Interested in Winchester College but many people seem critical

[Blogaholick]

We are just starting to look at Winchester and other schools for our liverly and academic minded son, but have noticed, that compared with other schools, people seem to put down Winchester a bit as not producing practical men. No one seems to dispute the high academic merit of the school, but a number of people have suggested that the boys are given a lot of free rein academically, which somehow leads them astray later in life and makes them less professionally successful. We are professional types, so this concerns us. Is there any truth to this idea or have we just been speaking to the wrong people? Winchester seems like it would be a great fit for our son (if admitted), so I am disappointed with the reaction, in comparison to say, Eton which receives many approving comments.

I have friends with sons at Win Coll & sons who have left, they are happy with the school and their sons seem lovely. Happygardening should be along soon, she has been really happy with the school. Presumably how practical they are depends on the boys & their families themselves as by the time they are 13 and start their characters are quite established?

Thanks, Eastpoint, I am sure you are right, but my question is really why are people so critical of Winchester in particular? What are they getting at?

I think that clever, quirky (nerdy?) boys often choose non-standard paths in life and that might not fit all definitions of "successful". Winchester attracts a lot of boys (and families) like that, but its high academic standards also mean that it will not disadvantage a boy who wants a traditional professional career either.

You can't prescribe what your DS will want to do later, or how things like his choice of university will affect his outlook on life either.

My DS2 who has just finished third year at Winchester is as practical as a paving stone! This is weird because we're all very practical people, he's never been practical since he was a baby and has no interest in practical things. Needless to say he's not applying to do engineering at Uni. He also has little interest in the practical side of science considering it boring, predictable and a waste if time. But the theoretical side of science and math in general absolutely fascinates him.
We have never tried to make him into the person he clearly isn't, neither have Winchester maybe this is why it works for him. He is quirky clever and non standard Winchester very much allows this. If you want less free rein, less independent thought, guaranteed professional success them maybe you should look somewhere else. We personally have no interest in any of this although of course many have.
There's a very nice school off junction 5 the M4 which might be more suitable. Although there is a broad mix at Win Coll some are definitely more conventional.
You're welcome to PM me if you want to know more.

Blogaholick I think you should try to talk to some of the older boys at Winchester. There will of course be some esoteric thinkers and born academics in the mix but even for those who are more normally bright I have found that Winchester seems to produce interested, interesting people who are capable of deeper, sometimes unconventional thinking. That is no disadvantage in any career and certainly no disadvantage to future enjoyment of life.

”If you want less free rein, less independent thought, guaranteed professional success them maybe you should look somewhere else...
There's a very nice school off junction 5 the M4 which might be more suitable.”

What a load of tosh!

I’ve been patiently watching this thread for a few days now and it seems to be in danger of disappearing into oblivion for nobody cared to respond to this kind of small talk other than a couple or so WC parents.

If anything, it’s a great credit to all those parents who send(t) their DC to that very nice school off junction 5 the M4 who see no necessity in responding to and wallowing in this depth of slagging off another school; its ”ridiculous uniform”, ”less free rein, less independent thought, guaranteed professional success,” etc. Parents of the Berkshire school off the M4 do not have the inferiority complex that obviously bedevils some parents of other schools who seem to have the compulsive need to always looking over their shoulders to see what the Windsor school is doing. This is classic ‘kiasu’ parents personified!

It’s sad!

I know a couple of boys at WC. Both are academically, 'off-beat' brilliant- but frankly, quite odd; Socially a teeny bit misfit.

I gather that WC suits them down to the ground but neither are likely to end up doing anything 'mainstream', shall we say!