Too Poor for Posh School

[SebbysMum]

Anyone want to watch this with me? That first little boy was so sweet

Not being able to afford £28K per year for one childs education = poor for this program.

I am officially poor.

My ds has just been votedmost stylish in yr 11 what do you think of that?

Gramercy- I think Krishna's mum is a social worker and his dad unemployed. They live in a one bedroom flat! Yet he already attends private school!!!

They also moved from Australia for the 'educational opportunities' here. Despite this, his mum is lovely and seemed pretty chilled!

It's not Krishnan or Krishna, it's Krishan [pendant emoticon].

Just watching this now.

Programmes like this make me said, because they illustrate so well the social divisions in Great Britain. I work with a lot of people who come from backgrounds like that (i.e. wealthy background, good school) and it really does feel sometimes like they come from a different plant.

What a shame that only a third of the boys were focused on.

"It's a great opportunity yes and very happy for the children. But I get the impression on here that the very very brightest do mostly make it to Oxford via the state system or private. So it's not hugely life-changing in all cases perhaps. "

I imagine Harrow has the edge on a state school route to Oxford though, because of the networking and contacts that it confers. The pupils are largely sons of powerful, rich and influential men (or women, but lets face it, mostly men) who can make 'stuff happen' - quite useful to be buddies with those families via Harrow, so that you can call upon those connections when required in later life.

I could of course be talking out of my arse being a state educated prole...but I gather that is how it works

I think the annual speeches are fair enough. If I was bunging a shed load of wonga at these boys to personally finance their education, I'd expect a bit of ego-flattering sycophantism too

HMC, are you Peter Beckwith?

Rofl, sadly not - wouldn't mind his money and lifestyle though

Glad you enjoyed watching me headmaster!

Roughdiamond1- I wondered that too. There were 11 boys in total weren't there? Did they film them all, then show the footage of the 3 that won the places?
I'd be interested to know.

I assumed that the boys they filmed were the ones whose parents gave permission. I should think most parents wouldn't give permission, either becuase they wouldn't like the extra pressure, or becuase it would blow the anonymity of the scholarship boys should they be accepted.

I absolutely adored Krishan, what a superstar.

I also admired the blonde lad, seen briefly discussing the concept of beauty in terms of a swimmer finding water movements beautiful. Stone me - I'm 38 and intelligent, I couldn't have come up with that one.

I laughed my head off about Alex refusing the place and considering other options. What a world we live in. Absolutely brilliant wee film, I loved it.

I think they showed so much of Krishan (than even the other two they focused on) because he seemed by far the most interesting. Like a 40 year old in the body of a ten year old. Even his language sounded so middle aged and old fashioned . I think he'd do very well at Harrow, he was so wonderfully confident and self assured. At first he sounded fake to me, but only because you don't see that kind of behaviour in a ten year old!

I wanted to hug Tumi when he was stumbling at the interviews. Poor lad, it's so much pressure for such little boys.

Nuhman (was that his name?) didn't seem very academic. Seemed like it was all the father's pushing there. I knew he'd blown it when he was asked why he wanted to go to Harrow and he answered with "My dad says...". And he said he was reading George's Marvellous Medicine, contrast that with Krishan's choice of books!

I felt for Tumi too, but the teachers would know how hard it would be for such a young boy to speak freely to strange adults and take that into account.

His slight reticence in interview certainly didn't take the shine off - they knew he had the right stuff.

So it's purely coincidental that 3 out of the 4 boys who were filmed, happened to win places? The remainder of the 11 that were not filmed, did not get any offers.
Every year, 2 bursaries are available. This year, an exceptional third place was offered to.... yes: another being filmed!

They filmed all the boys whose parents gave consent and then edited the footage, taking into account who won, who was interesting etc. Many hours of, mostly boring, footage was made into an excellent film.

Just watched it and thought Krishan was lovely and definitely Harrow material through and through. Don't know about the choir boy as they did not focus on him much (found out why at the end).

I do not think Tumi was exceptional enough to get in (especially to have an extra place created for him) - he did not seem to shine at all during the debate/interviews and even when he was filmed around his family. His violin playing, whilst better than Numan (what a joke) was not easy on the ear. Wouldn't say that to his mum though (scary).

This may sound contraversial but I think that was pc gone mad making sure offers were made to one of each race (wonder if that would have happened if cameras were not rolling).

controversial - sp!!

I would think that all eleven finalists were super bright and any two would probably fit in fine. (although Krishan was exceptional). So you could be right about being pc electo.

I was interested that Krishan was at private school. I wonder if any of the others were?

Electro - sorry

Havent scanned through all posts so apologies if I am duplicating but you would have thought Tumis mum or someone who cared about him had got him to do his buttons up properly in the morning! sweet boy.

Krishnan should thrive at Harrow and good luck to him. Tumi may struggle a bit but being good at Maths may mean he is pointed more in that direction. The other little boy was well out of his depth and I hope he enjoys his Grammar school.

Ordinary fee payers do have to jump through hoops. Even ordinary public schools require an entrance exam and an interview with the headmaster.

A friend of mine's little boy (privately educated) was recently turned down at interview by Eton because they through he was too shy so he got packed off to Oundle instead. Money didn't come into (plenty available).

Oh, I'm worrying about Tumi again...someone reasure me he'll be OK.

I am assuming that as Harrow starts at 13 the scholarship funds 2 years in a prep school prior to entry. That should give Tumi time to adjust.

I'd be interested in a follow up programme in a couple of years.