Hampton prep & pre-prep: Do most families live close by?

[bhnyc77]

Hi,

Our 2 boys will be starting at Hampton Pre-Prep in September (yr 1 and KG). We live in Teddington and really enjoy the community, including the other families on DS' reception class at Collis.

Does anybody have any insight into (i) to what extent families live locally (ie Hampton), and (ii) if there tend to be children from Teddington at the school.

We did consider Newland House, which is more local to us, however though Hampton to be a better fit for our boys.

Any thoughts/ insight would be much appreciated!

[mikkii]

I have a friend whose DSZ attends this school, they live inSunbury, we live in Hampton and my Zdc attend schools in Sunbury and Twickenham. It isn't far for them to visit friends.

[Lottothink]

Hi .. we are planning to move to Teddington and even though we were thinking of private schooling in Kew we started to think about state in primary due to community and the good things we heard about Collis . I will start a new tread but you mentioned private route and Collis so it would be great to hear your views please. We can move to Twickenham or near school once choose it but we fell in love with Teddington . If we choose private I would be asking the same questions. I am looking for co-ed at primary and considering also Newland. Do you think there are more pupils from Teddington go there ?

[448teatime]

Newland's catchment is several miles including coming over the bridge from Surrey. Twickenham Prep (mixed Prep based in Hampton) has a wide catchment including Isleworth/Hounslow. Pupils travel miles in the Surrey/Middlesex area for private day schools - look at the school bus maps on the admission sections of websites to give you an idea. But if you are adding commuting into the mix you need to study train timetables/breakfast club etc drop off times carefully.

[Lottothink]

thank you teatime . is this the case for primary too ? travelling miles I mean . also did not realiss private considered catchment area . did not realise

[448teatime]

Sorry by catchment I meant the distance people travel, the admission requirements of Prep schools have nothing to do with where you live. Just bear in mind some of the train lines are really slow and the schools have different drop off times. Some people drop their children early at the end of a bus route and commute from that point. It's from age 7 mainly but some from age 5. Also beware the cost of the school buses.

[TW123]

If you like a school in Kew, live in Richmond. You'd be mad to trek from Teddington to Kew for school.

[Lottothink]

You are right TW123 - I think if we want private we will try to find one nearby (Hampton, Mall and Newland seem to be the options but arguably different to Kew ones) or if we feel comfortable ( nurturing and/or he would have still chance to enter secondary independent come 11+ then local school. I agree though - we realise that it is a long way - even from St Margarets plus we really want to live in Teddington.

[twick13]

You would also have Twickenham prep nearby twickenhamprep.org.uk and www.athelstanhouseschool.co.uk/ up to age 7 only

[Lottothink]

even though our prefererence is non religious school we wouldnt mind CoE school but twick prep seems to be a very religious school . is it?

also thouse for up to 7- isnt it too much change for a child ? if you do that isnt it better to do state until 7 then private ?

[Goss06408]

Hi bhnyc77

I’d love to speak to you as we are on the verge of doing exactly the same (Collis > Hampton Pre Prep and Prep) and would be great to chat about your experience...!

[2B1Gmum]

My DS went to Hampton Pre (Denmead then), class mates from Esher, Kingston, Richmond, Twickenham... lots of mums driving, including me and quite a few angry residents if you parked too close to their drives - but other than that and allowing for traffic at busiest time to day, it didn't matter where you lived. I believe they can share the Hampton coach and the school walk them round, so some via that route. As for independent versus state, I have 3 C and done a mixture, depends on the child not just the school of course. Both DS went to Hampton, one from state school other from Hampton Pre Prep. Similar GSCE results, very different interests. Lots of exceptional mathematicians at Hampton, so being gifted at maths in state school would be the norm. For DS2 going to Hampton Prep and Hampton was all about sport, the facilities and chances to play to a high standard. Had a few issues, not all teachers are great at Hampton Prep or Hampton - they like conformists - but then I suppose all schools find them easier to teach. Lack of girls an issue if you are into drama, the much talked about links with LEH at Hampton are not nearly as strong as they like you to believe, unless you do musicals or rowing! Conclusion, a bright child in a good state school with interested parents will do well, if you want them to go to selective school at 11 get in a tutor, everyone does. I didn't for son at Hampton Prep, but even then many do, which on top of fees makes the whole experience very expensive. If money is no object and they are really sporty, then maybe Hampton Prep or similar, has a slight advantage, they also have longer days which can help working parents, but much longer holidays which doesn't. I found the parents in my year friendly and not competitive, Newlands has a rep. for being very competitive amongst parents, not just on how clever or otherwise their child is, but how smart their kitchen is, where they ski, which breed of dog etc., and they all join the same mini rugby club where it continues. I did have to smile when I realised one M seem to think putting a private prep, Newlands, on a CV would help!! In the end all graduate roles require multiple online testing, they don't give a whatsit what school you went too, you need a 2.1 and then you need pass endless maths and reasonings tests, group interview tasks, online interviews and at the end a one in a thousand chance of an actual interview!