peter symonds winchester views?

[lorimeed]

Looking at Peter Symonds for my daughters sixth form but have heard varied things! She's very academic and currently at private school on a academic scholarship with Oxbridge aspirations but I've heard many people struggle making the transition from private to a large college? Views and general opinions please :)

Only limited hearsay knowledge here. I know one person from KE who is in first year at PS and getting on very well. But one anecdote does not make data!

DD is at Symonds.
Its huge. You will not get to know everybody - same as at University.
She loves it.
There are kids in her classes who have come in from all the comps, from KES, from Swithuns, from WinCol, from Eton, from Churchers, from HCS, you name it.
If they are bright and self motivated they will be fine.
BUT
Symonds is not right for everybody.
TBH Barton Peverill is stronger for English and arty / languages stuff
remember that Colin Firth described his time at BP as the best years of his life.

Draylon
There are ten in DDs year who came in from Swithuns.
The point is that the college can offer subject combinations that the schools cannot.

Oh yes, and applications for this September closed last month so I also have to assume you are looking for 2016

If she gas Oxbridge aspirations she may be well served to move as those universities are keen to get their state intake up.

DS is there, previously home educated, but not in the least self motivated during home ed. He is doing level 2 courses this year, probably going on to A levels next year so not high flying at all.

He loves it, it is huge and you can't possibly know everyone but he very quickly found a friendship group and enjoys sparking his creativity off theirs, mucking around with photoshop and making videos. His experience of PSC seems very innocent compared to when I was there in the 80's. There was a big drugs raid at the beginning of the year so any problem behaviour seems to be stamped on quickly.

He's found his tutors friendly and approachable, 'cool' was his word - I translate. And he's suddenly self motivated, no nagging required.

There was a big drugs raid at the beginning of the year so any problem behaviour seems to be stamped on quickly
Yup, it was a nice piece of set piece choreography.
DDs friends took selfies with the drug dogs

Ds is there in Yr 12. I would say he is academic (mostly A*s) and quite quiet and rather geeky.

He has had some illness and I must say the college has been very good - his tutors very kind and offering catch up lessons.

One thing though is the volume of work. Ds is doing essay subjects, and he has to do a lot of work.

From ds's school, nearly all the brighter pupils went to PS. BP did a massive PR attack and I think gained quite a few more pupils from ds's school, but still ds said he would rather be with a generally more able group of students.

Hi all, thanks for your reply's! My DD is very self-motivated and I think still would be whatever the school! I know PS get good results but I'm quite concerned about the social side of things! She's quite private school if you get what I mean and is very outgoing but in an academic way, she would easily get up and host a political debate but isn't interested in big party's or drinking ect. I'm concerned the jump will be quite hard for her as she's lead quite a closeted life, this may be a good thing but possibly not during her A levels!
To be honest she's predicted all A* at IGCSE and is top of her year in History and English as well as having some essay competition wins under her belt so as long as she stays on the right track she should be fine for a RG uni and trying for Oxford! The only example of a PS pupil I know went to my DD's school and did quite well but moved to PS and recently got 2 c's and 2D's in his AS results and has got involved with what I call the wrong sort of people meaning he's going drink and drugs very regularly! I don't think she's mix with these people but I'm concerned she's be bullied for it!
I also know she's used to a very academically challenging atmosphere! Her school is selective and as well as having set classes she has scholars lectures and dinners ect. I'm not sure she's get this at PS any thoughts?
We are considering her staying private but her scholarship is the maximum of 10% and we now have 3 children at private school which isn't easy! We where all set for PS thinking it was just as good academically as her current school but free, but I'm not sure if it is anymore! Your right I haven't heard or looked round BP and it's too late know but I'm not sure if that would be a bit too relaxed for DD!
Draylon- they will still be doing A levels DD's in 5th form so we've already applied just need to choose!
Velvetbee- do you know if drugs are quite common at the school...because I have heard rumours!

Our other option is south wilts in Salisbury, any thoughts on that?

OP. It is not too late to apply to Barton
The deadline to apply to Barton is 13th Feb.

