Prince George at Eton

[squashyhat]

Can anyone explain why Prince George is boarding at Eton when the family home is just minutes away across the river?

Sounds like you had some amazing opportunities.

Is the argument here that students give talks at Eton when asked but not other schools?

Or that students from Eton receive replies to their inquiries where others do not?

Neither of these things is true.

Now we have a poster who shared they attended a talk at Eton while a student. So they open doors for others to attend these talks. (Maybe poster is an Eton alum, no idea.)

Well if anyone could let me know when Tom Hiddleston visits. I will be there in a flash! Assuming middle aged aunties are allowed to attend. ta

Indeed. They have several International schools and English Schools. Boarding is also popular with the natives. It was commonplace because for tribe children, distances were too far for day school. Until recently , there was no such regulation, but recently it became law . They do make exceptions. Children are still being boarded at 6 and even nursery if they are from tribes like the Hadza. Semi nomadic living in camps. Primary age starts at 7 but there is pre school for 5 and 6 yr olds. I was at Primary school when Tanganyika and Zanzibar became Tanzania. I remember it being part of one of our lessons. Govt used to send military out to round the children up and force them into the boarding school. Unsurprisingly, many/ most ran away back home

I attended a rough comprehensive in the 1980s. I was lucky to be academic enough to be in the top stream which contained pupils who were self-motivated and wanted to work. There were some excellent teachers there who went above and beyond, but also some who had obviously given up and were marking time to retirement.

I've been trying to remember if we ever had any external speakers come along - I do have a very good recall of my time at school - but I can't remember a single person coming in to talk to us, not even a non-famous ex-pupil. Those staff who cared were fighting a losing battle. We had pupils who left because they'd been sent to a young offenders' institution; girls getting pregnant as young as the 3rd year. Bullying was rife.

However, possibly unlike modern schools, there was never an illegal drug problem - smoking was turned a blind eye to as long as pupils were reasonably discreet about it, but it was only cigarettes which could be bought singly or in packets of 10 in those days, you were supposed to be 16 but most shops didn't; care.

It was a shame for those staff who cared and especially for pupils who were motivated but not academic enough for the top stream, whose classes were a farce due to constant disruption.

When OFSTED ratings came along some time after I'd left, the school went into 'special measures' and it closed not long after that.

The point I am rambling towards is that many state schools not in 'leafy areas' are left to rot, and that has been the case for at least 40 years, it's nothing new. We need more investment in getting people interested in that type of school, getting external speakers in even if they're successful but not famous, e.g. local business people.

Great post.

We need to pull all schools up rather than trying to pull any down.

Sending a child to boarding school at 7 or 8 may well be psychologically damaging.
Going at 13, not so much…

No I think you’re missing the conversation altogether. It was a conversation about the suggestion Etonian's are successful because they are taught to be indecent and do adult things themselves, like arranging talks from prominent people.

Indecent?

Independent

The thing is perhaps if there weren’t so many haters then Eton would sometimes put the talks online for all to access (depending on speaker preference that is). But recently there is so much social media derision and cancel culture it becomes difficult.
DD2 had an Oxford professor visit to do the admissions talk for her grammar, he tried to be as honest and helpful as possible as to the unis admissions policy but absolutely insisted he is not to be videoed.

Are we then arguing that they don’t teach this?
or that they shouldn’t?

Or that children at other schools can’t be successful when the curriculum encourages them the foment ideas, make plans and execute?

Do you not think the people running these programs laid groundwork to help it be successful?

Like no one ever called a prominent friend on behalf a a child and say “You’re going to get a letter. Could you please look out for it?”

or just that it’s easier to get a reply when Eton is on the letterhead and if so, what then?

I am spectacularly missing the point.

You are. Why don’t you reread the thread, the posts are all there and it’s only the last 2 pages

I asked because I have found them to be quite decent. Friendly, welcoming, kind and confidence was what I believe was behind it. Lacking in the reticence that I had as a child when meeting new people (mostly other children).

That's a lovely Freudian slip!

It was a shame for those staff who cared and especially for pupils who were motivated but not academic enough for the top stream, whose classes were a farce due to constant disruption.
When OFSTED ratings came along some time after I'd left, the school went into 'special measures' and it closed not long after that.
The point I am rambling towards is that many state schools not in 'leafy areas' are left to rot, and that has been the case for at least 40 years, it's nothing new. We need more investment in getting people interested in that type of school, getting external speakers in even if they're successful but not famous, e.g. local business people.
@SwanUpmanship

If there's one demographic that needs massive help, it's the 'pupils who were motivated but not academic enough for top stream'. My daughter was one of these and she just got ignored (well-behaved, tried her best, not the brightest).

When I was a teacher I tried my best for this group, but it's sometimes very hard when you have a large number of students who are disruptive for various reasons and many who have special needs in the class. It really used to keep me up at night thinking about it.

This group, I think, are very important in society and they deserve to be prioritised more. How to do it?

Sometimes I think schools should be selective on the grounds of motivation, not academic ability!! (Not entirely serious, but it's crossed my mind over the years).

I’ve read all of the posts. Piss on Eton. Piss on the wealthy. Piss on the Wales. This or that comment is this or that pejorative. Umbrellas. Jealousy.

I don’t get the point.

Encouraging independence is great and all schools should do it. Timmy the Plumber has as much to share as a speaker and maybe more as a wine enthusiast.

I went to a school in a very deprived area that was amazing with brilliant teachers.
The outstanding schools in the city I live are in deprived areas or very wealthy areas. In the middling areas there are none outstanding.

You asked what the argument was around teaching independence at eton. Read it or don’t, I don’t care.
But don’t keep asking others to explain if you can’t be arsed to check yourself.

You do recognize that you are not required to answer each post?

Eton is a full boarding school. It separates children from parents. So yes it teaches independence from their family.

All the stuff about writing to speakers and organising talks isn't that special. Boys at boarding school presumably don't regularly cook for themselves and their family, do laundry or care for younger siblings. The boys who went to boarding school who I met at university seemed pretty clueless about everyday household tasks.

@SwanUpmanship

We need more investment in getting people interested in that type of school, getting external speakers in even if they're successful but not famous, e.g. local business people.

This is also considered in my old school. I know two of the speakers as they were in my class at school. Both got written off by a lot of people - not academic, bit naughty, etc.

The guidance teacher helped them get work experience way back when it really wasn’t a thing.

Both have successful businesses and contribute to the community and to those who struggle at school.

They are inspirational.

Honestly having famous people visit schools, the type that visit Eton regularly, does make a difference.

I agree, and it's this group who in the present system would really benefit from private education - smaller classes and the absence of constant disruption, both high and low-level. They might not get into an extremely selective school such as Eton but there are many less high-profile private schools.

But private education is beyond the means of most. You'll always get people saying they can afford it because they don't have expensive holidays, cars, or some other 'sacrifice' - but the fees of private schools are more than the total net income of many households that are already going without luxuries. No amount of sacrifice is going to cut it, and if the child isn't academic enough to win a bursary, they have no chance.

There needs to be a way of bringing the some of the benefits of private education into state schools.

As an ex English teacher (er, my SPAG isn't always perfect, as you can see on here - please have mercy!)I suppose the common theme for what I've been blathering about is confidence in using the English language and interacting with other people from all walks of life. I think, with all the screens which dominate our lives now, and the texting etc, a lot of youngsters need much more support with speaking and communication skills - writing too, of course, but that develops from speaking.

It's something which less privileged students need huge support with and I think a vital life skill. There are all kinds of ways state schools can help, and are helping, with this.