Applying to Eton, Harrow, and Winchester

[DeTamble]

I am considering applying to Eton, Harrow, and Winchester.

My son has not yet reached the registration cut-off dates, he has a December birthday, and is in the state system. Without making this long, he's a bit of a chameleon and would be okay in any of them. It's too late for us to go the Prep route, as I can't seem to find any schools which accept boys late and also give out the necessary bursary we would need.

Has any one got any experience about applying to those three schools? Yes, I know I can call the schools, but I want to hear from 'real' people and their experiences. Also, do people even apply to that many schools, and what happens if you get conditional places to each? Any other details? Any knowledge of the realities of coming from the state system?

[Immenselygrateful]

DeTamble, I would like to get in touch with you. I have PMed you.

Fingers crossed ( that you respond).

[IsabellaMumsnet]

Talk to Local parents about schools in Harrow by visiting our Local site for Harrow, here: local.mumsnet.com/Talk/harrow/local-active

[happygardening]

Perhaps it doesn't matter so much in math. DS2 biggest class is math (17/18I think) he feels it's better this size because they all spark off each other. Cant say I ever sparked off my fellow classmates in math mine were about 24 big enough to keep a low profile in the back row!

[difficultpickle]

That's straight from the lovely boy who showed us round - his maths class is this large. Obviously not all the classes are that size but the fact that they think it is okay to have a maths class that large is concerning. It seems to be a very popular and oversubscribed school. The open day was rammed.

[happygardening]

27? That seems very large for an independent school. Awesome rowing results definitely the place for a keen and talented rower.

[difficultpickle]

We went to Abingdon's open day last weekend and loved it. The only full boarders they have are from overseas and mostly not expats. Also I think they said only a third if the school do any kind if boarding (weekly or full, no room for flexi boarding). The boarding houses are home to full, weekly and day boys where they meet for registration etc, which I think is good in terms of helping integration.

The head seemed to be very popular with the boys I spoke to. My one concern was its popularity has seen it grow rapidly. 190 in year 9 compared to 120 in year 11. This means a growth in class sizes from 15 to as many as 27, which seems rather large to me.

[happygardening]

Abbingdon which has boarders and I think starts at 11 although the heads not everyone's cup of tea offers bursaries as does Whitgift which has recently opened a boarding house. Neither are proper all full boarding schools but very popular especially Whitgift on here.

[happygardening]

Another two in the mix: Oakham I understand offers bursaries and gets generous reviews on MN. Marlborough offers bursaries to children of the clergy!

[happygardening]

Friendships are according to my DS made in dorms and as importantly if you share a dorm with someone your not naturally drawn too then apparently you discover they're actually ok.
At a recents mums lunch thing two friends, different houses at Eton were saying their DS's hadn't made good friends with anyone, one child in particular with problems outside of school felt very lonely and dad at times, could just be their personalities of course and would happen anywhere or maybe the single room thing wasn't helping. One also told me that you provide furniture; office chair etc and much to my shock and surprise bring it home at the end of every term. I'm sorry I couldn't be doing with that I moan about duvet covers/books coming home!

[summerends]

Grovel, single room sounds great from my perspective or for a boy who wants to shut the door of his room. However boys can only be visiting one room at a time and I imagine some of the boys might be wandering around looking for the sociable bedroom. Also, from what I 've been told, it's not the same as talking to your friends when you are all in bed. Some of the confidences get shared at that time or even after lights out.
Not sure if boys are nicer just that overstepping the teasing threshold is very much frowned upon, both by most of the boys and the teaching staff.

OP, without wanting to create even more confusion, what about Sevenoaks School if you would n't discount IB? Takes at 11 as well as 13, fantastic reputation, offers day and boarding bursaries (for those living abroad).

[grovel]

A couple of thoughts on single rooms:

In my DS's house at Eton boys were in and out of each other's rooms right up until what would be "lights out and silence" in a dormitory. They then went back to their rooms and could sleep immediately, read for a while, listen to the radio etc before falling asleep. So they got the banter and then a bit more freedom about exactly when to turn their lights out.

My DH who was at Radley (decades ago) liked the single for our DS. His observation that the only bullying he had seen (but happily not suffered) had been in dormitories. No adults around and the senior boys went to bed later than the younger ones. I should add that he thinks that this generation of boys are much nicer to each other (and about each other) than his generation.

