Hi stressed2009!
If your son needs an academic, competitive, regimented environment, with a clinical focus on exam success, this school will work for him. The rugby, swimming and water polo can also help when the testosterone rush comes, as it surely will. ?. But it's their way or the highway, it really is. There is an extreme obsession with Academic and University Entrance League Tables.
And, yes, they reselect in Year 11 for A levels. This is based on their observations up until then and several tests per subject. They only ?offer? A levels where they judge that an A* or A grade is likely and predictable. GCSE performance, according to predicted or actual grades, is irrelevant to this evaluation. This cull rejects some 40 boys out of the Year 7 intake of 180, that?s approaching 30%. Many rejected boys nevertheless go on to become successful Doctors , Lawyers, etc via other schools. You can guess what these young men think of QE Boys.
The school will not support any University Application against its own wishes. e.g. If a boy wants Medical School and the school recommends Biology, the school will predict A grades for Biology but not for Medicine. So the boy will have to leave in the middle of A Levels or, generally, wait for his A grades, prove them wrong and then apply during an enforced gap year. We know some boys who were forced to do this and succeeded, but lost a year along the way. (They did not need QE Boys? support on predicted grades when then had their actual grades. ?. Needless to say, the school still claimed credit for their A Level grades and their University Entrance success, in its publicity and its League table figures!)
I know lots of families which targeted QE Boys and now send them there. They are content overall; they have a pragmatic, competitive approach to getting in and to staying in. Many families also feel they should not speak openly about certain aspects of Q E Boys? culture and practices.
I also know some who refuse to even apply. One recently chose Latymer (Edmonton) instead, even though QE Boys is closer and easier to get to.
Where do you live? ? Commuting might also be an issue to consider.