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Secondary education

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Original poster

Is Winchester College moving away from full boarding?

9 replies

TinkerBellThree · 06/06/2014 05:01

The reason for my question is that a friend went to their open day last Saturday and was told during her tour of a house that there were two empty beds as they had two day-boys??? Confused. I believed Winchester was one of the last few full boarding schools?

OP posts:
happygardening · 06/06/2014 07:14

I've not heard anything. I saw the figures recently but can't find them this morning these stated there were four day boys in the whole school, these are either the DS's of the dons or have a very special reason for being day boys. My DS has no day boys in his house. I know a couple of parents who have really pushed to have their DS's not board and the school has not budged on its position. In fact the school is also very strict on things like taking your DS out for a special occasion on a Saturday afternoon/evening or a couple of day early at the end of term to get a flight; these things are generally refused.
I believe the current head is retiring next year, a new head could I suppose bring in changes to the full boarding only policy but as the school is full and over subscribed I would have thought he'd take the view if it ain't broke don't fix it.

beccajoh · 06/06/2014 07:19

I have friend who were there 20 years ago who were day boys. It's not new I don't think.

happygardening · 06/06/2014 07:27

I believe the previous head or maybe the one before that was allowing more day boys/weekly boarders but that certainly isn't the case now.
This is of course swimming against the current trend for weekly boarding but Win Coll always very firmly walks it's own path.

Original poster
TinkerBellThree · 06/06/2014 07:40

HappyGardening - thank you for your insight! I am pleased to hear that.
I was rather concerned that a single house has two day boys, and will it spread... it seemed to be very much against the ethos of full boarding for all.

OP posts:
happygardening · 06/06/2014 08:31

I think many parents choose it because it is full boarding that's what swung our decision in the end. According to this years annual report there are only four full boarding only boys left now all of course are quite different. There are plenty of excellent weekly boarding/day schools both coed and single sex out there so logically and even though it's quite different from the other three (and certainly very different from other weekly/day schools) with quite a different ethos, one of the reason you've chosen the school is because you want/like/need a full boarding school.
As I've said why change something that works, the school only needs the parents of 700 boys worldwide to feel the same.

Original poster
TinkerBellThree · 06/06/2014 11:22

I agree with you Happy - why change something that works! Crossing fingers it will remain full boarding!

OP posts:
eatyourveg · 07/06/2014 07:53

I grew up in Winchester and WC always had a some day boys then - hadn't realised it had changed

notanywhere · 07/06/2014 18:43

Housemasters' and Dons' who have boys in the school no longer take up beds in their houses. Instead they go home after toytime. The present head introduced this policy some years ago to make better use of limited vacancies.

TalkinPeace · 07/06/2014 21:08

I have friends who live in Winchester who have sent their kids to WC because it is boarding
nothing on the grapevine that it has moved away from that.

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