Senior schools for boys (London day or boarding)

[laurent]

Have now started thinking about senior school options for my twin boys but there are so many good schools the task seems rather daunting so was wondering whether Mumsnet could offer a helping hand.
They're both bright and generally do well at school, although DTS1 prefers playing football and getting muddy while DTS2 is the more academic one. He also loves drama.
I've only now realised that finding the right school might be a bit problematic as they're such different characters. Ideally we'd keep them at the same school as otherwise the logistics of it would be a nightmare. So far we've shortlisted Westminster, St Paul's, UCS, Latymer Upper and Highgate, I'm eager to hear any experiences and other suggestions!
Initially we didn't think of boarding as an option at all, but their prep school suggested it and both boys seem keen. I don't know anything about boarding these days so I'm eager to hear any experiences of that as well!
Thank you in advance :)

How old are they? And has their prep school given any advice yet? There's academic and academic.

Personally I found it invaluable to visit each school that I was considering. That helped me to narrow down my options. Most parents start visits from the summer of year 3 (given that St Paul's has a relatively early cutoff).

All the schools you have mentioned have boys with totally different interests but yet can all flourish. I know Highgate is very sporty but is also very academic and has an excellent music department. In fact, all those schools do. For boarding, why not try Rugby, Charterhouse, Sherborne or Wellington College or maybe even Eton and Harrow if you were interested! Good Luck and also another school to add on the list of days schools is Haberdashers - teriffic.

Thanks Ladymuck and 100lilgreen!

The boys are 8, going into year 4 so looks like we have a lot of time to think (for once!).
I think (and so do the school) that DTS2 would flourish somewhere academic where he is pushed, while DTS1 would probably be better off somewhere more all round. Not sure if this means Westminster and St Paul's are a no-no for him or not?
I think we'll get more advice and start visiting when the term starts.

Do you happen to know anything about the drama side of things? UCS seems to be very strong at drama, which would definitely be a plus for DTS2. Not sure how sporty it is though. How about the academics?
I've also got the impression that Highgate is more traditional while UCS is the more laid back one, is there any truth to this?

I'm sorry about all these questions but this has been very helpful! I'm off to do some more research especially on the boarding schools mentioned now, they all seem lovely.

I went to Latymer a long time ago and it had a very strong drama tradition (Hugh Grant was in the year above me), it also has an excellent academic record; the vast majority of my 6th form class were applying to Oxbridge, though I don't know how many got in.

Boating is probably its main sport, but it also has very good Rugby and Cricket teams coached by dedicated members of staff.

A lot of this is ancient history, so maybe of no interest to you.

I'm a mum of two boys aged 13 and 14 yrs old. We have looked at a number of schools this is my advise:
At the risk of promting hysterical anti boarding postings I believe boys like boarding. Boys are fundementally pack animals and are thus suited to boarding life. Boarding also enables boys to participate in more games and other extra curricular activities e.g. drama than they woud if they were at a day school and I think this compensates for the drudge caused by the current way the curriculum is often implemented. This is not reflection on the school rather on the exam system in general which I think often turns boys off education.
Interstingly there are not many boys only boarding schools.
Eton and harrow are probably the most famous and both have their detractors and supporters in equal measure. Eton is bigger and more academic than Harrow but both have fancy uniforms and large reputations amongst the general public. I hear few complaints about Eton from the parents at my DS old prep but a few grumbles about Harrow. Both are not only selective but very over subscribed. Eton interviews at 11yrs (year 6) and offers out provisional places Harow in yr 7. Inteview are short so boys have a limited time to impress.
Winchester is very very academic and scholarly and I suspect is trying to become even more so. It has a reputation for liking highly intelligent quirky/eccentric articulate boys. It is living firmly in the middle of the 20th century e.g. no lap tops for the first 18 months and in my opinion it is a less aggrssive school than Eton and Harrow. Interviews again at yr 6 but a long interview/conversation with your chosen housemaster and a short test. Provisional places are offered out and you have to sit the winchester college exam in yr 8 rather than CE. This is significantly harder than CE apparently about the same level as the Harrow scholarship exam. I dont think it is as oversubscribed as Eton and Harrow.
Other boarding schools to consider are Radley not as selective as the above but you have to put your son's name down very early. Radley is very very traditional although again lots of parents at my DS old prep love it. Tonbridge is a school I was very impressed with. The head had been at St Pauls and it has a similar feel although slightly less academic than St Pauls and very sporty with fantastic facilities. I believe about 50 - 60% boarders and there is a good train link into London.
St Pauls very very academic and pushy it has fantastic facilities and a university campus feel about it. My husband was there 30 years ago and it was cosmopolitan liberal then so I'm sure it is even more so now. Its preparing boys for the 21 st century. St Pauls is very over subscribed and only has 75 places, again boys are interviewed when they are about 11 thats assuming you get offered an interview as its not guaranteed and the interview is a very short Oxbridge style interview. But if your son is year 4 I think he's missed the boat you have to register very early I belive they are currently taking registrations for 2016; all years previous to this are now closed. I know little about Westminster apart from its awesome academic reputation and that they take girls in the 6th form could be good or bad depending on your point of view.
It is very hard to chose the right school all have fancy web sites and glossy prospectus all "seem lovely" and are to a point but you need to find a school that suits your ethos on life and that of your sons. Ask yourself what are you looking for, what really matters to you, visit the schools preferably not on their open days (this particularly applies to Eton and Winchester) talk to as many people as you can; boys masters, matrons, other parents listen carefully and see if you can get past the standard stuff and find out what the school is really like. One final thing if you have missed the boat on St paus and your current school did not know this then I doubt that it was familiar with what they are looking for. It is best to be is a prep school that has a history of sendng boys to your choosen school this especially applies to Winchester as the entrance exam is different and a school needs to have the staff and enough children to organise a suitable classes with other chilren working at that level.

