Winchester College - How are lazy DSs managed at Win Coll nowadays?

[AnthonyAndCleopatra]

DS is off to WinColl soon. He manages to be in the A stream at Prep School and do well in all his exams but really and truly DS does not work hard at all. I am ashamed to admit that, but it is true. I am worried that DS will just sink when in Win Coll and that his idleness will go unchecked. Does anyone know how Win Coll actually gets idle boys to work hard - or are they simply expelled? Thanks in advance for your helpful notes from the ether!

Interesting question and one I'm fortunately not able to answer. There are definitely lazy boys there my DS tells me the odd tale. I suspect they are under pressure to get on with it, and for those who don't and who don't do well academically I suspect for many at Winchester the two aren't necessarily one and the same thing and therefore fail to get the required IGCSE grades they will be asked to leave.
From what I've seen and heard the vast majority have exceedingly pushy parents, (according to my DS we're unusually for Win Coll very much on the other end of the spectrum and I'm told my out of character "do some revision" comments heard this Easter holiday comments pale into insignificance when compared to the threats etc issued by many), most parents are making it very clear to their DS's what they expect of them and what will happen if they don't achieve. There are times when I can feel my mouth hanging open at the comments some parents make about their academic expectations for their DS's and how they are going about ensuring this happens.
I do think many very bright children slightly under perform and are lazy at prep which for many can be quite a stifling environment and they are often bored. My DS was turned off many subjects at prep and put only the minimal effort into them but is not only excelling in them now but choosing them for Pre U.
Finally a lot of extra curricular stuff is voluntary and can be avoided if a boy chooses, some HM's are more hot on it than others so if this laziness is spilling over into other areas your DS could manage to do nothing which IMO is a shame.

Actually HG my DS tells me that the parents of his friends are very laid back from comments after parents' evening so may be your DS has the 'pushy parent house' . I think most parents and the boys do choose Winchester for its academic values. OP, unless you have pushed your DS into a school that he does not want or does not suit him don't worry from the academic point of view for the first year, I hear a fair number have a slow start and the teachers are used to this. The teaching is generally so good that together with the interests of the other boys this encourages selfmotivation. However as HG says, he may not make the most of the extracurricular if he has to be pushed into participating.

We must be in the "pushy parents house" God knows what we're doing in there although the HM's do like a balance!

. The alternative explanation is that we are so pushy that all other parents seem slack compared to us. However, as we perceive one of the huge benefits of WC is that we don't have to get involved in schoolwork , I very much hope that is not the case.

I've got a lot of friends who went there (admittedly a few years ago now) and without exception they've all done well in life. All went to top tier universities and are in careers you'd expect from someone with that educational background.

A&C, Don't worry about it too much. I think that the school is fairly on top of things and I doubt whether he will just sink as you fear. The younger boys do their prep together (Toytime!) for two hours in the evenings, so he will have a set time to settle and work. It is frowned upon if work is not handed in on time, so he will find it easier if he does. When you meet the teachers, you meet them with your son, and they are very approachable and honest so you can ask them if you are still not sure whether he is trying (and he will have to hear what they say!!). You will also get regular reports with marks for effort. My son was at a non-selective prep where he did not have to work too hard and he found the level of the work a bit of a shock when he first got to school, but has risen to the challenge. I think that they try to make the lessons interesting and often study off/beyond the curriculum so that the boys remain engaged. I agree with Summerends that most of the parents are not that pushy, and the boys tend to use/find their own motivation. I would park your worries at this stage, and let him find his way in an environment where hard work is expected and also respected, and see whether it is catching. If you are still worried after a term or so, you should have a chat with his Housemaster. It is a great school, and I am sure that they will have come across the "bright but lazy" syndrome before.

HG, Summerends, Beccajoh and Boykeeper - thank you. I can sleep better now. Really like all your insights. DH did little at school and almost nothing at university...then did really well in business. I worked really hard at school and at uni and, well, the less I say about that the better!!! Perhaps we need not worry, there may well be a delayed positive latent effect in sending a DS to WinColl. Yes, they all seem to do really well who go there. Magic. Really something about the place which is why DS wants to go, in spite of our warnings that he has to work hard there. Thank you again. Kind of you all. Night night!

Your DS is at Winchester College.

All Will Be Well.

Relax.

Thanks Tansie

Really Appreciate Your Kind Words

Now Relaxed

PS - Trying To Work Out The Meaning Behind The Capitals. Intrigued!