Hampton Court House School

[putneylife]

I'm looking for more up to date experiences of this school as I'm considering it for my son in Y9 after he leaves Prep School. It's quite a leap from the structure of a Prep School to the unstructured and slightly alternative approach that HCH adopts. The sport seems to be lacking, but otherwise I'm getting a good impression - the school seems to nurture the child and with small class sizes and a very improved recent Ofsted report, it seems like a school on the up. Like Harrodian or Radnor House were in their infancy. I'd welcome thoughts/experiences!

[Peach007]

Hi I am also considering for my DD for Year 4 in September. Any views would be most welcome. Thanks

[LikeMumUsedToMake]

Was it this school that recently announced a radical change of school hours - to reflect teenage desires to sleep in till mid morning?

[cakeisalwaystheanswer]

Yes it was this school, though the cynic in me says the lunchtime start and very late finish for a new 6th form probably has more to do with limited space than anything else.
HSH is not mainstream, it's offering something different and if that's what will suit your DCs go for it. Just don't go and expect a mini LEH/Hampton and then moan because that isn't what you get. I know a few parents who have moved children from HCH because it wasn't what they expected/wanted although the things they complain about are probably the reasons other parents have chosen it. Never was the phrase "horses for courses" so apt.

[Peach007]

I must admit I loved the general feel of the school. My daughter is going to have a trial day soon so will be able to decide thereafter. Are there any existing parents out there whose DC's go to the school? So few people have heard of the school so first hand experience would be most welcome.

[FMNF]

I would also be grateful to receive any feedback on this school as we are just completing the enrolment process for our son and our daughter. We visited the school and it looked lovely but I am not used to choosing a school based on a visit. At the moment the children go to their local school so we had all the local knowledge before enrolling them. We really need them to maintain their level of French for a future move back to France so any views on the standard of French teaching in the lower years would be really helpful.

[yummymum35]

Hello all! I was initially looking at a few good schools around the West London area for my DD and saw quite a variety, some were the typical pushy independents whereas others were a more relaxed. Initially I had some reservations but reading experiences from other people I decided to arrange a private tour of the school via the website and I was glad I did because the teachers and the school in general really impressed me. I looked in on some lessons and saw that children genuinely enjoy what they are studying they seemed to have an enthusiasm that I had not seen in other schools. My DD had a trial day which she really enjoyed and she started this September, so far so good, classes are small enough for children to receive the attention they need and teachers are really very good at addressing the needs of the child (unlike her previous school), ballet is part of the curriculum and the arts (music, theatre, dance and the like are very much encouraged) she has made some really nice friends of both genders. My DD has benefited so much from the past couple of months at the school. I was worried about the bilingual aspects but to my surprise she coped very well and the language has not been an issue at all for her despite only having some very basic French before. I hope that helps!

[Poisonwoodlife]

It's infancy predated Radnor by a few years, and it was actually founded by refugees from Harrodian's infancy, and that school has adapted it's approach to be more conventionally academic. Radnor was never anything but aiming to be conventionally academic, just with an aim to develop a USP through emphasis on strong pastoral care and better communication with parents. So I think comparing HCH with those two schools is not comparing like with like at all.

It already has some history, and part of that history has been that pupils tended to end up there after other schools had not worked for them for some reason, either socially or academically. Some were difficult characters. A tutor I knew had a high proportion of business amongst those who then dropped out of HCH as well. However some pupils have also gone on to good sixth forms and universities, albeit accepting it was a unique environment with some unique characters .

However if you buy into the ethos, current parents are happy, then I have no reason to suppose it doesn't do what it says on the tin.

[yummymum35]

Fair points Poisonwoodlife though I can definitely say that standards are very high at HCH now, no difficult children in my DD’s class. It’s always wise to do a lot of research before making that commitment thankfully I did as I was also considering another independent with a good past history only to find that now things have changed considerably which I experienced by actually visiting the school, speaking to parents and by reading the forum :)

[girlpower27]

My DS started in nursery, some initial problems separating from me in the mornings though after around a month this was quickly overcome with the help of the nursery teacher who is very caring. This year he is in reception and again very happy his teacher gives him all the attention he needs and really makes me feel confident to have him participating in concerts and lots of creative activities. Have looked into qualifications and apart from lots of experience teachers are indeed qualified.

