Hill House International - heard negative things?

[HippyMum23]

I'm considering sending DC to Hill House international in a couple of years time at 7+ and I was wondering if anyone could confirm / refute / give me more information on a number of negative opinions I have read on MN:

• The school does not give much 'value added'.
  
• The school is not good for 'sensitive types'.
  
• Pupils also receive a lot of tutoring, both external and privately from tutors.
  
• Some of the older teachers are old fashioned with a slightly 'children should be seen and not heard' attitude.
  
• Quality of teaching very variable depending on which teachers you get.
  
• The school does not give much feedback and discourages parental involvement.
  
• Provision for outdoor play and sports is poor.
  
• Pupils spend a long time being mini-bussed to sports / other venues.
  

Any other views / comments welcome!

[captainhotknife]

All of the above is TRUE! My child is there. Am looking to move him/her.
Pastoral care- zero!
Talk about Old School Parental involvement actively discouraged.
Recently had terrible results from an OFSTED emergency inspection relating to child safety/welfare.
I think they rely on the intake coming from abroad so they are not around to know about the school before they sign up.
Yes of course they get them into the so called GOOD schools afterwards and get good academic results. Is that because they concentrate on the academics too much at the expense of pastural care/doing anything arty/letting the children have play time, ever (they don't there is NO playtime)/ is it because if the children can't keep up academically they just have to leave? Yes

[HippyMum23]

Thanks so much for the response. Gosh, that's very interesting to hear that your child is there and you find it to be so terrible that you are moving them! That is so sad that they have zero pastoral care, and really terrible that children who can't keep up are asked to leave! I'm quite surprised to hear that there is little play / sports / arts.... Do they pretty much just make them sit in front of a blackboard and try to drum the information in to them?

Do you mind me asking what year or part of the school (junior, senior etc) your child is in?

Any tips for good central London Preps?

Thanks!

[sh77]

HippyMum I too was considering HH for Year 1 but the recent posts concern me. Can you get to Hampstead? If so look at The Academy School, Trevor Roberts and Hereward House - all small and nurturing. I spoke to someone (not sure if he was the head) but he was really lovely.

[Seriouslyffs]

The emergency inspection is here and criticises record keeping and lack of regular fire drills. Also that parents weren't contacted on the first day of absence which would be more of a concern if children were making their own way there.
My 3 children were very happy there and have gone on to very good secondary schools. I loved it; don't dismiss it until you've seriously considered it.

[sanam2010]

I don't see anything worrying in the "emergency inspection" at all, I get the impression the school is a bit old school and slightly annoyed with increased regulation / paperwork regarding fittings / fixtures / 100% attendance and the regulators are out to get them now. At most schools, because of government policy, parents get such a hard time if the child is ill a few times (and you can read many stories on mumsnet about it), so if the school is relaxed on the issue, to me that's a positive.

I know quite a few people who have their kids at the school and everyone I've talked to so far has been super happy and positive. I only ever read negative things on mumsnet. Am not too keen on their facilities myself, so probably wouldn't send my child there, but I find the stuff written about them on mumsnet quite different from what current parents tell me!

[soundevenfruity]

From a parent of a child who is currently at the school I know the school discourages tutoring and pushing comes mostly from parents. I think everybody is nervous as from reception to 7 is quite relaxed and then at 7 children are divided into groups according to their ability so patents tend to prepare for that. If they want their children to get through to Westminster.

[areyoutheregoditsmemargaret]

Honestly, I wouldn't go on the advice of strangers on the internet with who knows how many different requirements and agendas to yours. Visit the school and make your own decision based on your needs, combined with gut instincts. If I'd heeded mn verdicts on my dcs' past and current schools they wouldn't have gone and that would have been a mistake. My friends with dcs there are very happy with the school, dcs are happy too