So what do I REALLY need to know about life at Eton and Harrow

[glenmore]

Having been on tours of both schools I find it difficult to determine why I would choose one over the other. I understand all the historical differences (that Eton was traditionally more of an academic place than Harrow) but from what I have seen so far through visits I really like both but find it hard to work out what kind of boy really thrives (not just academically) at each place.
Please give me your insights... in particular if you have visited / had boys there recently or boys who attend now.

I'm keeping my head down on this one but am amazed no one posted yet!

I can't really help here but I had a fling with a bloke who was at Eton and he had a lot of affection for the place and a lot of good things to say about the teaching and atmosphere and the way he had been brought up by the school.

I just thought it sounded mad however as I went to a comp and I was open mouthed when after a month of seeing him he just casually mentioned he had been in the same German and English classes as Prince William. If that was me that would he my opening tale to everyone! Lol. And he had a great anecdote about his mum being in the three legged race with Princess Di.

But back to OP hard to comment as am too scummy myself to have a bog about the two schools differences! [Grin]

For me at least, once you've been to Eton there's no other school in the world that matters, never mind about Harrow.

[OK - start shooting . . . .]

If it's of any interest, an Etonian mum once said, "I gave Eton a boy and they returned me a man!"

I looked at Eton and not Harrow (because for me its location was impossible). Eton does not do it for me although I am assured by those in the know that the prospective new parents show round is known to be very sterile. But I have never heard a parent with a boy at Eton say one bad thing about it not have I heard on the school gossip grapevine ?Did you know ?. has left Eton. The parents were really unhappy with it? or heard anything adverse on the side of the rugby pitch. But I have regularly heard negative comments Harrow and do know of it three boys who have left in the first couple of years for a variety of reasons.. The parents at Harrow have a reputation for being screaming snobs but this may be untrue.

My ds went to Eton and it was fantastic. Can't recommend it highly enough. I just wish dd could go there too!

I've friends who taught at both places. Harrow man seemed to have enjoyed his time slightly more than Eton chap.
Not much help am I?

At the end of the day the question will probably be more: which school is likely to take my son, not what one will I choose! The answer - neither and that's not a reflection on your son. I know boys headed for Winchester who really should, on paper, have been offered places at Eton and boys who got in and even the Headmaster was left scratching his head.

The odds of getting into Eton now are so slim. This current selection process is the most oversubscribed than they have ever been, and by a long, long way. Fewer boys also turn down a place at Eton, I heard only three moved up the waiting list last year but that may not be correct. Harrow was always harder to get into than Eton but this year saw a change in that.

I'm not being rude but the fact you're looking at Eton and Harrow is probably because you're attracted by the fame. Most parents would look at one or the other. If that is the case then you'll end up choosing Eton.

Have just visited Harrow and Eton in the last few months. My view is that Harrow remains the higher academically of the 2 although interestingly the new Harrow Head is according to both boys and teachers looking to increase academic standards . However no plans to change Harrow pre test from year 7 , ie the year after Eton. We also spoke to a boy during our visit to Harrow whose older brother was at Eton , he confirmed that Eton was by far the more academic. University destinations are better at Eton but again this is another area where the new Head at Harrow said he was investing. Otherwise Harrow is slightly more of a rugby school whereas at Eton you must choose between football and Rugby, you cannot do both. Eton has newer and more etensive facilities, that is not to say those at Harrow are poor, they are not, its just those at Eton are better. All boys at Eton get their own room from day one, you typically share with 1 other for the first 2 years at Harrow. Post our visits we thought that boys would have a first rate education at either school; for the very bright, confident, scholarship boy Eton would be better but for a boy who does not react well to pressure Harrow would win.

We looked at both.
To be honest, and this is only my personal experience, I found the housemasters and teachers at Eton more open. They understood my concerns and discussed them (they even agreed with me about one of them), rather than dismissed them, which is what happened at Harrow.

In the end we plumped for Westminster .

An Etonian, a Wykhamist and a Harrovian are chatting. They see a lady who appears to be feeling faint. The Etonian offers her a chair, the Wykhamist fetches it and the Harrovian sits in it.
Old, I know.

Grovel - :) (how do you get the grinning face in the column below onto the comments box?)

Sorry, it came up when I posted. I obviously wouldn't pass the Eton test!

dapplegrey, when did your DS leave Eton? Mine left a couple (3?) years ago.

When I was a child my family went to a vair posh party in St John's Wood. A mother asked my brother with school he went to. 'Eton, he said. How jolly marvellous said the mother. Yeah, said my brother, 'Eton Manor Comprehensive in Newcastle.

Reminds me of the chap who used to be my sister's MP. Put down his education as "Harrow". Turned out it was Harrow College rather than Harrow School.

Grovel - my ds left last summer. I was nearly in tears during the Leavers' service and it all got very emotional saying goodbye to everyone, the housemaster, the dame etc. in his house.