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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Reading School vs top Public School?

40 replies

BlueElephant90 · 03/03/2012 13:37

My DS has been accepted by both schools. he could accept the RS place now and start in September or go to a prep school for 2 years and join the Public School at 13+.
I know they are very different choices: day/boarding, ....but I am really confused especially when I read some threads on this site. Any feed back will be much appreciated.

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MollieO · 03/03/2012 13:44

Reading has boarding too, at least it used to. Which public school? Co-ed/single sex, day+boarding or boarding only? Hard for people to give advice when you've given no info about other school.

Original poster
BlueElephant90 · 03/03/2012 14:00

Eton

OP posts:
grovel · 03/03/2012 14:04

My DS left Eton recently. Loved it.

Reading, though, is a fantastic school.

Is your DS on a scholarship to Eton? The mention of 2 years at a prep suggests he is.

mummytime · 03/03/2012 14:10

What does he want to do? They will both give your DS great opportunities, I'd be inclined to give him the option to decide.

MollieO · 03/03/2012 14:18

I think there is a big difference between a day school that has a very small amount of boarding and a full boarding school. Which would your ds prefer? Nothing to stop him starting at Reading then transfering to Eton although you'd then have to find a way of preparing him for CE.

Original poster
BlueElephant90 · 03/03/2012 14:23

He doesn't want to board and I don't want him to board either. Although I don't contribute to the threads, I do follow what's being said. It seems that if you don't attend one of the top Indies you will be a failure!! I know it's not true but I can't help wondering sometimes...I am not English so it's all new to me.

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grovel · 03/03/2012 14:35

If he does not want to board he should go to Reading. It's a fantastic school (better than many independent schools). You are not facing the normal issues faced by MN'ers. You have got a choice between two great schools and one is free. The free one does not expect your DS to board. No brainer.

If it helps, our gardener (all of 2 hours a week) had a son at Reading. The son is at Cambridge. Our Etonian son is at Durham (great but still not Oxbridge if that's what you care about).

mummytime · 03/03/2012 14:45

Reading school is a top Grammar school. Despite what you may read on mnet at times, lots of very very successful people have gone to ordinary schools. There are kids at Oxbridge from comprehensives, one I knew at Oxford, who is now a Professor at Cambridge didn't even get into Reading school but went to one of the comps. If you look at the most successful people in the UK a number of them didn't even go to university.

On the other hand I used to have a window cleaner who had been to public school. If your son doesn't want to go to Eton, and you don't really want him to go, then don't feel guilty about not sending him. Especially when the alternative is somewhere like Reading.

Bue · 03/03/2012 15:36

I think the MN education section can give a terribly skewed vision of the world. Your son does not need to go to Eton to be a success in life! FWIW the one old Etonian whom I know well is very averagely successful. And yes he went to Cambridge, but he probably would have gone to Cambridge regardless of what school he attended. Oh, and he despised Eton because he didn't want to be at BS.

So if you don't want him to board and he doesn't want to board, for crying out loud, send him to Reading.

sue52 · 03/03/2012 15:44

Children can change so much between 11 and 13, he might one day decide that boarding and Eton are for him. Would the 2 years at prep school leave him more options?

Original poster
BlueElephant90 · 03/03/2012 15:45

Thank you so much for all your feed back.

mummytime- you are right to detect my feeling of guilt. That's exactly my problem.

Grovel- I really appreciate your input as I know you had a ds in Eton, I find it conforting and reassuring:)

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redglow · 03/03/2012 15:49

Go for reading be a lovely sensible mum and do not get caught in the snobbery of going to Eton. Your son is obviously clever and will do well whatever school he goes to. Also how nice it will be to see him everyday rather than packing him of to board.

