Winchester College Open Day

[bico]

Anyone going this Saturday? Ds is in year 4 and keen to have a look, I think mainly because they have an 18 hole golf course .

HG, I meant they should address that in Div. Agree on point about chapel and given the superficial nature of it.

HG

I think others are more flexible about Saturdays nights/Sundays even when they might be considered full boarding and attract overseas pupils also, Bradfield, Wellington and Westminster come to mind

termsof use 'That was exactly the language used! But the follow on had more to do with practising it until they can do it in their sleep or along those lines. We were shocked.'

Actually there are a couple of masters we met whom I can imagine saying that , happily this has not been our experience at all - quite the reverse.

AnnaBBB, I do not mean chapel or services, but the attitude of many WC boys against religion. Not at all about forcing religion into every boy, not about discouraging atheism, but atheism and religious faith should be questioned equally. It is also more than just being respectful and sensitive to others with faith. Fundamentally, for the WC ethos, nothing should be beyond questioning. Chapel is something else which does not help to tone down the attitude which may be mixed with some resentment.

The recognise atheism conversation with the head apparently was put forward as more productive use of their time. Didn't end well.

oh dear....nothing is better than producing militant atheists of the future than forced religious services I imagine !

"I think others are more flexible about Saturdays nights/Sundays even when they might be considered full boarding and attract overseas pupils also, Bradfield, Wellington and Westminster come to mind"
But this is Winchester it will always follow its own path whether it be all Pre U's, no IGCSE Eng lit/history, its own entrance exam, or all full boarding. In this day and age of schools fighting for potential pupils it has decided to make its self obviously different. As patents we can take it or leave it.

"I meant they should address that in Div"
It is isn't it it certainly was in my DS's first year although of course every Div class is different.
"Sounds like a contradiction to nurturing questioning boys."
As already said contradiction is not unheard of at Win Coll. As a friend said I cant see what I'm "buying into" unlike Eton where even a fool could see what they're "buying into".
For some unknown reason no statistics on the number taking biology Pre U (I think becasue they've only just changed to the Pre U and the table only gives Pre U results) which is I'm assuming essential to study Nat. Science but its certainly the smallest part of the science dept with only 7 dons physics has 11.

Agree AnnaBB. You can imagine how some religous grandparents feel "losing" their grandsons. WC ought to fix that and it should not be a difficult fix. It is worse when many dons are the same. Very bad to go through the motions and the rituals mindlessly.

HG, all it takes is a couple of debates, pick members deliberately to oppose their own view.

I must admit ...unlike HG, I liked the look and feel of Eton ...I think the facilities and teaching will be great for my DS but I don't like the brand Eton...the one that is portrayed, mystified and/or ostracized by the media ...at least Winchester is happily not saddled with that ! To me, being seen as an OE for the rest of your life before other things is not great at all especially since we are neither aristocratic nor rich nor come from any old OE lineage ...not sure why I keep comparing these two schools..but it seems natural to compare them - before I went to see both I thought they would be far more alike...but having seen them I am not sure.

Think biology is not a must for NatSci. Biology had a biggish transition. Head became HM of College, had new hire and so on. New head is impressive and fascinating to talk to, not just on paper.

"the one that is portrayed, mystified and/or ostracized by the media"
We know people who wont even short list old Etonians as they have a reputation for arrogance having said that all the young ones (recent leavers) we know are charming. i think it takes a long time to shift off a reputation.

term and I notice they are now doing biology Pre U instead of A level this is a recent change I think perhaps this the new head of biologys doing.

WC is also smaller and settings more intimate and personal. AnnaBBB, hard not to look at both with their common background. Other than the exam grade saga, felt rightly or wrongly Eton has this hint of entitled arrogance which is absent in WC.

'Think biology is not a must for NatSci"
Not something I know very much about my DS is firmly in the maths/further maths/physics camp [yawn eyes glaze over smiley] God knows where he's got that from; not either of his parents.

HG - that sounds wonderful. Must be a scary A-setter!

"Eton has this hint of entitled arrogance which is absent in WC.
Cant say I noticed this I just thought it was unsubtle sterile and just too bloody perfect. I thought variation on a theme or perhaps contradiction as mentioned at Win Coll were missing. As I've already said if you want this sort of education SPS offers it in spades and always has and no meaningless ritual/religion/ridiculous uniform.

Current incumbents at number 10 and 11 and Boris don't help and in no way sell it to me...I liked it despite that ...I think it has changed since then with 20% plus on bursaries ...but yes, you are right long time before the media will see it any other way because so many are in the current establishment. You do wonder if it will be more of an asset in life than a millstone!

Having said that I also know of people who won't short list 1st class grads from Oxbridge because they think they are too narrowly academic for success in the commercial world, ridiculous perhaps but you never can tell...all depends on the circles you are in.

I'm not sure wonderful is the right term different perhaps we're all firmly in the art/classical music camp at home.

Does Eton KS has a money component? Election Roll without I am sure puts people off.

There will always be stories about prejudice against Etonians, Harrovians or even those from Billericay Comprehensive I suspect in reality most just get on with their lives and don't experience much prejudice or the Old Boy network either.

"Election Roll without I am sure puts people off."
Does it? I heard on the grape vine that too many "unsuitable" candidates are sitting it and that they are going to pre test to stop this. It's purely and simply a status thing (look how clever I am) surely.

AnnaBBB Boris and Cameron were there in the 70s and 80s, (Osborne was at St Pauls) it has changed since then. Even Germaine Greer gave Eton a glowing report on Question Time this month!

PM me if you are interested, or start a new thread. There are several Eton mums (and ex mums) on MN.

"Current incumbents at number 10 and 11"
George or Gideon as he was know at school rather unfortunately went to SPS we will have to assume he is the exception to the rule!

Gosh, excuse my ignorance ...I tarred him with the Bullingdon brush...he
has that air about him!