[Mutteroo]

Pumpkin89, may I ask why you are keeping your child at this school if its so bad? As you're paying a large amount of money, shouldn't you be getting the school that suits your child best? Not criticising, just wondering?

[yummymum35]

Pumpkin clearly you are not happy there, probably best to take your child out if its not right for you. As for publicity for the new sixth form I really don't think they need anymore! I've seen the head being interviewed on bbc world news, the Sunday Times and pretty much every other broadsheet.

[Miggsie]

OK my child is at HCH.
We all love it - I find the parents have more issues than the children with the approach.

It isn't standard, I still reel about some things HCH does BUT I actually think our "mainstream" education has it wrong and HCH probably has it right.

BTW anyone who thinks it isn't academic has it wrong - the upper years do work far more interesting and varied than standard schools, kids take exams when they are ready, not when it is age appropriate. The school has the highest pass rate in the country for Mandarin for example.

We chose the school as we wanted our child to have a happy school experience. Our child is very bright and turned down 2 offers from super selectives as they were "boring" - she thought their exams too easy but HCH was fun and different. They teach appropriate to the abilities of the class.

In how many schools do the teachers and children hug each other? At one concert the younger kids happily sat round their teacher hugging her legs, she didn't mind at all. Very friendly atmosphere.

The lower school is very French - in approach, temperament and teaching, that's something that takes getting used to.

I don't mind the teachers not being teacher qualified, IMO that qualification is rubbish and doesn't really tell you if the person is a good teacher from the kid's point of view.

Dominic the history teacher for example is utterly inspiring and so knowledgeable: any child taught by him is very fortunate. Wish I'd been taught history by him.

The school is also so friendly - kids welcome new kids happily, all the kids play together. DD has never had any bullying problems for being clever (or any bullying at all) which she got at her last school for instance.

[yummymum35]

You hit the nail on the head Miggsie, really special atmosphere I often see the head speaking to children with the utmost interest and respect something I had never seen in other schools where teachers treat children without the respect they deserve. You're right about HCH they do things in a way which makes you think "wow, really?" hence the poster above saying its not for everyone.

Another mother I've grown close to whose DS is in my DD's class has another child in year 6, very bright girl previously at another local selective independent but just "not that interested" now she comes home showing her work and wanting to delve into the subject further, that really convinced me to look beyond the minor niggles and focus on the more important things.

[Gozogozo]

This is a very interesting school. It seems to have some outstanding teachers & some average to awful, & have quite a high teacher turnover. The structure of proprietor who is quite - unpredictable - plus very stern headmaster who still is open to new ideas eg sixth form school hours is possibly challenging for parents. I want to like it because I perceive it as a school seeking to keep alive a love of learning for its own sake, but I dont know enough about it to be 100%.

Parents I have met have been very very happy with it. But I don't know any enough to ask what their expectations of their children's futures were before they started. I have a dc who is bright & really loves to learn more about everything in depth & this is their time to do it! & it is clear that dc is very academic. I know that dc could do well anywhere but could they fulfil their potential at this school? Any opinions would be really helpful.

[ReceptionMum]

If there are any parents whose children are in this school, would appreciate your current views on HCH - good and not so good points, in your opinion and experience.

Our DD will start reception this Sept and we decided to go for a local state school. Although, unfortunately, it is almost certain that we will not get any of the 3 schools that we liked (all very close but all oversubscribed) but will get our 4th preference choice. We will still give it a go but kind of keeping HCH as a plan B option, if "all goes wrong" and she does not settle. She is a summer born, so somewhere with smaller classes and more individual/caring attention will be much easier to her - this was my impression of the school when I visited it last year. Financially, this won't be easy, we will unlikely be able to pay for all school years at independent (have got a younger DS as well), but I was thinking if we have to "wait" somewhere and then re-apply for a state primary for 7+ intake (a higher chance to get into a good junior school which is our closest).

Your thoughts would be much appreciated.