Harrow vs Winchester

[FulhamFather]

Looking for comments from parents on what types of boy that will suit either Harrow or Winchester?

Thanks

Thanks for all your responses (although they are a bit Wincoll focused - but maybe that's a reflection of this site).

His favourite team sport is football so I shall explore that further the apparent poor standards of coaching.

And I do have some concerns about a school that simply lets boys opt out of sport altogether. Whilst one might not be any good at sport (or any other extra-curricular activity come to think of it) being part of a team and mucking in is an important attribute to learn...

Which are the more sporty and less sporty houses at Wincoll?

FulhamF I did n't say that the standards of football coaching are poor just that not all the teams will have very good coaches.
The boys do participate but what happens is that the system also frees them up to find a liking for a non team sport which they can then pursue or allows a top musician to devote more hours to practice. .
Not sure about sporty houses but I presume the rowing coach that HG mentioned is sporty so may attract more sporty boys?
If you have those concerns at the forefront then you would probably be happier with Harrow.

Fulham F: your son would need to be pretty boisterous, thick-skinned and one of the lads to thrive at Harrow. Being good at sport is a key to success and popularity As you know, Winchester attracts brainy boys (and parents too) some of whom are also excellent sportsmen. Harrow is far less academic, but (as previously said), it does very well by its brighter students.

Hi, Hoppers housemaster used to be head of sport. He is now a housemaster and has passed this role on. It is still possible to opt out of sport for one of the 3 terms, but you need to be good/flexible with excuses.
There are plenty of opportunities for teamwork other than sport. My son's year worked/studied together for their pre-u exams - supporting each other and sharing notes, they all did extremely well.
DS commented that most boys in his college (oxbridge) do not work together, but compete against one another...... So he is happily working with the girls. He does miss the inclusive teamwork and camaraderie at Hoppers though.
Other instances of teamwork are orchestras, putting on plays (usually put on by the boys not the dons) and singing in choirs. Why do you think teamwork is most prevalent in sport? In the workplace, or in adult life there is a closer correlation in the above, than in a football match. Most adults consider a couple of sessions at the gym to be good going.
They do play football Flowerpot (inter house football competition) is one of the most fiercely fought over. A team boys are ineligible, so other must and do fill the side.
Just to note, in my DS year (not house) I believe one boy was captain of a Chelsea junior football - he was happy enough with the coaching.

The football coaching is often done by one of the dons who may not be overly knowledgable about the finer points of football especially for the lower teams. Toyes is being taken over by Mr Hart ex army and current head of sport. Cooks has won the football flowerpot this year both junior and senior teams it has a reputation for being sporty but current HM goes in 2018, Mr a Fox is HM of Furleys.
If you look up sports results on the schools website it details football matches going back quite a long way you'll get a feel for how good they are. Realistically schools like Radley St Edwards Eton with their specialised coaches are going to beat most of Win Colls football teams.

FF

Any further thoughts ?

Would be interested to hear whether you have decided on a way ahead given the views you have had on here

AG

Yes - you lot have put me right off Winchester

Genuine question - why was Winchester one of your top choices previously (aside from prep suggestion)? Did you feel you knew enough when you applied? What does your DS think of the schools he's been entered for? (Sorry that's more than one question.)

Im also going to add my twopence worth, although I know nothing about either school. It seems to me that of all the possible combinations of 'shall I choose this boys school or that boys school', a toss up between Winchester and Harrow seems the most unlikely. If a spectrum exists, these two schools appear to be pretty much at opposite ends!

FulhamFather I've PM'd you

IndridCold - what a ridiculous comment to make! You say you know nothing about either school but then seem to be able comment on the spectral differences in the schools.

Thanks - v useful - please chip in with any other words of wisdom.

That's 'know nothing' as in 'no direct experience', rather than complete ignorance. You have been unnecessarily rude to the WinColl parents who have tried to help you, and now again. You seem very chippy, but I hope your DS enjoys whichever school you choose for him.

FulhamF I am only sorry if we put you off Winchester if it is actually the right school for your DS. Otherwise better to know now than several years down the line. It is ironic considering your responses that the Winchester motto is 'manners maketh man'.

I agree with indrid: normally families will be choosing between Eton and Winchester and it's unusual to be choosing between Winchester and Harrow. At the end of the day Winchester is where your son goes if he is extremely clever and, if he is, you're unlikely to be looking at Harrow. Which isn't to say very clever boys don't go to Harrow; they do.

Parents will often be advised by their child's HM about suitable schools and HMs I think perpetuate the practice of not choosing Harrow over more academic schools. What does your HM advise?

Many years ago on a guided tour of one if the houses an alpha mother insisted on looking at the loos, initially the HM (retired a few years ago) showing us around laughed but on realising she was serious sad
"My God madam you really do want to look at the them! You don't decide whether or not to send your son to Winchester because of the loos!"
I suspect the same comment could be made about the football.
If loos or football are your main concern then you're looking at the wrong school.

Thanks for all your comments (well most!)

Didn't mean to upset anyone but some of you are rather sensitive !

Thanks for the pms too - much more insightful and useful

We were advised by our son's prep head and we followed that advice. The school feeds only the top boarding and london day schools so I think he knows what he is talking about

I asked a question on here to get other views.

There is still time to decide

Good luck OP I hope you find the right school.

Nobody here is sensitive FulhamF, just a bit by your manner of enquiry. Hopefully the advice of your DS's head will point you in the right direction of the two very different choices they suggested.

I don't understand the immense distaste for Harrow. I personally think Harrow is the best education in the UK because unlike other super-selectives like eton and winchester it has the ability to transform you without having to endure the arduous amount of tutoring and other prerequisites you need merely to get in in the first place. I am myself an old Harrovian and I was as thick as bacon at prep school, it was a miracle I got in! I scraped the CE pass mark and got in because I was good musically. It nurtured my academic interests and the teaching was most certainly not dry and on-syllabus; I ended up getting 12 A*'s at GCSE and 5 A's at AS, this was a huge transition. It is a fantastic school and contrary to popular belief the boys are genuinely kind. The facilities are brilliant, it's a top notch school.

please dwell on “football coaching is patchy” my son has an offer from Winchester and is an excellent goalkeeper so slightly worried by this comment. W do 2 terms football and play everyday. Harrow only do 1 term football and 2 days a week training and scholars maybe a bit more.