Patrick's education

[thekumquat.livejournal.com]

Trying to write a fic inspired by some of the recent AO3 additions and a nitpicking community post that came up shortly after. I've re-read Peter's Room and AT, but can't find my copy of RAH.

Am I right that in RAH, Patrick has been dragged to interview at Broomhill and tutors have been suggested, but nothing is confirmed other than the plan to sit his O-levels that June, which will be the same time as Ginty?
Will he still be 16, or turned 17 by then?

Prior to that, he was at his hated London day school from some time after Falconer's Lure to December in Attic Term, so is that one year and a term, or two? I think it's two and a term, so he would have been just turned fourteen and entering third year mid-year? (UIV, as Kingscote and my school would have it)

Presumably he was at a boarding school before that? Would he have been at a prep and then a Catholic boarding school for one year age 13?

Meanwhile, Dartmouth for Peter has the problem of not existing by RAH - is there any mention of Peter doing O-levels there? I'd like to think they push him towards science and practical qualifications and generally not being on their boats, just designing them Somewhere Else. I'm assuming he's then one year behind Ginty and one ahead of the twins, education-wise.

I don't recall either of their birthdays, but have an impression Peter's is spring and Patrick's summer - anyone know?

Posted via m.livejournal.com.

Comments

[mheloyse.livejournal.com]

Am I right that in RAH, Patrick has been dragged to interview at Broomhill and tutors have been suggested, but nothing is confirmed other than the plan to sit his O-levels that June, which will be the same time as Ginty?

It hasn't been confirmed in RAH whether Patrick's Maths O Level paper will be accepted by the exam board (or if it is, whether he has passed). Broomhill will take him if he's passed; if not the plan is to send him to a crammer to retake it.

I can't recall Peter's O Levels ever being mentioned. According to Wikepedia, Dartmouth raised its leaving age to 16 in 1948, which was 3 years before O level exams replaced the former 'school certificate' so given that a universe in which anyone would take O Levels at Dartmouth is entirely hypothetical, I would say for fic purposes you have free rein to create it as you wish!

[thekumquat.livejournal.com]

Thank you. If Broomhill accept him, would he be embarking on A-levels early - presumably that was the system at the old place, do O-levels in December so Oxbridge Fourth Term exam entrance was in fact two years later and thus have kids an advantage. Or would he be doing other O-levels at Broomhill that academic year?

It was Dartmouth raising its entry age to 16, so Peter shouldn't be there even in canon, that I was thinking of. I figure the Marlowverse could have ended up with a version where the now-under-age pupils attend essentially a boarding school where Cadets is taken extra-seriously.

[mheloyse.livejournal.com]

The relevant bits in RAH are -

Nicola: You mean he's taking you?
Patrick: Well - that's not settled. If I've passed O-level Maths yes - on condition I junk the idea of A-level English and History [because the Broomhill head sees these as soft options]
Nicola: Blimey! What would you take instead?
Patrick: Languages? French and Italian, perhaps? [...]
Nicola: And suppose you haven't passed Maths?
Patrick: Then I have to take it again, but not at Broomhil - a crammer's or a tutor [to prove he has guts]

Patrick then points out that if he fails Maths on the second attempt, Broomhill is out & he would have a much better chance of being allowed to do English and History studying at home (which he said in a previous conversation he would ideally like to do). It's noted that Nicola takes it for granted he wouldn't deliberately fail in order to get what he wants. Patrick concludes that if he must go to another school, Broomhill "sounds more entertaining than most. I reckon I'd just about survive two years"

So yes, he can only go there if he already has his full complement of O-levels, to do A-levels in subjects approved by the Head.

Sorrow, I meant to say 'entry' rather than 'leaving' re. Dartmouth - I was typing just after coming back from a v. stressful day at work!