Considering Wellington college for DDs

[pastoralacademia]

I am considering Wellington College for my DDs this year and perhaps my DSs later on. Any feed back? Any inside information?

Pastoral,

Very informative to read the inspectors' reports on these two schools (and any others you are considering):

www.wellingtoncollege.org.uk/inspection

www.stowe.co.uk/admissions/school-inspection-reports

Don't trust those ISI report. I completed a questionnaire for the ISI prior to an inspection of DS2 old prep. I had serious issues and at least three other parents raised similar concerns but the report said that all parents who completed the questionnaire were very happy. I have since heard of other parents raising concerns about their schools on ISI questionnaires and experiencing the same thing. The term "independent schools inspectorate" relates to what they're inspecting not their actual independence.

grovel, LP, Bradfield...co-ed. Yes I know a little bit all over the place....I have 4 children girls and boys with very different personalities. Any help?

colleger, would you please explain why. It will be very helpful. Thank you

happygardening, I agree with you regarding the ISI reports and the GSG as well that's why I am asking people to share with me their experiences. I had a similar experience to yours!

oh I've forgotten St Edwards

St Edwards has a very very high standard of pastoral care and health care and has created a model that many others are now copying. It has a wide intake and the bright do well and the less able are well supported. The non sporty may struggle as sport is taken very seriously. it is also very close to Oxford city centre and the traffic is a complete nightmare in the mornings.

pastoral, you go to bed too late!

We have sets of friends who have sent their children to Bradfield and to Leighton Park (I'm assuming that's what you meant by LP?). Both sets of parents very happy. One of the boys who went to LP is sensitive/quirky and has thrived there. I don't think they overdo the Quaker heritage but the impression I got is that it is a fairly gentle (in a good way) school. I don't know anything about Teddies in 2011. My sense (and, again, I may be completely wrong) is that Bradfield and LP are good all-round schools without being aggressively academic, sporty, arty etc in ethos. Could be a good fit for 3 DC with different personalities if you choose to send them to the same school.

In choosing boarding schools there is one variable you cannot control - the other boys/girls joining your child's house at the same time as them. If they bond and make a strong, decent year group they'll really enjoy the experience. Much less fun if they don't. Scary.

What about Charterhouse? Co-ed in the last two years!

grovel, yes I am having sleepless nights. I keep thinking...thinking and thinking. I really don't want to make the wrong decision. Do you know of any day schools that you could recommend?

happygardening, your pm was very informative. Thank you so much. I have one DC who is not sporty at all so ST Edwards is out then.

Rocky12, I have 2 DD not at the age of 16 yet.

pastoral, can't really help with co-ed day schools. Sorry. A shame that you're not 15/20 minutes closer to Oxford. Wide choice of schools - Abingdon, Oxford High, MCS, Headington etc (I know that some of these are single sex).
Good luck.

Hi again.

Just a quick update; I finally visited WC OFFICIALLY on the open morning.

I was so excited to see all the Harkeness Tables/Method but I haven?t seen any instead I saw normal classes and even a sort of portable cabins for Maths if I remember well. I asked one of the teachers about the famous invisible tables so I was told about their existence in some rooms. Apparently these rooms are booked once in a while...!!! The Harkness Methode is not every day practice then?!
During my visit, I looked so hard for the revolution in education, unfortunately I couldn?t see any!

What a shame!

Sorry it was a disappointment cant say I'm particularly surprised, Anthony Seddon is in my opinion a typical head; he talks a good talk but nothing changes. In fairness I do think its difficult to get a feel for a school on an open day although you've obviously realised that they are not religiously pursuing the Harkness Table Method maybe WC had other positive features? (I don't know why I'm defending AS as I cant stand him!)

When we were looking at schools particularly for DS1 we would go off full of high expectations having carefully read their website etc and would come away exceedingly disappointed I eventually came to the conclusion that what we wanted wasn't out there.

