Charterhouse

[Uloves]

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.

happygardening - I am now beginning to loose faith and will have to take on the job of finding the support school myself.

Colleger - He plays cello (grade 6), Piano (grade 7) and Sax (grade 5). I will have start to look for plan B now. CH basically saying they think he will struggle if he can't make the grade.

Collger - pls don't...value your views.

no Colleger don't stop posting - love and need your well informed views

Not having collegers expertise I'm not sure what you mean by "supporting school"!

You could always send him to a music school. He is slightly below the level required but they do look at potential and he won't have had the intense practice that other kids have. He sounds very talented and deserves a music scholarship. My advice would be to get on the phone tomorrow to a number of schools explaining his ability and that he's been offered one elsewhere and could they consider auditioning him for a scholarship.

I'm sure you don't want to give too much away but are there any good day schools near you? I'm assuming you live in Kent because of your choice of schools?

coleger oh supreme expert do you know what the term "supporter school" means?

Or even "supporting school"!?

Happygardening - I meant to say an alternative school should he not make the first choice school - basically backup plan.

Thank you all for your advice. I will update you on progress soon.

Just remembered a few years ago a friend in an almost identical situation just different schools used a company called The London Tutor Group or something very similar. I don?t know anything about them apart from the fact that they seemed to be unbelievably expensive but her DS did get the required mark at CE. I think they provided one to one tuition and online tuition in between as well but I may have got that wrong.

Happygardening - thank you for the info. i will do some research on that.

Brighton College very academic and climbing. Suggest you look at Ardingly, Hurst, Lancing or Cranleigh. 55% required at Hurst (I think), 60% required at a Lancing and Brighton. Lancing particularly musical. I know a fair bit about Lancing because my son was going to go there and has plenty of friend's there. We decided to change first choices the February before CE and although my DS got into Lancing, he preferred his alternative. All will work out but I would say your son's prep school should have been paying closer attention to how things were transgressing. Hardly fair on you or your boy?

Mutteroo, thank you for your info. I have contacted Ardingly and Hurst who are more positive. Brighton college is full for boarding and can't travel due to distance. I will look into Lancing as well. We are going to see Ardingly in April and Stowe next Thursday. I haven't heard so many positive things about Stowe so I'm a bit weary but will no doubt find it out for myself when we visit.
Thank you for your suggestions.

My dd going to Stowe in September. we loved it and did a huge amount of research talking to current parents. We were blown away by the buildings and grounds. We spent a day there and chose it for the happy , relaxed atmosphere and for the quality of the sports department. My dd loved Stowebucks and I think there are lots of social events in the school. My dd desperate to get there and try out all the weird and wonderful things that go on there such as begaling, play golf on the golf course and fishing on the lake. Academically things seem to be really on the up and I have friends whose children have been stretched and got all A's and A*'s so they must be doing something right. I think drama, art and music is good also. There's a new music building opening in September 2013 and the school will only have Steinways. Good luck , the most important thing is that you find where you think your ds will be happiest , it's often down to gut feeling. I'll be interested to hear how you get on.

ColdGlassofWine - thanks for your comments on Stowe. I had to cancel and reschedule the appointment for Stowe as it has coincided with my son's Novi visit to Tonbridge. To be honest, very few people have been positive on Stowe but I guess it must be based on past reputation. My husband is not keen now but I have asked to have an open mind and we will visit after the Easter break and see for ourselves.