George going to Marlborough? Article linked.

[Greatballzoffire]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12872215/William-kate-snub-eton-george-marlborough-college-second-visit.html

Exactly. He does not need to be ' intelligent' or anything above average or even average. What he will be doing is not of any great consequence. It is ceremonial and he will be doing it regardless of exam grades. He doesn't need to be pushed at Eton or to go to a school he may not be suited to. Even his brother and sister will either be able to walk into a job or be ' working Royals '. For most I dont think inate intelligence matters as much as work ethic and a desire to better yourself. None of the RF have any need to strive to reach their full potential or work for anything because its handed to them on a plate. I think very few of them, like Prince Philip and possibly Charles learn for learnings sake but most of the rest don't have to, so don't.

Not having a conscience is another Royal attribute. Knowing that there are working families who are struggling in poverty but you're always live in a castle and have loads of land for just being born.

“Knowing that there are working families who are struggling in poverty but you're always live in a castle and have loads of land for just being born.”

There are plenty of rich kids around who will have it far easier than Prince George. He doesn’t get a choice regarding his future role. So I think he should get a choice where he goes to school. Besides, I doubt it would harm eg Eton, Marlborough or Wellington from a marketing perspective to have him there. He should be allowed to go to any school that would enable him to thrive and can ensure his safety. Let’s not pretend that everyone at any of these schools is a genius. Oxford and Cambridge are an entirely different kettle of fish with a huge workload. However, at places like Eton Cat scores of 115 to 141 will be the norm. 115 being a bit above national average, but quite ok to cope and be happy at such a school. It is just that a whole lot of kids apply at 11 plus who have had years of tutoring which inflates their ISEB grades so it looks like most are 125 plus.

The constant banging on about how Eton would say no to him is quite astounding. The way I read it is that the parents may have insisted he is treated like any other child so that the process itself will inform the right fit for their child.

I would have thought that Eton might be a good fit because it is quite ceremonial as well and that there may be other kids there of a similar background. The same may be true for Wellington and Marlborough these days, I don’t know. I have heard those schools are more bling/more celebrity kids but I don’t know. Wellington is definitely quite academic and also offers the IB. The head of church aspect may also be a consideration.

Ultimately, we taxpayers will all be paying for George's schooling, so we are all entitled to have our say on it!

Taxpayers pay for most children's schooling, however, it's always the parents' decision.

Knowing that there are working families who are struggling in poverty but you're always live in a castle and have loads of land for just being born.

You could say that about loads of people.

We don't pay for private schooling!

Parents using state schools don't always get their choice of school; and the taxpayer is getting something in return for state school funding in the form of an educated population who will keep society going in the future. We'll see no return on the royals' schooling which will run into the millions by the time all three have completed their education.

@ANightingale . Of course. However, you said that we should choose George's school because we pay for it. I'm just pointing out that we pay for most schooling and have no say. That's all.

@Maireas Yes, I'm pointing out I wouldn't expect a say in someone's state schooling because even the parent doesn't always have a say.

But in a hypothetical situation where I was really rich and offered to pay for the private schooling of, say, my nephew, I'd expect to make some contribution to the discussion about where he was going to be educated.

So you'd pay for your nephew and expect a say, over and above the parents?
I'd tend to leave it to them, really..

Not over and above - I said 'a contribution' to the decision. If I were going to do such a thing, I'd do some research before broaching the subject and come up with some suggestions that were within my budget and that were for schools that seemed to have a decent ideology.

Mmm...I still think I'd leave it to William and Kate. They know their son and am sure will take sound advice.

The constant banging on about how Eton would say no to him is quite astounding

He should be allowed to go to any school that would enable him to thrive

However, at places like Eton Cat scores of 115 to 141 will be the norm. 115 being a bit above national average, but quite ok to cope and be happy at such a school

The way I read it is that the parents may have insisted he is treated like any other child so that the process itself will inform the right fit

Araminta1003 these points are all linked. But as an aside, I don't see how you can characterise the mooting of the very obvious possibility that George hasn't got through the first round for Eton as 'banging on'. To me what's astounding is the outraged response.

