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Eton or Winchester

Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:34 am
by tipsy
I have a very nice dilemma. My son has been offered places at Eton and Winchester and I have no idea which one to chose.
I've heard that Winchester has the best academic educaton, but Eton could set you up for life (career-wise) with so many high-flying social contacts.
Is beng and Etonian a mile-stone around your neck or would any boy that passed the exam to Eton but was sent elsewhere always wonder with regret what it would have been like to go to Eton. I really could do with some advice as I've seen both and not had a gut feeling either way about which one he shoud go to. Thanks. :roll:

Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:06 am
by katel
I personally wouldn't touch either of them with a barge pole. But that's just me - good luch to your ds.

Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:34 am
by hermanmunster
Hi Tipsy

Hope you get sorted - though not sure that you will get much advice on the forum here at the mo !!

I think you will have to go on what you think is best for your DS rather than what sort of contacts / future it will give them.

I know of people who have been to both and liked them and others who have hated them. Things also change over time.


Which does DS like - in the end that might be the best way of deciding - (all other things being equal.....)

Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:39 am
by katel
Which one will your suit your DS best? Where will he be happy?
Don't think about future contacts/careers.
What are his interests/strengths? Which school is the best match here?
Are you (forgive the impertinence) on a bursary or full fees? If a bursary, which one will you be able to keep up with financially in terms of extras, trips, his expectations?
What is the policy on bullying?
Same as choosing any school really.

Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:53 am
by katel
I would pay particular attention to the bullying policy - a lot of independent schools claim not to need a policy because they have no bullying.

Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 11:00 am
by tipsy
Thanks for all the advice. I have gone over these questions in my mind everyday - much to the annoyance of my hubby who's getting bored now! My son is (not to boast) very bright and I know there would be very like-minded children at Winchester, however he can be a little boffin-like and I think Eton may give him greater social skills. He actually wants to go to Eton. I never went to private school, and I suppose I over-compensated by sitting him for the most famous and most academic boys school. I'm just not sure what I view as the most important, academic or kuodos. I know thats an elitist statement, but I'm no snob having grown up in a council estate. We will have to pay full fees, and thats another reason I want to get it right as never having been to private school the thought of paing these fees makes me ill - but I'll do it anyway!

Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 11:05 am
by hermanmunster
Tipsy - academic or kudos ?????

academic anyday !!!! School full of kids there because their parents can afford it and they like the social cachet is a nightmare!!!

Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 11:14 am
by tipsy
Very true although because Eton is so big it has 1/5 of boys on means-tested scholarships whereas Winchester does not have the money to offer many scholarships so most kids pay full fees there. It may be there are more kids like my son at Eton, believe it or not! Regarding academics Winchester came second in the FT league tables and Eton came 3rd. 30% from Winchester went onto Oxbridge with 37% going from Eton, so although Winchester takes a higher number of brighter boys there isn't much in it. I am soooooo confused. :?

Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 11:31 am
by zorro
Where do you live? Will your DS be a boarder?
My son is starting at an independent school in Sept and what worries me is that lots of kids will be better off than us. My daughter's friend went to an independent last year , had a classmate to tea and the girl said to my daughter's friend "Isn't your house small?". My daughter'd friend lives in a huge 6 bedroom house in a gated estate!!!!
We live in a typical 3 bed detatched house so perhaps ours will be compared to a shed!!
Ah well hope he will realise that it's not what you've got but having a loving and secure background that's important.
I think you have to take the above issue into account when choosing an elitist school like Eton or Winchester.

Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 11:38 am
by melinda
Hi Tipsy,
Having read your question re Eton or Winchester I would go with what your son wants. He is bright, as you say, so he would have had a feeling of what he liked when he visited the schools. You also should consider the distance he has to travel to either school and where his friends would live, although I would guess they go to these schools from all over the country!
You are in a nice position to have this choice and to be able to afford the very high fees. You obviously want the best for your son as we all do, but let him be involved in the final decision.
Good luck with the choice, I doubt in the long run it will make much difference which one you choose as regards education.