Eton or Winchestwr

[ebgw]

We have been fortunate enough to have received offers from both Eton and Winchester. We visited both and see positives and negatives at both schools. Eg single study bedrooms vs mixed, more liberal vs more strict , div dons vs more all round but are very confused which is better fit. Our son is bright but also active plays tennis competitively is very sociable and energetic and comes from overseas. He wasn't tutored or prepared in any way as we wanted to see where he would fit in naturally . Having received these two offers I am now trying to decide with him. He likes both! Any tips or comments?

[peteneras]

Well chameleon43, I thought someone might say I contradict myself in my last message. But if you had read the whole thread closely in its full context, I was referring to a point I made earlier that state schools in my backyard could rival independent schools in services and academics, “if not better”, and it’s free of charge.

But it seemed HPFA had disagreed with that statement by saying, “I rather doubt this”. I then posted the Sunday Times link to prove QEB is even more academic than both E & W.

Also, a certain poster upthread had been at pains to say how very academic Winchester was, a point made over and over again but the astronomical cost of going there was not mentioned.

My point was, if it’s academics that I want, I would have sent DS to QEB for free - a point I made with evidence. Too many people have made all sorts of claims in an anonymous forum such as this one, but I’m trained in keeping records and providing real evidence. Thus the liberal use of links (evidence) in most of my postings here and elsewhere.

”. . . you honestly have kept your son's acceptance letter for QEB from 2003 . . .”

Like explained above . . . and that’s nothing - my records of all things important go back much, much further than 2003. You have a computer, have you not? Then make full use of it. Scan your important documents, pictures, movies, sound files, etc. onto your hard-drive and organise them logically. It helps making your life easier. It didn’t take me a few seconds to recall that QEB letter.

[chameleon43]

PMSL at the idea that an acceptabce offer from a grammar school from 13 years ago could be considered an important document! what possible use could you ever have had for it!?

Your point that state schools can rival Winchester in terms of services and academics is confused. Academics is only a small part of what these public schools have on offer - and that is what HPFA was saying.

You are also being disingenuous when referring to the astronomical cost of WC - when E is equally pricey - albeit superior in your eyes (please tell me you have an electronic version of that acceptance letter too!!)

[YouOKHun]

Yes, I know all about evidence (as a scientist it's my bread and butter). I'm struggling to see how this helps the OP as she has evidently decided to spend the money and is mulling over Eton and WC (and not any free school in the north London boroughs). Can you shed an insider's light upon E and/or WC Peteneras as per the OP's original question? (I would also appreciate that specific input from you too if you are able).

[chameleon43]

the problem with all of these threads is that you get HG's pro Winchester spiel and then P's about Eton - both equally biased.

The only way the OP can genuinely know which would suit her son is to talk to current parents and pupils in real life, and to visit both schools again?

[sendsummer]

am assuming your comments about Eton and WC are based upon inside knowledge and a good deal of understanding of how these schools work.

Sadly Peteneras's posts are based on trying to discredit one of those schools rather than objective inside knowledge of both schools. Luckily there are a lot of sensible PPs around with DCs at either school.
As an aside one thing that some of these results tables show is that W is perhaps not the school to extract top grades from bright boys who slack off and are not interested in academics in their teenage years. Some of these boys may have been a poor fit at the school from the start despite being bright enough. My impression is that Winchester places less value on exam results per se rather than learning and probably requires more independent learning and self motivation (rather like university) but it provides the teaching breadth and depth that will keep even the extremely bright boys stretched and well read.

[peteneras]

That letter is not important to you, chameleon43, because you don’t have one and I do not have to tell you what possible use it could be for. For sure, I do have an electronic E version that I think you wish you have one too.

Yes, E is equally pricey but it delivers an all-round first-class education preparing boys to be leaders in their chosen fields. I cannot see W making a claim to any of this presently except that it is narrowly “very academic” and nothing much else. Even that, it seems like E is doing a better job according to The Sunday Times.

How many Old Wykehamist of note can you name in any fields at all in the last (say) 15 years 50 years compared to OE’s? Like you said, they are paying the same money.

[peteneras]

Well, OP has disappeared almost as soon as she started this thread (the next day) because she was told it was not proper to start another E vs W thread as there were many similar ones already.

This discussion has taken a different direction since - like most discussions.

I have written tons of stuff on Eton, YouOKHun, all you have to do is make a search under my MN name for them. I’m sure you’ll find insights from my postings that will be beneficial to you. If you have any specific questions, you may like to PM me.

[Oncemoreuntoetc]

OP and YouOK,
We went through this decision.

I asked my Ds the Wincoll v Eton question (he is now at university and he was at Winchester )

He said, once you've decided whether you want to play rugby or not (you can't at Winchester) then it is simply which school feels more congenial and where you think you will be happy for 5 years. Winchester is unashamedly intellectual but they have great facilities & teaching for sport , music, drama , etc. That said, if you want to win every sporting trophy going in a 100 mile radius then try Eton or indeed Radley.

He also said if you are trying to decide which school based on on whether you have your own room in 1st year or are in a gallery , you might be missing the point. The details are less important than you might think. Each school has its own ethos and atmosphere and the main thing is where you think you will be happy. Both schools will get the best out of an engaged and motivated pupil.

I proffer this from DS who has all the wisdom of nearly 20 years old

[HPFA]

chameleon43 Thanks for confirming that the intention behind my post was clear I'm not quite sure why it was misconstrued. I don't doubt that extremely selective state schools get results that equal top public schools (it would be rather odd if they didn't!) but I just can't imagine that any state school could match what I see at Radley College in terms of facilities.

[chameleon43]

peteneras - are you really saying that you think I'm jealous because I don't have a QEB acceptance letter I can scan and link to? Wow. You know nothing about me or where my kids go to school.

Must be great being you, assuming that you are inherently superior to everyone else.

not only have you written tons of stuff about Eton (being fab) but you have written tons of stuff about Winchester (being crap) - and that doesn't position you well to give objective advice to the OP.

[peteneras]

What else do you think I’m saying, chameleon43?

Not only that you don’t have a QEB acceptance letter, you don’t have an Eton one either.

No, I know nothing about you except that I do know your kids don’t go to QEB or Eton. Maybe you could tell me us more by perhaps posting some evidence?

It’s blatantly obvious, isn’t it, in my tons of written stuff, what I think about Eton and conversely my thoughts on Winchester?

”. . . that doesn't position you well to give objective advice to the OP.”

And what possible advice do you think you can offer the OP?

In any case, I think OP has her mind fairly made up by now.

[peteneras]

HPFA, looking at your post again, I think both of us are saying the same thing. It’s just that your “I rather doubt this” bit earlier on misdirected me.

We both agree that state schools can beat public schools in academics.

But you rather doubt state schools can beat public schools in facilities which is in line with my saying, ”. . . maybe not to the extend and quality like those of premier public schools . . .” when referring to services/facilities.

[TortoiseVTurtle]

My ds is at a state school (I have a dd in private), just to comment on the trips that apparently cannot be done in the state sector. The trips this year are playing rugby in SA, trekking the Himalayas, three weeks in the Amazon and doing the Harvard United Nations conference next year.

There are multiple smaller geography and language course trips too - ds trekked across Finland on cross country skis doing winter survival earlier this year.

We live right next to Tonbridge school and the facilities are amazing, we use them and ds has lots of friends there.