RoverJones · 03/03/2012 15:50

Reading is a very good school, but it is much less selective than Eton, if that bothers you. I used to live in Reading and four of my friends' children (of average intelligence) got into Reading Boys. And the Humanities department is less good than the Maths or Science departments. However, if that doesn't bother you - your son is likely to want to do Maths or Science - and you aren't snobbish, Reading is a wonderful school, especially if your son doesn't want to board.

Original poster
BlueElephant90 · 03/03/2012 15:51

Sorry I've just seen the other posts.

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Original poster
BlueElephant90 · 03/03/2012 15:55

My ds loves all subjects, he is learning Latin on his own. However he is a scientist at heart so more likely he will be heading that way.

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Original poster
BlueElephant90 · 03/03/2012 16:01

RoverJones- Don't they have specialism in Humanities? would you please let me know why you think it is not as good as the Maths & Sciences.

The Head of RS is leaving as well....not sure if there will be a big change...

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Hattiehoo · 03/03/2012 16:40

I have a DS at Reading. Not sure I agree about it being far less selective than Eton. It is oversubscribed to a similar degree to Eton and its results are very similar. I also know of several boys who have gone to Eton who have been nothing special academically.

My DS was at a Prep school and we went against the norm a bit by going for a day place at a boys' grammar ,but my son didn't want to board and in our heart of hearts we didn't want him to either. I think if you don't really feel it is the right thing for your DS and if he isn't 100% keen on the choice, it will be hard to deal with the inevitable initial homesickness.

I am incredibly happy with Reading school. My son is a good all rounder and we have certainly found him as stimulated in the Humanities as he is in the sciences. It has a warm atmosphere, there is plenty of laughter as well as hard work. My Ds absolutely loves it.

Original poster
BlueElephant90 · 03/03/2012 16:49

Thank you Hattiehoo, I am glad to hear from a current parent at RS. i am glad to hear that there is plenty of laughter as well. Have they found A new Head?

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Hattiehoo · 03/03/2012 16:56

Not as far as I've heard. Heads have come and gone at Reading School over the last 1000 years and it has always been alright so I am not too worried.

Really can't recommend it enough BlueElephant.

MollieO · 03/03/2012 17:46

I can't see how Eton is even an option if your ds doesn't want to board and you don't want him to board either. Why did he do the pre-test if boarding isn't an option? Confused

Original poster
BlueElephant90 · 03/03/2012 17:54

MollieO-It's not all black or white. Not a preference is not totally out of a question or not an option. At the moment he enjoys being around us and we enjoy and we will always enjoy having him around but who knows when he turns 13?

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Original poster
BlueElephant90 · 03/03/2012 17:59

Hattiehoo- I am glad to hear that your son is very happy in RS. it's really good to know. How is the homework? The teaching? The behaviour? It will be really good to know a bit more if you wouldn't mind.

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Hattiehoo · 03/03/2012 18:41

The homework is fine, kept busy enough but still plenty of time for extra curricular things. Seems to have about an hour a night on average. I have a DD at Kendrick and she certainly seems to get more work on average.

The behaviour is mixed! There are some characters but generally I would say the school keep them well under control. My son has transgressed (quite minor) from time to time but I have always felt he was fairly dealt with. The Tutors respond within hours to any email/phone call and I have always felt that they know my son well and are keen to help.

The teaching is generally very good and my son often comments on interesting things that have come up in lessons. Generally he comes out of school every day buzzing.

I understand what you mean about them getting older and perhaps a reluctance for boarding on either their or our part when they are still 11 will not still be felt when they are 13. However, my son is now 13 and we are both very pleased that he is at home. We talk everyday about his day and his concerns and I feel relieved that we made the decision to go for day school.

Good luck with your decision, not an easy one!

Colleger · 03/03/2012 19:15

Don't send him to Eton so my son can move up the waiting list! Wink

MollieO · 03/03/2012 19:30

I think if he is so against boarding at 11 I'd be very surprised if he wanted to at 13. Of course it may happen but personally I wouldn't be planning on it if you and he are so against it at the moment. There are plenty of good day schools without having to board.