Good luck.

I have a DS at UCS. We're very happy with it. Much more relaxed than others you've mentioned but the boys have to self- motivate. Highgate is also really lovely. Both schools have a wide variety of children. I don't think you can say that a sporty/arty one will be happy at one but not the other. Go see them all.

It's a bit, well, Tatler-y, but this is quite a good guide in terms of giving you options which you may not have thought about.

I boarded at a mixed school and the boys all liked it - a good boarding school will have a lot of emphasis on sports and other activities because they are keen to stop people moping around in houses - lots have theatres too.

Do they want to go to the same school as each other? It sounds silly, but at mine there were a few sets of twins. They were in the same houses as their sibling (but wouldn't have to be - this might let them become their own person, and broaden their friend base, but might lead to unfavourable comparisons, eg if one housemaster is more relaxed about television or bedtime, or the food better in one than another). In my year their were twin boys in the same house and they HATED being reminded that they were twins. I think they might have done better in different schools...

Oh, also, the current headmaster of Winchester was my old headmaster (outing myself probably there). He's utterly fantastic, and his wife is lovely. He brought a real "tone" to the School (iyswim) and there was a great deal of respect for him, and a desire to please (not only from the pupils but from the staff as well). Hopefully this has continued at Winchester.

Have a DS at a very competitive London day school not far from some you have already mentioned. He's sporty and academic. If you are looking for something where they both might be happy and where they both might have their needs met, why don't you have a look at Hampton. We know lots of families who have sent a boy there who they haven't felt would truly thrive in the very competitive environments of St Pauls/KCS etc. Listen to other boys too - my DS says if he had to go to another school he would chose Hampton because at matches the Hampton boys seems well balanced, mature and very rounded. Also likes St John's in Leatherhead. Not so keen on Eton or Kings Canterbury.

We've got friends with boys at Kings Canterbury and they are very happy there I am reliably informed that although it is co.ed it has very boys school feel about it. What ever school you chose you will always find people who will tell you bad things about it; one man's meat etc....
I wonder if the reason why marriedinwhite's son is not keen on the boys from Eton and Kings is because both are boarding schools. When my DH was at school the boarders were always regarded as slightly odd. This is not to say that they were but perhaps the close camaraderie and self relience that boarders have may cause a day boy consciously or more likely sub consciously regard them as odd or different to him.
Tomorrow my son starts at his new school. Eight years ago we decided that we wanted him to go to an academically highly selective school and we therefore have only looked at schools that met this criteria. We also had other must haves: e.g. no fussy uniform, my son wanted a school in a city/large town not in a quaint market town, we live in one of those. We didn't mind travelling (round trip 3 1/2 hours) but good public transport home was important, we dont care about dorm sizes or bathroom but plenty of people do and were ambivilent re: co.ed/boys only although there are no comparable co.ed boarding schools out there. There are so many independent schools and its easy to be overly influenced by prospectus's (I just cant work out tonight what the pural for prospectus is), soft sell from heads, medieval buildings and 300 acres of immaculate grounds but ultimately these things dont mean that your DS's will he happy. Draw up a must have/haven't list and try to stick to it.

