Eton: what is the female equivalent, academically speaking?

[DiamandaGalas]

Eton:what is the female equivalent, academically speaking?

Yes I see. It may be hard to prove in law that autism is genetic although not impossible and their contract might protect them but you would have thought if they had any common sense as soon as they could see a pattern of babies born using that sperm as having autism they would have removed that donor from their books.

they should inded know better - they are a weel known west coast clinic who have quite a few Uk clients.

"I know someone (in fact several boys) who recently went to St Pauls boys who would never have got in if they hadn't been extensively tutored and groomed. Sadly they are always at the bottom of the class and feel like a failure and will probably do so most of their school life. In fact they are perfectly average (in fact probably above average) boys."

What a shame. This seems like something that has changed a lot since my day (admittedly rather a long time ago). I didn't know a single person at St Paul's Girls' who had received any form of coaching for the entrance exam and none who had coaching while they were there. Possibly Common Entrance is a different kettle of fish as it is testing knowledge rather than ability, as many of the exams I took for private girls' schools were supposed to do.

"Do you think if St Pauls girls dropped to say 20 (still very respectable) they would say "oh well, never mind"?!"

Yes, probably. They're sufficiently secure in their reputation not to have to worry about that sort of thing, IMO. However, it would be pretty unlikely, purely because their selection procedures are so rigorous and the (GCSE etc) exams relatively easy.

I'm not sure its that simple lucicle (though I can;t speak for St Pauls girls as I know nothing about it). Many people want to get into schools because they are deemed to be "the best" I agree one year lower down the league table probably won't have any effect but a few years later when they're not getting the best students applying the league tables start becoming pretty damned important. The head master of the school I referred to earlier has a stated objective to get the shcool up the league tables - thats why I know its important to them - he has made it very clear.

Maybe its only an issue in the second tier of schools (the ones that any normal person would consider to be excellent but which fall outside the top 10 in the country)

Yes, I think there's a premier league of top 10 - 20 and below that they do worry about the rankings. Competition for the stop 10 - 20 is so high anyway just by sheer weight of numbers of very clever children applying you would always do well also given the calibre of teachers they attract too.

This is why many second tier boys schools started to take girls because girls up your exam results (as we all known girls are clevere than boys).

no surprises then that the school I referred to started taking girls about 2 yrs ago!

I think I can guess which school you're talking about, Kewcumber, and it's never been in the same league as many of the others referred to here. It's still an excellent school but I suspect that people wouldn't rank it in the same league as the others, partly due to the lack of decades of reputation that do go a long way towards offsetting any kind of temporary drop in the tables. My brother went there, actually.

no I agree its not in the same league I was using it as an example of how league tables do matter to private schools (someone suggested they didn't). The current headmaster wants to move it up the league table if not to the very top tier certainly the top 20 - it always used to be known as a well rounded school but their approach to "sub-standard" pupils (in my limited experience admittedly) is IMHO now extremely harsh. The irony of it is that they slid another two places down the tables this year.

It sounds like a shame, Kew. I agree that league tables absolutely aren't the be all and end all. It used to be a nice friendly sort of school when my brother was there.

I wouldn't especially rate Roedean, but St Pauls is very good.

Have you thought about Ampleforth, in Yorkshire - known as "the Catholic Eton". They take girls as well as boys. You get the usual intake of princes, like Eton.

You could also consider Marlborough, Charterhouse, Badminton, Fettes, Stowe or, if she is extremely academic, Westminster.

FOUR YEAR OLD THREAD

Don't forget the state boarding schools.

Does the age of the thread matter if someone is still interested in the content?

Very good question Kerrygrey.

If she's academic enough I'd personally go for a school that combines an academic environment with great pastoral care e.g. Downe House or Benenden. It's a very personal decision though so do visit all options.

I've heard great things about Tudor Hall but personally wouldn't choose as excellent exam results & high achieving cohort (if boarding school) are important factors. If I had a child that I thought couldn't cope in an academic environment I'd think differently.

Good idea Bconn but I've found that very few 'guidance' services give enough of the low down on the school, university etc. It's as if an 'expert' has read a Good School Guide entry and that's where their personal knowledge begins and ends. What can you offer that others can't and why is it worth us paying for your services? (Not trying to be difficult - genuine question).

Not true re academic standards at CLC being higher than Eton ...