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

[catoutof]

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?

Full boarding preps include sunningdale and Ludgrove which are always full at weekends. Full boarding public schools include Eton, Harrow, Winchester and Radley. There are full boarders at wellington, bedales and canford too but weeklys as well

Go back and talk to the head again explaining that you did not feel that the schools he suggested would work and why. What else can he suggest. Where do boys go from your sons prep? Have you looked at Marlborough, Canford, Charterhouse, Tonbridge, Bryanston etc

Highfield in Liphook, very happy and supportive boarding house, many go to Marlborough but wide selection of senior schools.

Bryan’s tin is the polar opposite of Winchester, surely! I would suggest Harrow and also look at Caldicott at Farnham Royal and Winchester House at Brackley and also Papplewick at Ascot.

Personally I think you should listen to your head and not assume your DS is of the standard for Winchester. Few DC are. Widen your choice and be flexible. There are so many great schools that are traditional. I’m very surprised you don’t like the ones suggested.

Bryanston

I have two boys at Sherborne and they are absolutely thriving. We looked at a Winchester for the eldest but just got a better feeling for Sherborne; it’s a very personal decision so do go and visit each possible school. Sherborne’s academics are definitely on the rise since the new Head started a couple of years ago.
Best full boarding preps? Depends where you are really and you also need to visit. Dragon in Oxford, Port Regis in Dorset, Hazlegrove in Somerset? Good luck in your search.

Current Sunningdale parent here and would highly recommend it. That said, I agree with the advice of asking the head at your son’s current school why he thinks Sherborne or Radley would suit your son and why Winchester would not. You could also raise the other issues you have on favouritism etc. I understand you are not happy with the school but it might be worth engaging with them to see if your issues can be addressed before moving your son elsewhere and having to deal with a new place getting to know him.

Personally I would be thrilled if my son went on to either Radley or, in particular, Sherborne but I think Winchester would be utterly wrong for him even if he got in (unlikely). Hence if his headmaster suddenly started pushing for Winchester then I admit that, like you, I would have concerns about how well they knew him. However, I would definitely discuss things with the headmaster since he might have insights into my son (or indeed into Winchester) which I don’t.