I think you're correct that the parents at least wanted to affect that they've insisted that George be treated in the selection process like all the other applicants but that very public line may well have blown up in their faces. Or it may be that they've accepted it with equanimity not known to be the usual style of the father who seems to have inherited the stinking pen tantrum trait from Charles. Or perhaps George will roar through the selection test legitimately despite the promise of his genes. Endless permutations. If he hasn't passed the first round then he must be quite some distance off the 115. Borderline and I would have thought even with the current HT there might be some wriggle room at least to go forward to the second stage. But it would certainly be interesting (to me) if a member of the rf is told no - a first.

Again, why is there an assumption that George hasn't passed the first round or is it pure speculation?

I am sure the RF aren't ever going to release his CAT scores or what offers he did or didn't get.

I believe the looking around schools is very much being framed as a private family matter and it really isn't of any public interest. Well obviously people are interested but it isn't anything the public has any right to know in detail about.

Or maybe his parents genuinely want the best for him, and don't have hang-ups about Eton being the be-all-and-end-all.

That there are a number of options, with varying positives and negatives. The parents may also have personal preferences about how close the school is, whether full/weekly/occasional boarding is offered etc etc and no doubt have discussed those with George, and taken advice from his current school etc

Speculation about a child being 'anxious' (yes, it is a negative as it is a mental health issue, unlike being 'reserved' or 'thoughtful') and lacking intellectual ability is rather unpleasant.

I believe the looking around schools is very much being framed as a private family matter and it really isn't of any public interest. Well obviously people are interested but it isn't anything the public has any right to know in detail about

Totally agree. Which is why the Daily Mail was briefed with the article in the OP....

Although any demand for CAT scores would be insane. I think we can all draw conclusions from where the child eventually goes to school, not that that matters a fig in itself because he has no constitutionally sanctioned role which requires any intelligence let alone average intelligence/ CAT score of 115 and he will never need to compete for a job.

But you know, basically shut up about being relatable. Also get a decent PR team because the current one is pretty rubbish. Although its blunders are amusing to the common man on the Clapham omnibus.

What a strange suggestion - that their choice of school tells us whether George is/isn't intelligent. Unless a child has SEN then any decent school would meet their academic needs, so the choice of school will be down to other considerations - geographical closeness, boarding options, extra-curricula on offer, ethos etc

But it would certainly be interesting (to me) if a member of the rf is told no - a first.

David Linley - now Snowdon - was told no by Eton though I don’t know if you consider him to be a member of the Royal family.

Not a front line member no.

Weirdly enough we sent DD to a (state!) school that was not fashionable in our area, because we thought it would suit her better than the 'Outstanding' school that is the local over subscribed school. Shocking behaviour to go for a less prestigious school!

And yet she has thrived, for the reasons we thought she would. It was the right school for her interests and strengths. Nothing to do with a lack of 'intelligence', and everything to do with her personality and interests.

I assume George's parents have a similar perspective

At birth David Linley was 5th on the LOS , moving to 6th when Edward was born and I am pretty sure he remained 6th until Peter Phillips was born . So he was well up the LOS when he was turned down for Eton .

He was the eldest child of the "spare" of the day, so equivalent to Archie.

Where George ends up is, I think, a valid point of public interest.

What family, character and attainment/potential went in to that decision is not, it's just something the public are curious about.

And we have no idea how he did in the tests, nor which schools were preferred by each parent or by George himself, so I think assuming his numeric level based on which schools he was seen touring and when is really unfair

I mean obviously I’m aware that he was Margaret’s son. He has never been pushed into the spotlight and therefore, imo, isn’t front line. Irrelevant if he’s fifth in line - it ain’t ever going to happen. Seems much less of a twerp than some higher up the line and laudably creative. But very minor that he didn’t get into Eton.

Edith it’s been quite clear that Kate and William expected him to go to Eton so if he doesn’t we can draw our own conclusions. No amount of bullshit briefing will persuade any remotely switched on person otherwise. The only important point being the bullshit, not where the kid goes, because as has already been said, he has an incredibly nominal role in our society. Just a shame that his family choose to fiddle with legislation and to avoid lots of taxes.