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 :)

Hi I'm also watching the post each day waiting for Harrow and 4 others in my son's class are also waiting. I'm sure it will be any day now (but the waiting is awful isn't it?)

Good luck to all of you. I can remember waiting to hear from Eton - DS and his three best friends did the Eton test together. Only DS was offered a place.

What I can say is that DS and the same friends (who went to Marlborough, Canford and Hampton) have all ended up at Durham. All are delightful. All have done extra-curricular stuff to a high standard. You would not know the Etonian.

It is right that we beat ourselves up about school choices. We are parents. I wish, though, I could have seen the future a few years ago!

Thanks grovel, I was aware Tim Johnson was to succeed Ralph Allwood as Precentor of Music at Eton. Personally I favoured David Goode for the job, someone who was quoted as a musician of ?Olympic standard? - whatever that means. But his mastery of the organ is certainly of world standard; not to mention the awe-inspiring piano pieces I heard him play at the Collegers? concert last year.

Colleger, you might have heard David Goode play the organ when he accompanied the boys from Purcell School earlier this year when they came to Eton to perform.

Btw David is also a Deputy House Master of College as well as the Head of Tutoring. I suppose it is almost impossible to take on the role as Precentor of Music too?

Good luck to boys awaiting results from Eton and elsewhere in the next few days. For musicians who don?t make it this time round, there?s still a chance to enter Eton in a few years time on the back of the new Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Scholarship. Andrew?s own son attended Eton too.

I suspect that David Goode would/could have succeeded Ralph if he had wanted to. He is an Eton legend but maybe not an administrator from choice? Ralph was also ex officio musical director of the Windsor and Eton Choral Society etc. He was brilliant but not everybody would want to do it.

I think Ralph is a massive loss to Eton but I'm sure Tim will do very well.

Grovel - thank you for your wise words....I was with a group of parents from my school last night and there was a lot of angst from those who are waiting. It would be great to get a quick peek at the future, and know the kids turn out OK, even if there are disappointments age 11 !!

Good luck to all waiting for the postman.

LOL at this thread. So arriviste.

Btw happymummy the plural of prospectus is prospectuses (fourth declension) how funny that you think it might have an apostrophe.

MrsJAlfredPrufrock this is a completely harmless thread you may not like it/understand it but I don't see why you need too make snide remarks. I'm sure many who post on here could make comments about your choice of school (ladies see St Albans Boys versus Habs) but we are refraining from doing so.

I think that arrogant attitude is well fitted to Habs!

Mrs Prufrock, you've had the misfortune to stumble upon the couple of arch arrivistes [though I think happy is just being helpful even if Latin is not her thing]. To think that any school would take their views on who to appoint into account, Deputy House Master of College is not exactly taxing, though "David" is far too well mannered to express an opinion of flamenco girl[?] or the type of anticipation with which he awaits the arrival of a certain young Master Colleger's mum. At least "Tim" has had some early warning by e-mail.

Agree with grovel that boys tend to turn out fine even if they don't make their first choice, especially if their parents are anything to go by.

Happygardening - Of course they should feel very free to make comments about St Albans School. I doubt they'd manage to say anything remotely offensive as they've probably never heard of it. It is remarkable in its lack of remarkableness and we are all very pleased with it.

Latin did I mention Latin??

What is more sad worse? The person who writes on a thread that is relevant to their current circumstance or the person whom it does not affect but has plenty of negativity to spout? Hmmm, let me think?!

Colleger - show me the 'plenty of negativity'? I was merely keen to point out the plural of prospectus is definitely not prospectus's, especially as this thread purports to care so much for academic rigour.

Btw I'm a grammar school girl and not therefore possessed of fine manners and a tailcoat.

I'm a sink comp girl! how ariviste!

MrsJ - I read these threads to give support and get support....not to behave like a petulant child. If you don't have anything constructive to say, don't say it...that was what I was taught at my very nice all girls school. I for one really value what Colleger, HappyG, Grovel et al have to say as, from what I can tell they've already been through it, and can offer valid advice. I don't hand around other threads, irrelevant to me, trying to score points.....

Milkshake -well you could always start a fee paying forum of your very own. You could even wear swishy tailcoats and engage in a bit of sponging if the participants diverted from tradition, just for larks. Hell you could even have a latin motto, though you might have to translate it for Happygardening to postis to serve

MrsJ, you really are most unpleasant.

MrsJ - I am not going to post on your other thread as it is irrelevant to me and I have nothing to add about St Albans school, but I am wondering how you reconcile your views about private schools, yet send yours to one? The uniform a child wears does not concern me...the education does. So if mine ends up wearing a swishy tailcoat or boater, so be it. You clearly think St Albans gives your son the best education, so good choice. Don't belittle others just trying to make the same decision for their children. If you disagree with the opportunity that private education can give (depending on the school), then lead by example and remove your child from the private school you have chosen for him.

You can stop hijacking this thread now.

Milkshake You should perhaps try and separate the education and the class ridden fripperies (uniform, peculiar sports that nobody else plays, silly rituals) that will do nothing for you children once they leave to go to university. My eldest son is very happy at university reading medicine, I have one son about to choose A level subjects and two littles (for whom schooling has not yet been decided). So I don't know why you think this thread is irrelevant to me.

MrsJAlfredPrufrock if we are happy for our children to indulge in "class ridden fripperies (uniform, peculiar sports that nobody else plays, silly rituals)" what difference does it make to you or your children especially as not one of us is trying to inflict them on you? I dont believe it makes them better people than your DC's or worse it gives them a difference experience of life thats all. We need this difference in our world.

Received our offer from Harrow today!

yesbutnobut, delighted for you and your DS.

Great news - do you plan to accept?

We're delighted too and very proud; have some thinking to do now ...