[summerends]

Interesting about the single room debate. I would certainly balk at the the thought of sharing my room with several others and would put a premium on privacy. However I've been told by my DS and his friends that the 'banter' in the dormitories is a major plus of boarding and makes closer friendships as well being a lot of fun (most of the time). They would definitely advocate the communal experience for at least the first year.
Sharing a room with one other as at Harrow is an in between system.

[grovel]

OP, I "did" five 4th Junes. Four were freezing! Happily my DS was in the Parade of Boats on the one sunny day.

[happygardening]

When we were looking for my DS I felt he was heavily influenced by the the boys we met, most of whom were charming and obviously sung the schools praises, let's be realistic here few schools would select a child known to hate it to show prospective parents round, the sheer size and facilities at the senior schools and the fact that it was different for example the food was so much more interesting than at prep. As adults we struggle to see the difference between them or work out which one is right or see through the spiel given by enthusiastic staff to the reality so how can we expect a 8/9/10 yr old too?

[difficultpickle]

OP how old is your ds? We are doing school visits this term and ds likes all of them so far. He's good in seeing the things he likes and ignoring the bits he doesn't whereas I'm the opposite.

[happygardening]

Nothing stops you applying for Christ's which would appear to tick so many boxes as well as Win Coll/Eton/Harrow and I would add CC/SPS (there are still boarders there) they too are generous with there bursaries although you may be too late to register.

[DeTamble]

@Happy You're right, I really should think about Christ's more. After all, I wanted to go there as a kid. I'll go look again when we come back, without DH. Tough titties to him. I can go when he gets posted next, as I won't be going with him that time.

[happygardening]

If your DS likes them all apply for them all, two interviews in one year which is the maximum we're talking about is not exactly onerous. Maybe fate will intervene and you'll just get one and your problem will be resolved.

[DeTamble]

I think DS will lean to Eton, he has a thing about the 4th of June celebrations. He really likes the rowing thing with the flowery boaters, he said it's better when they fall in. He doesn't like the idea of single rooms from the start though, that may change as he gets older though. Just trying to instill in him the understanding that it'll be the school which picks him, not the other way around. I don't think it's likely he'll get and offer from all of them, with the bursary he'd be lucky to get one offer.

[DeTamble]

On the uniform front, as it's some thing which is worn every day, I would always choose the more unique uniform. Better to stand out than to look like every other school. Better to choose it by the school song! (Joking!) Not that any one should choose a school based on a uniform. Win Coll is DH's first preference, and sadly for me, he didn't like Christ's Hospital, he got into an argument with someone there, which I won't go into. DS likes them all, as do I, they all have pros and cons.

[schoolnurse]

Interesting thread. peteneras in my very extensive experience there are many children of all academic abilities out there at full boarding schools who wish very much that sport in particular rugby team sports was an insignificant pastime. They would love the opportunity to do something else instead especially in the winter when it's freezing cold and raining. I personally don't find these children are in your words "sissies" they just have different interests and there's nothing wrong with that in fact I think individuality is a good thing and should be encouraged.

[Somethingyesterday]

OP What does your Ds have to say about where he might go? Not that he'll be making the decision obviously - but does he have any opinion one way or the other?

[peteneras]

”grovel as non team sports player the lack of compulsory team sports at Win Coll is a big selling point for my DS oh and uniform!”



“Amusingly I like the Eton and Harrow uniforms, I like ridiculous uniforms.”



For the life of me, I don’t know what kind of a “school” it is where sports is seen as an utterly insignificant pastime, not to be bothered with, whilst academia is to be the be-all-and-the-end-all.

And this coming from an ”all-boys, full-time boarding school” too! Seriously, I question what do all these virile young men do in their entire teenage years whilst at this school? More worryingly, what kind of boys does the school produce at the end of its remit given its defunct and/or non-existent sporting prowess?

A bunch of sissies?

About the so-called ridiculous uniforms of some schools, sometimes I wonder who is actually wearing the uniform? Is it the boy/pupil or the mother? For sure, it would indeed be insanely ridiculous if it was the latter.

[difficultpickle]

Eton only discuss bursaries once they've made a conditional offer.

[happygardening]

Oh and I also agree with summerends point about the bursary thing at least at Win Coll you can get an idea of what they will offer you before even being interviewed, I don't know if Eton do the same worth asking.