My son sat for the interview at Eton .Unfortunetly he didnt make it.
Is there anything thing i can do ...he is very disappointed and is very keen to sit for music scholarship...this is for 2013 entry.

Suppermummy.
Eton holds a separate examination for music scholarships.

www.etoncollege.com/MusicScholars.aspx

My son is going to sit for his cello and piano abrsm exams (grade 5) in July.
Just wanted to know what is it that they are looking for...upto what grade do they have to reach to be even considered for music scholarship .
I am told that these examinations are really challenging.
i really need help.....want someone to throw some light ....need some advice.

esperance thank you for your advice ....

Happygardening please can you give me some advice .you seem to know a lot about eton n harrow

esperance thank you again i did look up the link you mention ...requirements are grade 5-8.
are you more eligible if you hv sat upto grade 8.

Isn't there info about the music scholarship on the website? I believe the standard is very high so from that I'd expect they mean grade 8 at age 13.

(Sorry Laurent for participating in the slight hijacking of your thread.)

Suppermummy. I am sorry but I don't have any special insight on this topic. One of my sons went to Eton. The music scholars there are a talented bunch but I am sure that is the case at all the schools mentioned in this thread.

Have you spoken to his instrument teacher(s) and to the music dept. at his school?

I would also encourage you to look at the websites of other schools and where possible to talk to the music dept at the various schools. For instance Charterhouse is happy to see boys before the formal examination. I would guess that all the schools are looking for the same qualities. So, exploring other schools will give you more information.

In my experience, most independent schools are very willing to help parents.

Esperance ...didn't mean to offend...I am really stressed ...do you think I can meet the registrar Mr.Milne to seek advice?Is he helpful?Does he meet parents one on one?
We are so keen on Eton ...I really want to make this happen for my son....

suoermummy I know little about the Eton musical scholarship apart from the fact that your going to have to be really really good ultimately they are going to take the best so I suspect you would have to be grade 8 unless its an unusual instrument. At some schools you can have an informal audition with the head of music (Winchester I believe does) so that you can get an idea if you even within a shout of the level required. Have you tried Winchester more academic than Eton and more quirky they interview and select at yr. 6 but I know of two boys who were offered places later in yr 7 and 8. A different school to Eton and Harrow and again not every ones cup of tea; what it offers is perhaps less obvious if that makes sense.

happygardening....thank you for the information.
i did speak to winchester but they said that we are late to submit the admission form.he has an interview lined up at harrow...fingers crossed hopefully he makes into this one.
do u think he stands a chance at eton if his current school headmaster pushes the case a bit?

Assuming your head has tried to get Eton to change it mind already then I think you are going to have to give up on that one the head at my DS2 old prep always tried but I don't think ever succeeded. Do you know why he failed to get in your head should be able to find that out. If it's any consolation four boys in DS2 year were turned down two are seriously bright but n

Oops sorry pressed wrong button as in was saying two were seriously bright but eccentric non conformists and the other two were probably never bright enough and got into Harrow. The selection process at Eton is very sterile and they admit that they don't take the top 10% who sit that computer generated IQ test. In my opinion Eton is a good school and you never hear parents complain about it but it is looking for a certain type of boy and they know what they are looking for and lots of very able boys who are quirky are not suitable for it and are turned down but this is proabaly for the best.

?I've only now realised that finding the right school might be a bit problematic as they're such different characters.?

It?s not really as daunting or problematic as you think, laurent. Can?t speak for other schools that you listed but certainly there is one school that I know that can cater for your twins of different personalities with absolutely no problems at all. The problem is to get in.

ETON!

There are many sets of twins and even 3-brother-siblings at Eton. They all come with different personality traits and expectations and Eton have seen and catered successfully for them all. Some prefer to live at the same house and others live apart in different houses and yet can be close to each other. Plenty of playing fields for DS1 to get muddy and there are more than enough academic and drama boys to give DS2 a run for his money. Problem here is to keep up with them as they are extremely competitive.

"My son sat for the interview at Eton .Unfortunetly he didnt make it." - suppermummy

I assume you're referring to interview with a Housemaster. Just wondering which House was that? Just say the initials (of the Housemaster) will do. But don't they give you a choice of 4 different houses?

As for music scholarships, Eton don't care too much about high grades. It's the quality of musicianship and potential that matter. The Precentor of Music has just retired after many long years of service. Who knows what his replacement is like; it's worth giving it a go, I'd say.

Please don't tell Harrow that your DS has had interview at Eton. They do not like to play second fiddle!