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Anyone know about Kings Wimbledon?

9 replies

juliet123 · 07/02/2008 22:08

Hi, I am trying to find a school to move my son to, the prospectus for Kings ticks all the boxes but I need to know what it's really like. My son is very bright, he skipped a year in September and he's at the top of his class, sometimes does work for the year above. He's also very eccentric and a bit of a philosopher, he's got too much emphusiasm and needs staff that are supportive and understanding. He has problems with other children and can annoy them with the things he does or says. I don't know anything about how the school can cater for these children except for what they say. Do you know if they make the children feel valued and do they listen to them? My son likes to talk about things and we've been to visit a few private schools where they have not had the time for him and have been very abrupt. I know that they do scholarships and bursaries but does anyone know if they are hard to get? It's really stressful trying to find somewhere for him. Any help would be really gratefully appreciated. Thankyou.

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controlfreakyagain · 07/02/2008 22:11

sorry. am expert on boys schools... but in north london.
hope someone more helpful comes along.

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GrinningSoul · 07/02/2008 22:11

I've no experience of Kings - other than hearing that it is pretty academic, but i visited the Hall school, wimbledon a few years ago and really warmed to it. it seemed to be the kind of place that might suit your son. good luck.

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MAMAZON · 07/02/2008 22:14

Kings has an excellent reputation both for acedemic standards and its student care.

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roquefort · 07/02/2008 22:15

I know a little about it as son applying for 13+. What age is your son - what age are you planning to move him?

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juliet123 · 07/02/2008 22:27

He's 8, will be 9 in April. He's due to leave his school next september so will be 10 and a half needing a year 7 entry. I have to find him somewhere that has a junior school in case he needs to go back to his age group which rules out alot of the other schools, he does not want to move at 13 and does not want to board. I just need to know how much they encourage individuality and can manage his inquisitive and often draining personality. I took him to have a look at several schools, he's a good tester of staff as he mucks around when he's bored, you can tell how patient they are. His school does not have any financial help so I'm scrimping and saving to pay his fees. I really need a school that can help him and offers busaries/scholarships. Do you think I'm asking too much?

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mimsum · 07/02/2008 23:00

Whitgift in south Croydon has 10+ and 11+ entry - they have generous bursaries and scholarships and have lots of experience with quirky bright boys, some of whom are diagnosed with asd type disorders and some who're just quirky

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juliet123 · 07/02/2008 23:15

I'll have a look at that, thankyou.

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procrastinatingparent · 07/02/2008 23:19

Not much help but I worked there for a term a few years ago and I was very impressed with the rest of the staff and the head. Professional, friendly, interested in the boys. I also liked the boys, and thought that you didn't need to be a conventional rugby type to fit in - good at art, music, etc. I'd send my son there I think - if I had the money, which I don't. There are bursaries around - if they want you badly enough they can always find the money.

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juliet123 · 07/02/2008 23:39

The money's not too much of a problem. i've spent the last 4 years living off nothing so a few more won't make much of a difference. I should finish my MSc in september so I'm hoping I'm employed by the time he starts. He's just really hard to place as he's a bit on the mad professor side. He told me tonight that as no one is able to confirm charles darwins theory of evolution he does not think that it should be used as the truth. The world according to Joe: the earth was created by a giant turtle who was playing with a strip of wall paper. He stood on the wall paper, making holes which made the seas. He then scrunched the paper into a ball and made the earth. All of the spaces without holes became land. He then moulded people and animals out of the stars, then he exploded. It was this release of energy that made the sun. I kid you not. Left me speechless. I just need to find somewhere that has knowledge of planet Joe and has the patience of a saint. The academic stuff just stops him getting bored.