I read in the Telegraph (I know, I know, but bear with me) that there are a couple of websites with warts and all independent discussion of private senior schools...

[MintyDixCharrington]

but I cannot for the life of me remember what they are called, nor can I find the paper I read it in. Anyone have any idea? Not the good schools guide - more informal. I have a feeling one was called Peter something but I may have made that up.

Alternatively, I've been hearing some pretty hairy things about Marlborough College recently - anyone have any info about it?

Ta muchly

I have no idea but sounds very interesting and I will be watching this thread .

Here in Paris where insider information about schools is like gold dust because nothing is ever published, the best source we have come across so far is a very old and wise (semi-retired) child psychiatrist. She really knows her stuff, having seen children from all the schools worth thinking about.

I so wish I'd kept the paper
I thought I'd remember the site names
Have trawled through google with no luck!

bump for the lunchtimers!

When did you read this minty - yesterday, last week...

There are various groups on Facebook (not for the fainthearted).

no it was probably about a month ago
could have been ft
could have been times...
have trawled through all three sites until I'm blue in the face

no it wasn't the times. It was a broadsheet and the article was about a quarter page on the verso. and I'm pretty sure the page was white. Saturday telegraph, therefore...

my photographic memory only takes me so far

why don't you contact the torygraph, mintypeas?

oooooh
where effie where?
the article did talk about facebook and myspace but then had 2 sites of sort of independent discussion of schools, if you really wanted to know what was going on at eg sherborne or whatever. and apparently recent leavers were contributing too... oh poo. they sounded really interesting

do you think I could tutter? wouldn't I sound like a madwoman? hmmmmm

Could one of them be that site where you can rate the school and the teachers, that MB has spoken about on here?

There's I Went to a Proper Public School or similar. Full of, er, interesting types. DH knows lots about this - will try and get some info

oh thanks effie, would be v interested to see what he comes up with

no rate my teacher isn't really what I want although I think that was mentioned in the article as well...

There is Schoolsnet but that covers independent and state schools. You have to register to use it.

thre is of course this

www.crappublicschools.org/

maybe not quite what you're looking for

Was this the article? Links to crappublicschools but also mentions the facebook community thingies

you got there before me Shreddies

DH suggests this may be it:

www.tatler.co.uk/Schools/2006/

I think I live in the same county as you Minty and to be honest I have heard pretty hairy things about MC all my life!

It has never had a great reputation locally, I always thought people with more money than sense sent their children there... or people who put tradition and reputation above all else..

Have you ever walked around Malborough at the weekend? I would really recommend it, you will learn an awful lot.

Did you ever go and look at D? As I think I have said before if we were staying here we would definately be sending DD there, but as we are moving up north it is not an issue for us, but have certainly been impressed with the number of decent, intelligent, respectful teenagers I have come across that go or have been to D...

the Tatler schools guide is always worth a squint as well. Quite unvarnished.
(2007 edition now out, Effie)

ah I was relying on DH's link. Will rap across knuckles and advise to check date next time

think Facebook shows there are a lot of hideous public school graduates out there. Personally, most people I know who went to a public school hated it. The ones who enjoyed it aren't really my type. The exception, oddly enough, is St Paul's, but that's a day school so perhaps different rules apply?

day schools utterly different
ditto London schools

no not that article, no not tatler (!), not schoolsnet -

it sounded a bit like mumsnet but about schools (if that doesn't sound horrific. which it does!)

never mind

I know Heifer, saturday afternoon in pizza express is pretty revealing isn't it...! I do keep hearing awful things but then I think "well, it is so close, how bad can it be" but I must just snap out of that sort of wishful thinking...!
Must go and look at D. StMC is currently frontrunner but C is such a dump and it is v small

aurghghgh

a day school in london is a bit tricky for someone who lives 2 hours drive away though...

I know really
was just saying it's a very different experience
much harder to go out on the lash in Camden or Islington on your half-day if you're proper rural...