There is another open evening on Thursday 30th April, so you could apply first, then look round afterwards. Not ideal but better than nothing. You lose nothing by applying.

For goodness sake, do you think that all the great unwashed at Peter Symonds are rolling into Winchester high as kites in the wake of a swarm of drug dealers? Oh, ds regularly swigs a can of cider on a park bench at lunchtimes whilst his friends duff up a few locals as an extra-curricular activity. I don't think there's a single girl there who isn't pregnant but that doesn't matter as they're not very academically able anyway.

I'm not usually drawn into state/private debates but actually your comments are rather offensive. "Very private school" and "wrong sort of people" indeed. Have you ever been to Winchester?

ROFLPMPL
If you think you'll get a better deal by sending your DD to South Wilts that is fine by me
Unless you have an internship lined up at Daddy's firm, sooner or later she will hit the big bad world world.

I went to selective private gels school in London and was utterly un prepared for Uni.
DD has that wonderful halfway house of "uni" with "coming home for supper each night"
what's not to love

If kids get involved in the coke / dope / whatever scene, that says a lot more about the parents than it does the school

FFS
I have always worried about any school that did not have drugs busts.
Combine hundreds of intelligent relatively wealthy teenagers and its a given.

Brendablackhead- sorry if my comments offended I only meant to highlight the differences between private and state education! My DD has not been exposed to things many other children will have been, and I admitted this is not necessarily a good thing! Yes I have been to Winchester but the fact remains I have heard lots of negative things about PS social life, I wanted to find out if these rumours where true hence starting this thread! I'm not sure how DD would deal with social pressures she hasn't met yet and yes personally I don't want her around drugs and excessive drinking as they are actually illegal and I feel wouldn't do her any good. By describing her as very private school I didn't mean to offend anyone except possibly her! For example instead of a teenage party most children want she wanted a black tie dinner party! She is different from a lot of children her age and I would be concerned she wouldn't find it easy to make friends at Symonds.

TalkinPeace- Her current school has never had a drug bust as it doesn't have the need and whilst it does go I'm sure the majority of children are strongly against it! I'm simply concerned that she won't know how to deal with these things when she's faced with them. With all due respect she is living in a real world it's just different! I would be the first to say that isn't necessarily a good thing but if she does end up going to oxford and becoming a historian or politician (what she wants at the moment) she would lead quite a closeted life anyway!

Obviously I have no real experience of PS and her school isn't much help because most of the children stay on for sixth form! I simply wanted opinions and I felt there was no reason to beat around the bush! I'd heard drink and drugs where a problem and I wanted to know so come the summer we can make a informed decision!

Frankly if she takes her lead from you I think that rather than accepting her with open arms Oxford university will guide her towards the Ox & Cow Secretarial College (if it still exists!) which is ideal for the narrow-minded and ignorant.

I completely understand what you mean, Lorimeed, but think, as parents, we need to realise that our children are growing up in a society where drink and drugs are available in every arena. My dds are not at a private school (Southampton girls' comprehensive) but have chosen friends who choose not to be involved in this scene. My recently-16 year old had several friends for a birthday sleepover/pizza party. Other girls there have had huge house parties where drink and probably drugs have been available. Neither of my daughters have experienced any bullying about NOT wanting to partake. Most pupils seem to mix with like-minded friends and are accepted for who they are.

This sounds a bit preachy - not intentional! - but hope you can see the relevance for your dd. My Y11 daughter has been accepted into the St Anne's sixth form which is small and achieves excellent results .......

Lorimeed I went to peter symonds and I'm a massive pill head who only got into a red brick. But don't worry I was happy with that as I never was very private school as I had never been to one.

Unlike all my friends who had left wincol and st swithuns to avoid that awful discrimination they faced during the university application process due to their private education. They just spent their time rocking in the corner trying to avoid being tempted into a life of sex drugs and rock and roll by the great unwashed of Winchester. Those state school chavs of Winchester don't have a political opinion between them after all.

OP
Get a life
let your DD get a life while she still comes home for supper.

Ha ha, ever met some of the girls from godolphin! My state school DS was quite shocked!