Winchester College - which house?

[firsttimemother]

I've looked through old threads but can't find any up-to-date info about the different houses. I'd be very grateful if a current Winchester College parent could have a chat with me (perhaps via a private message rather than the website) about the pros and cons of the different houses. We're finding it hard to choose one for our son and I need to send in the registration form.
Many thanks.

Have you met any of the HM's and or spoken to the admission dept? They usually ask you about your DS ad then advise you as to what houses to look at.

We were recommended two and have seen both housemasters and visited their houses. Just finding it difficult to choose as both seem lovely, so I would appreciate a bit more info on situation/facilities/reputation of the various houses.

Its very personal, we met three didn't like 1 and struggled to chose between the remaining two. Both were very different people, eventually we choose the one who'd been in the job the longest (1 was about to start the yr before DS arrived) but wasn't likely to leave before my DS did. I liked him as person, my gut feeling was that he would do an excellent job, and that the boys really were very important to him that he cared about them and would fight their corner, I was right.

Does that help?

firsttime I will pm you.

Thanks happygardening, it helps a bit but our problem is that both seemed good for different aspects, we didn't have a clear favourite.

IMO your not looking for an amusing dinner guest or a friend for your DS but someone who you trust to act on your behalf and preferably in a similar way you would. When you met them did you get the impression of authority, they do need to be in charge, but not IMO running a boot camp, you might not agree of course you might want a boot camp. Did the houses look immaculately tidy, or shabby but relaxed (I personally prefer the latter), what about the boys in the houses what did they think of the HM we learn a lot about ours when we ate with the boys.
Obviously you hope that your DS will have an untroubled time whilst at Winchester but without the benefit of a crystal ball you don't know what will happen. Ask yourself how do you think the HM's you met will behave if your DS is in trouble, sad, struggling with his work, if there's bullying going on in house etc. Could you talk to him about your personal life if you had too? Worse case scenario can you see yourself sitting there telling him your DH has run off who the milkman? How do you think he'd respond? Would he behave and act in a way that you would want him too?
My DS experienced a very significant and very sad event whilst at Winchester (no fault of the school). It hit him really badly. His HM was absolutely amazing he really supported my DS, he would have done anything to help him, he truly cared about him. When I first met him years before my gut feeling was that this would be the case, obviously we all hope we never have to find out if we're right but I was pleased to discover that I'd made the right choice. I personally think this is much more important than buildings or whether a house is considered musical or sporty.

How helpful Mumsnet is! Thanks so much to Wincollparent and Happygardening, I have taken in what you've both said and we've made our choice - in fact not the one I would have chosen straight after our visit, but I'm now sure it's the right decision. Thanks again.