boarding school that goes up to CE.

Original poster

catoutof · 13/02/2019 17:42

Thank you , I hadn't heard about this prep but Happygardening has also suggested.it. I will also look at the other two she suggested. Do you have personal experience of the school?

OP posts:

1805 · 13/02/2019 17:58

Cothill Prep?? Don't know anything about it though. Pretty sure thats all boarding.
Radley got 18 Oxbridge places last year, so they do have bright boys there.

Genevieva · 13/02/2019 19:33

Your OP encompasses quite a lots different issues to solve - both prep and senior. It might be easier for parents to advise you if you start with a bit more information about about your son - age, interests, strengths, weaknesses, how well you think he would thrive in a big verses a small school etc?

Next, have you visited any of the schools you mention? You might be pleasantly surprised by them - they are highly regarded and well established schools. The major difference is how academically selective they are. This doesn't mean that they don't have Winchester-calibre boys. They do. They both have students who meet their potential, get top grades and go to top universities.

JenFromTheGlen · 13/02/2019 20:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

happygardening · 13/02/2019 22:05

I agree you need to visit these schools Winchester is not everyone’s cup of tea! It unashamedly believes in an intellectual education first and foremost so has a very extensive intellect non examined curriculum. Not every boy enjoys this however bright. It is least it was when my DS was there quirky place very liberal and hand off parenting I know people who’ve looked at it and don’t like it and in fairness it’s hard to see what it’s all about on the first visit. You don’t say how old your DS is but you probably have to register with a house by the end of yr 5 at the latest maybe earlier, you need to speak to the admissions dept, as they restrict the number of applicant due to the very personal application process.

Original poster

catoutof · 13/02/2019 22:40

Thank you all. My DS is in year 5 . We have visited Winchester both for an open day and a tour of two houses. The other schools which have been suggested by the headmaster are not suitable for my son or for us as a family. I think the first I need to do is find the right prep as my son will be there for the next 3 and a half years. He is academic and musical although not sporty is willing to participate. He does a niche sport which is very popular at Winchester though.

OP posts:

Jellycat1 · 14/02/2019 05:47

Sunningdale is a traditional, full boarding prep with a very switched on, experienced Headmaster. I'm putting my boys down for the school although the thing that puts me off is the very thing that you're after - the full boarding aspect. There's also Horris Hill.

Patchworkpatty · 14/02/2019 06:47

Your child is 9 and doesn't even come home at weekends ???? Horrific . Try BEING a parent for 5 minutes instead of worrying about getting him into the 'right' school.

LittleMia · 14/02/2019 06:56

Following with interest

Fazackerley · 14/02/2019 06:56

Sherborne is a lovely school and DEFINITELY full boarding. Winchester is, erm, quirky and definitely not for every child.id listen to the head if I were you.

Original poster

catoutof · 14/02/2019 08:40

Much appreciated @Jellycat1 . I have seen the Headmaster at Sunniingdale when my son played at match at the school. I didn't realize it was full and I must say I loved the way he spoke to the boys there . It has a lovely atmosphere.

OP posts:

minsy5 · 14/02/2019 09:41

@patchworkpatty

what an ugly post. keep your hate bottled up inside for our sake, please.

EdwinaMarlow · 14/02/2019 10:48

Do you live abroad? Why must he be full boarding.

You may be right that the head is not paying your son enough attention but I would also not obsess so much about Winchester or nothing. Maybe your son isn't academic enough. Very probably he would be happier elsewhere.

happygardening · 14/02/2019 12:49

The selection process/interview at Winchester is done with the HM if the house you’ve registered with they know what they are looking for and who will generally thrive in the environment, although obviously they make mistakes like everyone else. Hi back and talk to your current head voice your concerns although there is little you can do about the lack of full boarding a very common problem in prep school, ask why he now advising you against Winchester especially if he’s changed his mind and they have previously sent quite a few boys there.

happygardening · 14/02/2019 12:50

"Hi back" = Go back

Jellycat1 · 14/02/2019 15:50

Ludgrove is full boarding too I think ?

Patchworkpatty · 14/02/2019 15:59

What a bizarre post minsy5 ! I have no 'hate' what I have is outright undisguised disgust.

What world do you live in where its acceptable to place 7 yr olds in full boarding !! You all need to look at yourselves if you thinks this remotely ok and ask why you bothered to have kids in the first place .

And no , I'm not anti boarding. I am anti this appalling behaviour that I mistakenly assumed had long since disappeared from our society. Where parents dump there 7yr olds in a very nice, very posh children's home. I don't care if the school is 'amazing' 'really kind, ' and 'just like home' - it's NOT because their parents aren't there.

Jellycat1 · 14/02/2019 16:39

No @Patchworkpatty it's your post that was bizarre and out of place on this thread. OP was asking for factual help not your opinion on her parenting.

minsy5 · 14/02/2019 16:46

What world do I live in? The same one you do where there are so many lovely parents and thriving boys at the likes of sunningdale, cothill, ludgrove, horris hill, Cottesmore, summer fields, to name a few. You better go inform these schools that they are disgusting places - there are so many of them and they must be stopped! How horribly judgmental and ignorant of you. OP was asking nicely for advice and you respond with a (clearly uninformed) personal attack on her as a parent. If you have that kind of negativity inside yourself do us all a favour and find a different outlet for it.

happygardening · 14/02/2019 17:27

It never ceases to amaze me that no one quibbles putting a young baby in a nursery 8 am -6 pm 5 days a week 48 weeks a year but send a child to boarding school and suddenly you become a terrible uncaring monster parent.

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