Box Hill School

[Lunklet]

Anyone got an opinion/experience of Box Hill?Been offered a place and having a debate over whether to accept. State school likely to be Glyn in Epsom at best.

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

My DD has a friend who went there, and he has been very happy since Day 1, he is in Year 10 now. He is a weekly boarder, so she only now really socialise with him on Facebook! Don't know any details though, sorry.

[LIZS]

I heard numbers were down in recent years. Did results come out today? It is switching to IB but tbh I'd take some convincing that it was in the best interest of many of the UK kids currently there as it isn't strongly academically selective.

[Lunklet]

I think that's right, it's not so academically selective but that doesn't bother me as I don't think a very academic, hothouse environment would suit him at all. The thing I liked was really the non-academic stuff anyway as it sounds like it gives them very good "life" experience. However is that all it's cracked up to be?

[sometimesinthefall]

Also, the IB is looked at quite favourably by unis, so that's a plus. I visited Box Hill last year on professional business and found the older students very pleasant and polite, and clearly very cosmopolitan. The grounds are lovely too!

[marsbar22]

I hear the Glyn is an excellent school with good results, we are slightly out of cachment otherwise would have loved a place for my son. A friend's son goes and is loving it.

[snowegg]

In a similar predicament - trying to weigh up Glyn vs Ewell Castle (where we have an offer). DK whether we'll get offered Glyn, catchment could change. Glyn has good results but is very BIG

[Lunklet]

Well we have got Glyn, so now a very difficult decision. Part of the problem is that I work until 4.30pm most days and Glyn school homework club finishes 3.30pm or 4.00pm. Whereas Box Hill doesn't finish until later and I work a few miles away so would pick him up.
Would you expect an 11-year old to come home by himself and let himself in?

[mummytime]

Mine have done that at 11. I phoned to chat when they should be in, and then saw them at home. But it does depend a lot on the child.

[Dozer]

Is so rubbish that there is no proper "wraparound care" in schools, but presume that finding a childminder type person to be in the house after school would be a lot cheaper than private school (though that's not the key consideration, obviously!)

I was a "latchkey kid" from about 13 (my brother was 11), we really enjoyed it and Mum used to give us various household tasks to keep us out of trouble, e.g. hoovering, cooking! There were a few incidents (e.g. my brother spilling turps on a carpet and trying to cover it up with her favourite perfume) but the freedom was good for us. Also, neighbours knew we were "home alone" and kept an eye on us!

[ma4life]

My son has been at Box Hill since year 7. He's now in year 13 and I have to say that from day 1 he has absolutely loved it. The classes are small, the teachers are approachable and friendly and the variety of opportunities and challenges have been amazing. I have read the other comments and must say that the numbers have gone up every year that he has been there. He is doing the IB and it was really great that he could study 6 subjects rather than being restricted to 3. He has still chosen his 3 favourite subjects to study at Higher Level but it has meant that he can keep doing other things he enjoyed at Standard Level. Looking at universities he has so many more options. If you are thinking of sending your child here I think you will all, as a family, feel very much a part of the Box Hill family, we certainly have.

[portoalegre]

I have a daughter who is turning 10, Year 5, and I am considering Box Hill. Would you say that this school is also suitable for girls?

[Mumof1and2]

The opportunities that the children have at Box Hill school are excellent. There is a real sense of community and every child there really does matter. I would recommend Box Hill School to any parent deciding whether to send their child there. Last Wednesday was Box Hill Day and all the children and staff walked up Box Hill together, the atmosphere was brilliant and then in the evening the children put on a variety performance. There is always something exciting happening at the school, it really is a wonderful place to be a part of.

[mummytime]

Mumof1and2. This is a very old thread. Also having read the propaganda put on threads here from some schools, I find your non-critical post make disturbing reading. It actually makes me feel negative towards a school I had only heard good about so far.

[SurreyMum73]

@mummytime - I agree. This school appears to be spending a lot more money on marketing itself recently. I wonder if this is to the detriment of everything else? Results aren't great, and kids aren't always the best behaved. But their Facebook and twitter activity has increased dramatically.
The cynical part of me suspects their ever-active marketing staff will be trawling the forums and putting across the "right message".

