Winchester College Open Day

[timmytoes]

We are off, en famille, to visit Winchester College this weekend at their annual open day. I know that not everyone rates the day as useful but we are going to try to get the best out of it . Does anyone have any tips that might be useful specifically re our visit so we can decide whether it is worth going back for a more tailored visit early next term.

When we went many years ago we came away slightly disappointed. We'd heard that Winchester was different from other schools and frankly we struggled to see what made it that different. Although the housemaster (no longer doing the job) was certainly different interesting in particular his philosophy on how the boys should be managed.
We went back shortly afterwards to meet three other HM's (the key person at Winchester) and then were invited for lunch in one house and by the end of this we'd worked out what makes it different. Now my DS has been there for one year I know it is different from others maybe not necessarily for the better for every boy out there but a perfect fit for my DS and that's what matters to us.
Winchester lacks the branding of others it's not ramming it difference down your neck unlike others (no names) it feels at times as if it's in a time warp dated 1950's I like it and it has a civilised feel to it.
I don't know what I'd specifically ask listen to the HMs we had a guided tour of a house decide if you and your DS want to go to such a house centric school, no single rooms for probably the first three years at least does this bother you, no drama in the curriculum only an extra curricular activity will this bother you, also no rugby and some would say not that strong on team sports ask the boys about this if it matters. Many find it very competitive and don't be under any illusions the boys are expected and do work very hard. Ask the boys and the HMs about this if it matters.
We looked at lots of schools as we has two DS's and I work in a boarding school so consider myself fairly knowledgable from the moment we went to the new boys lunch last year we knew we'd made the right decision as the first years coming to an end are impression at that lunch has proven to be absolutely correct.
Go back on another occassion and meet a couple of HM's talk to the boys
then hopefully you will see what makes it different.

I foolishly turned Winchester down based on the open day and when I went back a few weeks ago I really kicked myself for not seeing the true Winchester.

Results day soon! Eek!

Colleger, are you expecting a letter on Monday? We are waiting too. Beginning to twitch every time I see a post van!

All I know is the 11th but I'm not sure if that's when they are sent out. DS is not at a regular school so the Head won't be informed first so you may find out sooner. I think we'll get a waiting list place and will have to go for a music scholarship. In some ways a rejection is easier than a waiting list place!

Yotty and Colleger, good luck. Fingers crossed for you.

Thanks Grovel. Let's hope it's good news as DS will be devastated if he doesn't get an offer. Not sure how I will break the news to him, but will definately wait until after his exams if it is bad news.

Yotty and colleger Hope you both hear good news soon.

Thanks everyone. DS will be devastated in one sense but in another sense he'd be relieved as the next two years will be nose to the grindstone!

Any news?

Our mail comes anytime from 7am-4pm each day so nothing yet!

Are you sitting by the letterbox?

Actually I'm very chilled out about the whole thing. No idea what my reaction will be though when I read the contents.

Fingers crossed for you both. Hope you get your letters soon.

I cannot compliment the schools admission process enough. Even if it had not been good news they have been so courteous and helpful from the very beginning and look beyond exam results, the schools boys come from and they see the boy for who he is.

DS thrilled but we have less than two years of seriously hard work as he's effectively had no academic lessons since January. I'm worried...

Colleger, I assume from your last post that your DS has a place. Fantastic news. We are still waiting for the postman to arrive. May have to make a phone call if he doesn't arrive by 1pm.

Yes he did. A mixture of delight and terror. I really, really hope DS gets a place. There is always some quick movement in September as Eton results are out in the summer holidays and many apply for both schools.

Colleger - congratulations! Really excited for you here, by the way which school is it ?

Winchester College!!! Lol!

you said further up that you turned it down based on the open day, so i was a bit confused. DS must be so excited!

Happygardening..... I'm sure your delight knows no bounds right now.....

I turned it down for my eldest. In hindsight it was a big mistake but my experience of the day and the fact that the prep Head said we weren't X parents I dug my heels in and sent him to X! I also accepted X because I thought Ds2 was more suited to it but a couple of years on I couldn't have been more wrong. That is one of the problems of having to decide so far in advance...

I?m always delighted when someone gets a place at a school they are particularly keen on.

Worst case scenario has occurred. Only a waiting list place for DS, not even a guaranteed place with no confirmed house. What to do? Immediate thoughts are to look else where as even if he is offered a place closer to 2014, I think he will be rather low down in the pecking order when he gets there. He may feel more comfortable in a school where he is higher up the academic pecking order, despite the fact that he is rubbish at sport.
Any suggestions for alternative schools? The only sport he is passionate about is fencing.

I'm so sorry you must be really dispapointed. St Edwards although maybe a bit too sporty

Yotty - So sorry to hear its not the news you wanted, but i'm sure you will find a very good school for him all the same, would you consider co-ed ?