St Alfred's School

[Sathas]

Hi there, I'd be really grateful for any feedback on this school. Generally seems to be some negative feedback on mumsnet, but so far I've been really impressed with the school and considering it for DS reception, at least through lower school. He is a bright sociable young boy, who we want to encourage academically but we also want him to grow and develop emotionally - which KAS seems to take into high regard. Thanks for your comments.

[RNBrie]

Do you mean King Alfreds rather than St Alfreds? Your thread title might not get the crowd you're after OP.

I went to KAS but that was a long time ago. I hear it's changed a lot in the last 20 years so I can't really comment. I liked it though!

[Sathas]

Yes sorry King Alfred's. It's been a long day. I do know which school I'm talking about honest :)
Thanks - good to know, would be interesting to hear how it has changed as they say it has the same style and philosophy it has always had!

[RNBrie]

I've just looked through the staff list and some of the teachers are stillthe same as when I was there. Amazing.

I heard it had shifted more towards academic success and less about development of individuals. But I honestly can't comment on that.

My parents sent me there as I was academically successful but didn't cope well with the social side of school. I was given a lot of support in the academic areas I excelled in, and was given lots of additional academic challenges. I don't think they helped much with my social awkwardness but at least I was in a more supportive environment than in a "mainstream" school.

I liked it and remember it fondly. I stayed all the way through to a leve

[curvyredmug]

Lots of celebs - Giles Coren's daughter has just started there. Has a reputation that you send your child there if they aren't likely to need to earn a living.....but that's hearsay, I don't know it first hand.

[HelenH9]

I have a friend who moved her child from KAs because said bright child was bored and not doing well in its unstructured environment. Was very behind academically but now much happier at a more traditional, though not too pushy, private school. You call the teachers by their christian names and when I went round it four years ago they made it clear they didn't do much sport except, if I remember, football (perhaps anti-competition?!) so suitability depends on type of child you have.

[SelfMedicateMum]

Just seen this discussion. No school is perfect. Depends what you see education as. King Alfred allows child to develop at own pace rather than hitting certain targets. It's nurturing. It is an idyllic setting. It's not results driven . It's play centric and it's non pressurised. I've seen some great kids come out of there ( non celeb, non rich, non elite) and I've seen some lazy,spoilt brats come out of there too.
But to be honest every school in North London ( private and State) has equally revolting negatives and some positives.
If you want to bask in your child being pushed and prepped for top results from Reception onward then KAS isn't for you. But if you want a confident, athletic, blue sky thinking kid that can think creatively and think problems through without parental control, then give it a go.
It's wonderfully European in its outlook on children and not got the Brit obsession with pushing and controlling all the way through to get 'results'.
Education is not a means to an end.