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Secondary education

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Original poster

Charterhouse

40 replies

Uloves · 21/03/2012 14:02

My son's headmaster has recommended that my son sit Charterhouse for common entrance as our original plan was for Tonbridge. Does anyone have views or experiences to share on the two schools? My son is average academically but has strong music and acting ability. He's offered Music scholarship at Tonbridge but our headmaster feels Charterhouse will suit him better acamedically.

OP posts:
Colleger · 21/03/2012 14:04

Has he got a place at Tonbridge? Do they think he'll fail CE at Tonbridge? Personally I think Tonbridge is more genteel than Charterhouse.

milkshake3 · 21/03/2012 14:10

What did you think when you went round them both? Where does your DS want to go? What suits you as a family? Congrats to your DS on music scholarship to T. Shame to waste all that hard work and practice to go elsewhere.....!!! T won't be very happy either!! What does your head perceive to be different academically between them both? He's left it quite late ( assuming its for CE exams in 3 months) to be giving you this advice.

Original poster
Uloves · 21/03/2012 14:11

With a push he can make Tonbridge but headmaster feels since charterhouse has slightly lower entry, he can safely make it there. Plus, if we push, can he sustain it?

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Original poster
Uloves · 21/03/2012 14:15

Milkshake3 - I personally had more warmth at Tonbridge. My son doesn't mind but after being through the scholarship and familiarise him with the school, he said, he want to try and get to T. However, if we are realistic, unless he push himself than he currently is, he may struggle. On the point of leaving it late, he waited for the mock and wasn't encouraged.

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nokissymum · 21/03/2012 14:19

Uloves - i thought you just said he had a music scholarship to Tonbridge ? Or did you mean he will be sitting for one ? I like the sound of Tonbridge more.

Original poster
Uloves · 21/03/2012 14:22

He has been offered music scholarship at Tonbridge. We spoke to the school that should he not make the minimum 62-65 and is within 55-60, will there consider. Their response was that they have long waiting list, that although they would love his talent, if there are boys who perform better than him then they may not take him. The problem with common entrance is that you have to sit for one school. If we put T down as second choice, they said they won't like it either so we are caught up in this trap of whether we risk it or play it safe with C.

OP posts:
Colleger · 21/03/2012 14:26

Tricky one. Maybe the prep Head doesn't want to post 99% success rate instead of 100% on his website!

So have you paid two deposits then? Did he sit the music scholarship to CH?

milkshake3 · 21/03/2012 14:28

At C the academic pressure ramps up quickly, so even if the entry level is slightly lower I think your year 2 onwards experience will be similar to T. Any other schools to consider - ? bradfield

Original poster
Uloves · 21/03/2012 14:31

Colleger - yes, we have paid two deposits! He didn't sit the music scholarship at CH as I wasn't encouraged by the head of music when we went there. Subsequent to that, when he sat for all arounder award (which he didn't get), he has been offered exhibition award for music.

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Original poster
Uloves · 21/03/2012 14:33

Mikshake3 - ok.....we have been asked to look at Stowe Brighton College or Malvern College. I haven't look at bradfield.

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Original poster
Uloves · 21/03/2012 14:34

will be off for about 2 hours and catch up later.

OP posts:
Colleger · 21/03/2012 14:34

I did think CH was pretty academic so agree with Milkshake. Is he a day boy? Can you do some intense tutoring?

EdithWeston · 21/03/2012 14:42

They may have a long waiting list now for conditional offers. But one hopes they are managing their list well and as first choices become settled, they will have the right number of the right calibre on the list, and therefore have the tolerance for a near miss (if prep head agrees it is mess up on the day, not true ability level).

Two possibilities to think about: a) they already know they have over-offered and may have to fail some boys at CE and/or b) music notwithstanding, they think your DS is a less sound candidate academically compared to the achievement of the field as it looks now; they are ready to give him the chance to prove himself, but prove himself he must.

