Would you send your ds to Eton?

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assuming you could afford to.

I quite like the idea that education is something that happens with some relationship to the wider world. Visiting the Eton village, and everything I have read about life there, it sounds a bit like an educational theme park - so no, I wouldn't send DS there, however rich we were.

LOL Scummy, esp re cloaks!

Having worked on the Nottingham Uni campus after leaving school, I specifically chose to go to a Uni based in a town rather than a campus one, for the same reasons.

I wouldnt feel happy sending our boys away anywhere to boarding school, but then I also wouldnt send them to the enourmous horrible comprehensive I went to where if you were the tiniest bit bright and did any work you got bullied for being a swot??

my dh went to a public school and i would never send my children to one unless the state schools were utterly appalling.i dont believe in single sex schools either though

My BIL's neighbour has a son who goes to Eton, the lad is ok (if a little up his own arse, like his father), but the reports of serious heavy regular drug use he regales all us poor unfortunates with are horrendous. Apparently it is rife, money and priviledge I suppose.

Interesting tigermoth about the scholarships. I was talking to someone recently who works at a boarding school and she was complaining that their boarding scholarships are not advertised heavily enough and that MOST of the pupils get a scholarship for boarding i.e. pretty much only pay day fees. But I can see why the school wouldn't want to advertise that - day pupils' parents would prob have a fit.

Anyway boarding rates at that school have dropped dramatically. 20 years ago around 80% of pupils boarded; now only about 20%. It is really only very popular at sixth form level, I think, at her school, and by that age, it's a stepping stone to university, staying away only a week at a time rather than a full term.

I think there is a fair amount of drug use in most schools though! Wouldn't hold that against them. At least at Eton the boys get expelled if caught - unlike most comps.

yes there is drug use at all secondary schools unfortunately, however when it comes to public schools becos a lot of them are very well off thye can afford to buy the more dangerous drugs like speed and ecstacy .

Errr, try cocaine and all it's variants....

(wasn't a recommendation btw !!!)

yeah E's too cheap affordable on any Chavs pocket money at £3 a pill.

Now cocaine - yes far pricier and virulent in upper class circles.

I love being an inverted snob!!! Countess Duckula/Dracula is sooo right, after watching one video on Eton I am now a self-proclaimed expert!

Forgot to mention that I also researched Eton quite extensively for a number of lessons that I had to plan on British schooling. I feel so much better knowing that these Etonians are the lawyers, policitians and Royals of our country! oops, forgot too that it's not my country any more! Whoo hoo!

I agree absolutely with the comment about the lack of trained teachers in private schools. I work in a very exclusive private school in Bordeaux teaching English to teenagers, but I have no teaching qualification, nor have I ever taught before. If I applied to teach in a state school I would have to first pass a teaching qualification here. In England I would also need to study for a similar qualification, and quite rightly too! It makes you think when an untrained person like myself, can just walk into a school and start teaching. They didn't even ask for references!

Re the drugs thing, don't they all have white noses in Eton?

I love being an inverted snob!!! Countess Duckula/Dracula is sooo right, after watching one video on Eton I am now a self-proclaimed expert!

Forgot to mention that I also researched Eton quite extensively for a number of lessons that I had to plan on British schooling. I feel so much better knowing that these Etonians are the lawyers, policitians and Royals of our country! oops, forgot too that it's not my country any more! Whoo hoo!

I agree absolutely with the comment about the lack of trained teachers in private schools. I work in a very exclusive private school in Bordeaux teaching English to teenagers, but I have no teaching qualification, nor have I ever taught before. If I applied to teach in a state school I would have to first pass a teaching qualification here. In England I would also need to study for a similar qualification, and quite rightly too! It makes you think when an untrained person like myself, can just walk into a school and start teaching. They didn't even ask for references!

Re the drugs thing, don't they all have white noses in Eton?

I love being an inverted snob!!! Countess Duckula/Dracula is sooo right, after watching one video on Eton I am now a self-proclaimed expert!

I agree absolutely with the comment about the lack of trained teachers in private schools. I work in a very exclusive private school in Bordeaux teaching English to teenagers, but I have no teaching qualification, nor have I ever taught before. If I applied to teach in a state school I would have to first pass a teaching qualification here. In England I would also need to study for a similar qualification, and quite rightly too! It makes you think when an untrained person like myself, can just walk into a school and start teaching. They didn't even ask for references!

Re the drugs thing, don't they all have white noses in Eton?

Hmm - wondering at some of these comments.. how the fur would fly if the desparaging comments about OE's were made about the local comp!!
Sounds like fun - might start a thread "would you send your DD to the local comp" and watch the sparks fly!

Ooh go on then Sonnet; it would be interesting to see if snobbery (in the "no" camp,)as opposed to the inverse sort throughout parts of this thread, comes into play!

Message withdrawn

Mmn have read this thread with interest - know a few OEs and have couple of relatives that went there made their sisters and the rest of us feel a bit unworthy though. I teach in a rough high school and would not allow my Dd to step through the doors. Hypocritical I know sorry !

The difference is some of us (I would even go as far as to say most of us) would send our ds/dd to the local comp because we have no choice!

Hi-I'm new...and two of my three kids are at boarding school, because there are no decent schools here (currently in South Asia) for over eights. And yes, I would consider Eton for the younger (BTW, BossyKate, they have an excellent Catholic chaplain; your quote refers to Stonyhurst, I believe, which is where my elder boy is)
Reasons for considering Eton: good academically, and VERY generous scholarships. I don't think he's agree, though, he likes girls at school with him, and quite right too (he's 9).

OTOH, if I am back in the UK by then, I'll be overjoyed to have them both home and maybe even going to the "local Comp"...:0

My ds is 3 and definately going private, best school in the area (Nottingham High School), dh and his brothers, father, uncles, grandfather etc all went and are a fab family. DD going to Nottingham High School for girls. Excellent facilities, ex quality education QUALIFIED Teachers, some mixed lessons, sod the money, I want the best opportunity for my kids and to mix with other kids who's parents have the same values - not snobby just sensible. Why ruin my hard work teaching him manners if it's not reinforced / encouraged at school?

I can't bear that poor Bruno is going to be sent there.

Shall I kidnap him?

Bruno fans please note that he is terribly ill with a horrible stomach bug atm. Lets all send him mumsnet get well vibes.

it's our local so have been tempted but they seem such strange creatures floating around town. Nothing against private at all but Eton too OTT for us humble folk..

bossykate, i just have to tell you, i just asked dh what ampleforth was like and he said: 'catholic, run by monks, do a lot of magic mushrooms' pmsl