HG: My DH and I feel exactly that way now.
I have done a lot of research re WC and all the literature speaks to my heart, on paper is the ideal place but I didn?t see any of it on site.
AS said that he was not trying to sell us anything but things were staged. Handpicked pupils were on stage selling the school with the help of the Master. He kept insisting that he had no previous knowledge of what they were about to say! What could they have said other than what was expected of them? praise...praise...praise and kiss the ring!

Pastoral - The school is big on PR. The newsletters they send out illustrate this - walkways and coffee shops sponsored and funded by Sultans etc etc.

We had the same experience when we looked round. There is no revolution going on. Just a higher bar for selection and a tough academic atmosphere, although there is now more choice with the successful introduction of the IB and MYP. But lots of schools offer the choice of A levels or IB now....

We have friends with children there and they are happy (although there is the usual stuff going on that you find at most co-ed boarding schools...).

When we went round Eton a few years ago a well know and senior member of staff who shall remain nameless quite openly and cheerfully told us that the boys who had been selected to meet the parents were not just handpicked for the ability sell the place too us but those choosen were the most atttractive to look at as well! I had to pinch myself to check that I had not fallen asleep in the presentation and was dreaming such an unbelievable comment. Having found that I was not asleep I started laughing at the this comment, obvioulsy a second job as a stand up comic, then I realised the person was being completely serious.

What about the dreaded state sector? DS1 is happy at our excellent local comp. I dont know what your schools are like but if their even meant to be half decent then its worth a look.

Join the club Milkshake3, a lot of other parents were disappointed as well! The children said they were happy and like the school. However, their answers to some of the questions (from us and other parents) revealed something different. Few talked about different ties for scholars (there was some bad feeling about it...) some talked about the 3 warnings before being kicked out..they felt the pressure as well. AS has been criticising the school system, the hot housing, the sausage factory,.... yet he is doing exactly the same! Just another sales pitch I guess! Talking the talk but not walking the walk.

HG: You made me laugh :)

HG: I must say I?ve always assumed that some schools selection was based on a certain look as well! A little voice in my head was always objecting ?don?t be silly!? I might not be that silly after all.

There are some good grammar schools and I might start looking at them seriously. The very good ones are single sex and so far I have been looking for co-ed.

I'm not defending AS or WC but I suspect that all children at independent schools feel under pressure to perform well in their exams; after all results are what the majority of parents are paying for. Ballet lessons, swimming pools, and bird watching are just bits of window dressing. Nearly all schools are the same as I said before every website is now virtually indentical they all make grandiose claims about treating your child like an individual and bring out the best in your child, reaching his full potential (yawn) etc. etc.but they all have basically the same approach. If you want something truely different then I suspect you would have to look at Steiner; not for the faint hearted or something similar.
I looked up what I'm assuming is your local comp might be OK don't listen to the gossip if there is any go and look for yourself.

They don't call it "Eton the brand" for nothing you know.

HG: What some people call 'a hot house' I call it 'academic' so I don't mind the pressure at all. However I don't like the in your face hypocrisy.

We did a preliminary investigation of Wellington for our DD for 6th form. She had friends already there. Initially A Seldon said he welcomed people with talents that were not necessarily academic. However, at a second meeting for parents looking specifically at the 6th form, the IB was pushed so relentlessly my daughter nearly expired from worry on the spot! They also think 5 A levels is the norm - it is not. IB does NOT suit everyone but if you do not do IB at Wellington you are clearly considered second class. As it is competitive to get in, A level candidates appeared to be at a disadvantage. We were also somewhat dismayed at the young people on the stage who professed their admiration of all things Seldon! Also, entrance tests for 6th form, bore no relation to what my DD was being taught at her school. One question was "What is the value of studying History"? These were meant to be questions based on GCSE syllabus - this is not. We did not pursue this for DD. Her other talents appeared to be of no interest to them at all. If you are academic go for it, but the girl who showed us round wished she had not done the IB and clearly had been talked into it to make sure they got the numbers up to the required level to make it worthwhile for the school to run it. This school is all about Seldon and league tables. It was in doldrums before he took over, but we were very disappointed.