Is Westminster School the best school on Earth? STATESMOM returns

[statesmom]

I have a lot to say, don't know if anyone remembers the thread. Let me know if you want to hear from me.

"A huge focus on GCSE and A-levels"
Errr.... that's the whole point of the English education system - whether you are at a state school or a private one.

Yes I am only too well aware of that, believe me.

A school like Westminster should have dumped A levels and GCSEs a long time ago, like Latymer is planning to do.

These national exams are highly prescriptive and the kids are basically memorizing scripts. There is so much more that they could be doing with their time. Westminster of course goes beyond the curriculum, but not far enough.

These exams are made for the masses, to get some standardization, I get that. But highly academic schools like Westminster or Winchester are simply being lazy by following them, instead of boldly designing their own courses of study.

I mean, in geography they are still studying OS maps, bearings and other useless subjects. The last person to use bearings was a ship captain in the 1700s. How many times have you looked up and said, "Is that relief rainfall or convectional rainfall?"

I thought we were going to a super elite academic institution. We did, to an extent, but one that was hamstrung by the laziness of the adults running it.

You seem very angry. You're very critical of the UK. Is this misplaced? Is your anger best directed at the "lazy adults" who you feel were inadequate? Perhaps you could push Westminster for a refund.

@statesmom Oh well. You didn't like the school. Never mind. Your son is where you want him he wants to be now.
Could have been worse.
He could have ended up at Oxford or Cambridge....😱

Completely baffling that anyone would need to have this pointed out to them.

The entrance to Oxford and Cambridge, like all UK universities, is on merit alone, though @Needmorelego .

That should have been a quote of this comment.

@KatyaKabanova is it? I wouldn't know. I never went to university.
Why do schools make such a big deal about A-level results then? Maybe the (slightly odd) OP is onto something.......

Sorry, to be clear, I was agreeing with your point!
A levels get you into university which opens more doors. I'm really not completely sure what the OP's issue is. Probably short changed by Westminster School?

OP has very different values to anybody I have ever met - with her money driven, status heavy, superior, grand-standing bluster, completely detached from the real world. I would never want to be a part of that regime; sounds exhausting.
What do you do for fun OP? Dish out the 'I'm so much better than you are' to all around you at your exclusive parties

Really? Groceries, rent and utilities seem a lot more. Groceries everything seems to cost double? https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=United+States]]

it’s similar prices in the USA to Canada and DD’s Canadian boyfriend loves coming to the uk as he says everything is so much cheaper. But yes he’s shocked at the low wages. But if wages were higher, prices would be higher.

i know when holidaying in the USA I’ve been shocked by food prices. Starbucks, etc all costs more.

I wouldn't send him again as I would send him to a boarding school, so much more opportunity at the top ones.

2 other points on the school:

1. They claim to have a "boarding ethos" which is why they have Saturday school. There is no "boarding ethos" and Saturday school is a waste of time for all concerned. They are the only kids on the tube or in cars on a Saturday morning to go to listless lessons where everyone is going through the motions.
2. I'll come back to the point I made about money and US universities. Westminster's endowment is about £20 million. This is scandalous for a school refounded 500 years ago. It has been criminally managed and its endowment should be in the hundreds of millions. This lack of money leads to poor quality facilities and opportunities.

Best thing about the school is its history. My son loved going to Abbey twice a week and the events they had there were great for the parents.

I know this makes you feel better about yourself, but I come from a very humble background. Is my family well off now? I suppose so, but it depends upon to whom one compares oneself. But my hubby and I worked for it and do not apologize for the opportunities we have given our children.

But, if it makes you feel better, do feel superior to me. I love it!

Have you been tested for psychopathy, OP?

Westminster has some boarders and the other schools like Eton and Harrow and Winchester are very much adding something more. I think the huge variety of opportunities at these schools are there to be grabbed. My DD boarded and we saw boarding as a rounded education and we hoped for the best regarding uni. However we aren’t fiercely competitive parents! I would say most schools strive to add music, drama, sport, clubs, visits and all sorts of activities such as MUN, debating, great art etc to the standard curriculum.

From other posters on MN, dc at Westminster seem to value grades and hard work. Fair enough. My DD liked top grades and fun. So some schools wouldn’t have suited! A school doesn’t have to be a sausage factory but tiger moms want this, don’t they? If dc party, so what? It’s what makes some tick and probably a release. Without it you’d go mad. Plus, in general, the Chinese work hard in these schools. That’s up to them but again, parents expect this and dc don’t disappoint. In many schools they bump up results. Hardly a new revelation.

The op never mentions friends and fun. My DD gained this from school and still has very close school friends 12 years on. I get the impression that the op doesn’t value this because it’s all me, me, me and complaints. A bit sad really!

You kidding? Merit alone? Define merit

OP what would you say to your son if he told you he wanted to be a teacher or nurse?

Both professions are incredibly important but underpaid (considering their contribution to society as a whole).

Would you tell him you were disappointed in him? Would you feel disappointed?

Would you tell him he had wasted the money you invested in his education? Would you feel he had wasted it?

Or would you support him and be proud of his decision to choose a job that helps people?

@mupersum1 You know the answer to that! Could you imagine the ructions in her house?

Oh dear God, a test. I hate testing on here. I'm bound to fail 😂

Let’s just say the unis test and evaluate and it’s their view of merit! Leave it at that. No one else’s counts!

Despite all of the petty jealousy and sanctimony manifested on this thread by insecure mothers, I am just like anyone else. I would guess that 90%+ of mothers on Earth want one thing for their children and that is happiness.

So, it's kind of a weird question you give me. Why would I care if he wants to be a school teacher?

But, in any case, he wants to be an investment banker and has a job offer in the six figures. He'll be 22 and is a happy, intelligent and cultured young man with friends all over the world, a few I reckon will be lifelong.

So was it all worth it? The tutors, the late nights, the clubs, the camps, the counsellors, the internships inter alia?

Yes.

it’s their view of merit

How is it different from US university

It wasn't a weird question and your answer is totally disingenuous. After having spent all that money because you put a high value on jobs that pay a lot of money, you clearly would not be happy if he ended up teaching in a state school.

So, it's kind of a weird question you give me. Why would I care if he wants to be a school teacher?

I thought you might care because you seem so focused on him being financially successful that I was interested in how you'd feel if he picked a job that wasn't highly paid but was a vocation and a great contribution to society.

You haven't really answered, you've just said he wants to be an investment banker.

My question was if he did want to be a teacher or nurse, would you have been disappointed or would you still view the tutors, late nights, camps, counsellors, internships and financial investment as worth it?

Sorry @Whatevers but you are entirely wrong. Every single boy at kings takes French gcse. The difference may be that 3/4 of them do it a year early. That cohort all typically gets 8s and 9s (hence doing it early in year 10) so allowing the boys to take up an extra gcse (so the majority of boys do 11 GCSEs each at a minimum) come their gcse year. Just thought I’d clear that up.

done a comparison of 8s and 9s at each of the top schools but hoping you can share yours given you must have done one. As you say, I expect the differences are minimal.

but bottom line is Westminster is not the best school acc to the league tables.