Why is Prince George not going to secondary school until after he turns 13?

[MinnieMounjaro]

Prince William reveals Prince George, 12, is already boarding at £10,669-a-term Lambrook School mol.im/a/15846933 via https://dailym.ai/android

I saw this article in the DM saying Prince George is currently boarding at Lambrook "ahead of moving to his secondary school in September". He turns 13 in July so the thought occurred to me - why is he still in primary school? Should he not have started secondary in 2024 when he was 11?

Some people on MN don't have their DCs in private schools (gasp!) and so are unlikely to be familiar with the private school system. This might be shocking to some posters such as yourself, but it's true.

I didn't start grammar school till 13, it was a much better age to change schools I think. We then stayed at the same school for 6th form (round here almost everyone goes to 6th form college. Very few even stay in the private sixth forms)

But what did they think had happened? That his parents had just forgotten to send him to secondary, or he was kept behind?

Like you I am not a monarchist and one of the reasons I disagree with it as a concept is the way its members are both deified and vilified. I came across a YouTube video called "Princess Charlotte's Glow Up" which I watched in appalled fascination, she is a primary school girl ffs yet here was this video banging on about her hair and her "fashion choices" . When this lot get into their teens it is going to be insane, for all the protections that may have been factored in the media will be circling them like wolves.

Surprisingly enough, I wasn’t being entirely serious! 🤣🤣

Common Entrance takes place next week, with results the following Thursday. Good luck to all.

And why do we, forgive me, give a shit?

I’m one of those without a child in private school, but I do know I could look up the answer to this if I didn’t already know. It’s just an excuse to start a thread about a 12yo child (and discussing their younger sibling) and their education pathway.

It sounds like he flexiboards, which is where pupils are day pupils but can choose to occasionally stay over if they have play rehearsals, or matches, or school events.

He is posh and that's what posh kids do

Not just private. I went to state schools and did 5-9 first school, 9-13 middle school, 13 -18 high school.

I would imagine that it's George's own choice to board, so that he can get the benefit of all the activities, and spend time with his friends. Great for all children, but particularly for George as it will be a chance to get close to normality.

Depressing. I tell my kids they can be whatever they want to be and look forward to seeing what they choose to do. I can’t imagine having to tell them ‘You’re not going to be a police officer or a scientist or a teacher or a gardener or anything else. You’re going to spend your life shaking hands, opening hospitals and entertaining foreign dignitaries. With everyone watching and commenting. No, there is no choice’

But the same thing happened with William in the day. I’m surprised people are ignorant of it

Don't some state school systems in the UK still operate middle school systems for 9-13 year olds? Although I think it is becoming less common.

It's not just private schools - some counties operate 3 tier systems with kids attending middle schools for years 5-8.

It isn't a new thing - I'm sure they said George had started doing some nights of flexi-boarding when he was 11

If George went to school in London, he'd have to board as the family home is in Windsor, not London.

George doesn't actually have to board now. The school offers flexible boarding, whereby students can occasionally stay the night, usually it there's something on in the evening.
The way William mentioned it, it sounds like George only occasionally boards and the other kids may board every now and then as well.

It’s probably the nearest he gets to going on a sleep over at a mates house. OK for friends to stay over with the Wales, but the ramifications of him going to stay with his best friend must be a nightmare. At least Charlotte has the Phillips and Tindall girl cousins of more or less her age to chill out with, George and Louis are a bit deprived in the cousin department.

George did attend a London day school for 5 years (St Thomas, Battersea) and there were security breaches.

The state school system and the private school system differ a lot in their age breakpoints, OP.

State is 4-11 at primary, then move to secondary at 11. When going private, you go to secondary at 13, and before that is prep school.

Im starting to suspect he may not be going to the local comp.

Not all state systems - some local authorities still run well-established middle school systems

In some areas local authorities operate a 3 stage system
First school - 5-9
Middle school 9-13
High school 13-18

including getting up early to wake the Bishop with singing outside his house

Spiffing Fun.

Cos he's posh.