[Mumof1and2]

I'm sorry you feel that way towards my comments, I'm a mum and wanted to share my experience of the school so far. My son also attends the Saturday club and everyone is always so friendly. I didn't realise I would cause such offense.

[annh]

You have to forgive people feeling suspicious Mumof1and2 You are a brand-new poster, how did you even come across this old thread? People might even think you were related to ma4life (what's going on with the numbers here?) who has made exactly three posts on MN, one on this thread and all three of them in praise of Box Hill, and then never been back again! Cynical, us?

[twixaholic]

whilst i deplore the tactics, and the fact that it flies in the face of what mumsnet is about, I can't say I don't fancy a job where I get paid to trawl sites and 'big up' school(s) .......or a little product placement pehaps, from the comfort of my sofa .......

[ma4life]

A bit sad that positive enthusiasm is seen as suspicious! My son is no longer at Box Hill but I stand by what I said about his experience. I also had a daughter at Dunottar and was equally impressed by their pastoral care. Box Hill has such a wide range of things to get involved in that there is something for everyone. Not really sure what the point is in looking for problems.

[bhopa]

Apologies for reanimating an old thread, but I felt input from a former Box Hill student might be welcome. I attended from the late 60's to mid 70's.

@SurreyMum73, I would not concern myself with the marketing department being a detriment to everything else. I believe there was a similar department when I was there. It consisted of a mysterious white trailer that I never saw anyone entering or leaving, it was just there doing it's job. In fact, everything connected to either the outside world, or internal administration not directly related to student life, was, as far as the students were concerned, invisible machinery.

Now recalling more, all other non academic staff seemed to share the same detached existence. For example, the kitchen staff had their own separate living quarters. However you never saw anyone leaving or entering that building. You would see the staff in the kitchen during meals, and then they disappeared. Now, in hindsight, this is very strange. At the time it seemed normal.

The only contacts the students had was with each other and the teaching staff. The teachers were also in charge of non academic activities, house masters, and when necessary disciplinaries. They lived on the grounds, sharing and at the same time being part of, the structure of a magical bubble within which the students lived.

I would be a little more concerned about what the boarding boys and girls can get up to, sometimes. For example. we once sneaked into the chemistry building to make gunpowder, and exploded some glass jars in the day student's showers. I don't remember if we swept up the glass on the floor when we were done. I remember admiring the black dots all over the walls, but then I think we just hurried out! Other things I would have difficulty mentioning even 40 years on.

At the time BHS life seemed overly structured. Now I see that there was still plenty of freedom to get yourself into trouble. This freedom now seems likely to have been part of the design. This is when most of the BHS life's magic happened.

As far as academics, at least at that time, it was in my opinion nothing special. We used to have regular Friday meetings between our class and the headmaster, at that time Mr Mcomish. For some reason, the only meeting that I remember was when he flat out told us that academics was not the most important thing at BHS. The school was about who you would become by the time you left.

In hindsight this might be my only criticism of the school. The subordination of academics might have been carried too far.

[tom2468tom]

I can't find an open thread about Box Hill so is it ok to raise this one?

Does anyone know what has happened to Mr Eagers the Head (former-hear) at Box Hill?

[wholenewwoman]

I have heard that he has left very suddenly. No talk about it at the end of term and now at the start of this one he has gone!

[JMJA]

I'm new to Mumsnet but saw this old/new thread and joined. My son has just been offered a place a BHS. He's very artistic and academic but would benefit a small, pastoral school. I'm worried about low numbers sitting the entrance exams and also Mr Eagers leaving. Would love to hear more if anyone has any info / views. Thanks :)

[tom2468tom]

I wouldn't be too worried because i suspect that they have really good Deupty Head teachers. ALso, i don't know about numbers taking the test but is it a smallish (but very good) school so I think it always has qite small numbers.

[justmeinlove]

The Acting Head is fantastic, imo, if that's any help. I don't know re low numbers but can ask if you want? (I work at the school) :)
JMJA, have you been for a look around and things?

[JMJA]

Thanks justmeinlove, I have looked around and liked it.. Although I thought it was a bit too small imo.. My son absolutely loved it (and that's what counts). Great to hear acting head is so good. I'd be interested to hear if numbers were low this year and if they'll have full classes. Not that it'll make any difference to our decision.. It's 99% that he'll go there :)