If either of those are the case (though I doubt it would be possible to establish it) it'd mean quite a lot of stress for you and DS in the run up to CE. Does he have the big match temperament to rise to that sort of challenge. If you stuck with T, but it went wrong, do you think your headmaster would be able to help you find an alternate acceptable place in a last minute scramble? Are there any non-CE schools you could also approach? (Though if they have competitive entry exams, this only adds to the load and may not be much of a safety net).

Original poster
Uloves · 21/03/2012 18:40

Email from head re. C. They think we should look elsewhere so back to drawing board now 2 months before CE! very distressing..

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happygardening · 21/03/2012 18:51

What a difficult posititon for you and I think the school is a little unfair to spring this on you so late in the day.
I thought there was very little difference between the CE result for Tonbridge (which IMO is a nicer school) than CH. If you DS is currently scoring 55 - 60% on a mock CE I would also have thought that is not impossible to pull this mark up to the mark required for Tonbridge. Although I do know that Tonbridge are very strict and you do have to get the required mark. Some children at my DS's prep scored less than 40% in their mock CE and managed to pull it up to 60 - 70% when sitting the actual exam. From now on its likely to be exam practice all the way to CE and this should make a big difference to his eventual mark. But of course you may not want him to scrape in.

happygardening · 21/03/2012 18:52

Oh and I also think the head should not be emailing you about this sort of thing but should have the courtesy to speak to you dirrectly!

milkshake3 · 21/03/2012 19:41

Omg I would be furious with the head. What is his suggestion as an alternative and how pro active is he being. I would call up st Edwards, Stowe, bradfield, ardingly and bedales for starters and say you want to come and look round and have your DS play for them as he's music scholar standard. Your poor son having this thrust upon him.

Original poster
Uloves · 21/03/2012 19:56

I am very furious and now have to contain myself. I will look up for the suggested schools as Stowe and Ardingly are on my list to look up. Anyone have any views on these. I see Bradfield is mentioned few times but don't know much about them. Have to start a process I went through 3 years ago again!

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happygardening · 21/03/2012 20:07

I personally wouldn't touch Stowe with a barge pole but I know children there and they like it. Bradfield I believe has mainly weekly boarders. Your DS is obviously musical does he like sport art etc? There another posting about boarding schools admittedly the OP is looking for a girl but you'll find lots of opinions on coed boarding schools.

Colleger · 21/03/2012 20:35

Bradfield expect 65%. The Head is being appalling, you could have applied to Stowe and got a 25% music scholarship but now you'll be on full fees wherever he goes. You have some options:

If boarding, pull him out and get a tutor for the final term and sit Tonbridge.
If day then get a tutor.
Sunningdale is running an Easter CE residential revision course

Original poster
Uloves · 21/03/2012 20:42

Happygardening - thanks for your opinion on Stowe. It has only within the last week recommended to me so more info will be good.

Collger - I have a tutor for maths and the sciences and looking for English now. I will look up for the sunningdale revision course - is it open to all? I have a feeling I should sit for Tonbridge but also, I need a backup plan. Can't believe I have taken my son to prep school for 9 years and it has come to this?

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happygardening · 21/03/2012 20:58

Luckily I've never been in this position but I understood from our old prep school head that "failing" CE although unfortunate is not an unmitigated disaster. A good prep school head will quickly and efficiently find you a viable alternative. OK maybe not your 2nd choice but there will be places out there at a school that will suit your DS. The only proviso is those looking for bursaries as money has usually already been allocated by the time CE results are out.

Colleger · 21/03/2012 21:00

How good is he on his instruments and what does he play? I only ask because another school may be very keen because of his music.if he fails Tonbridge then he should get a place at Stowe. Is CH a no no now? If not then maybe you should sit it. :/

glenmore · 21/03/2012 21:17

Colleger - I'd love to know what you do for a living as I've seen your name on various secondary education threads before (particularly boys boarding schools) and you seem to be very well informed about lots of schools? Do you write for the good schools guide or something?? this is not meant to sound sarcastic - just genuine interest from me!

Colleger · 21/03/2012 21:24

Nah, just way too much time on my hands! Will stop posting... Blush