Hampton Court House

[Wellhereweare78]

Anyone got a DC at this school for 11+ onwards? Thinking about it for very academic but quirky, gentle ds who is very arty and into drama. Really looking for honest views from people with dc there so please feel free to pm if you would rather!

[Pleasant6]

I had a bad experience applying for a job here. This is not sour grapes as i didn’t get it! The head of department had clearly made up his mind who was to be employed beforehand as that candidate received preferential and much gentler testament than us others before we even taught our lesson/ had our interviews. Why invite candidates with no chance? I was treated in a sarcastic and even aggressive manor. I would not want to work with an unethical company. Lucky escape.,

[Lockdowndramaqueen]

Friend has a similar sounding dc there from 11+ and had loved, dc has thrived there.

[tickingthebox73]

I'd say a very marmite school, I know a boy who was there for a year (in younger years) then moved on swiftly as just not learning anything. I have another friend who raves about it .

Personally I'd put it at the far far side of quirky....there are other better schools in the area.

[EuroMom]

@tickingthebox73 can you please share what other, better schools you recommend? I like this area a lot. Thank you.

[sunshineclouds24]

@EuroMom , what age are your dc? Hampton Court and Bushy Park is near many of the prep and senior private secondaries in SW London ranging from Hampton/ LEH to Radnor House / St cats Twickenham and then over to Kingston Grammar, Claremont Fan Court, the list is endless.

[EuroMom]

3,5,7 years is what I’m looking for. Preferably all at one location or an all girls school for the 5,7 years and something different for the 3 year. What other private schools do you recommend I research for placement?

[sunshineclouds24]

Try Newland house and Twickenham prep prep schools. Also Jack and Jill school in Twickenham / Hampton.
Toward Esher Claremont Fan Court school and Surbiton High girls Prep. If you want to go towards Richmond there is The Old Vicarge, if you go towards Kew there is loads of choice.
The prep sector isn't full so any school you contact will be enthusiastic for you to join.

[tickingthebox73]

@EuroMom

3,5,7 years is what I’m looking for. Preferably all at one location or an all girls school for the 5,7 years and something different for the 3 year. What other private schools do you recommend I research for placement?

@EuroMom
Hampton Prep is co-ed to 7 and boys to 11 - good school - feeder to Hampton, a little pushy on academics, not guaranteed through to Hampton
The Mall, Boys, more academic, good reports, but have also heard of people moving children to less pushy environment.
Twickenham Prep - Co-ed, good reports up to 13 (although I'd plan to move at 11 around here). The only disadvantage I can see is they prep for 13+ not 11+.
Jack and Jill - co-ed to 11- good reports, probably more nurturing.
LEH Juniors - Girls only 7+, more academic
St Catherines - YR to Y13 Girls - less academic.
Newland house - good reports but no personal experience. would guess less academic.
Claremont Fancourt, less academic, Co-ed yR-Y13. supposedly all through, but at least one acquaintance has left at y6 due to being advised the school "wasn't right for their child". Plus hard to get to from Hampton/Richmond area.

There are no boys only schools that go through from yR to y13 - Hampton Prep is the closest but they only move half the y6 to y7 at Hampton, the rest go elsewhere.

Lastly - the wild card - Radnor House, about to open up in September 2023 as yR through to y13, Co-Ed. Nurturing, personally recommended.

[1forward2back]

I second Radnor House. Have only heard good things from my cousin who has a daughter there - pastorally very strong and growing.

[NeverAgain2021]

How is the transport to Radnor House? @1forward2back with it moving to Kneller House for secondary it's quite a trek from the station.

Will students take the bus? I saw there was only one public one from Twickenham station, the 281...

[tickingthebox73]

@NeverAgain2021

How is the transport to Radnor House? *@1forward2back* with it moving to Kneller House for secondary it's quite a trek from the station.

Will students take the bus? I saw there was only one public one from Twickenham station, the 281...

I think most students are on the bus, but in any event there is talk of a bus from the station....

[Scaffoldhell]

If you want them all in one school straight away , then you need to look at Claremont fan for co-Ed. Radnor doesn’t take until year 5 so you would need to split the year 3 child from the other 2 and move them later. if your year 7 is a girl then twickenham prep and Newland house won’t work as it’s only the boys that stay on (officially girls can stay but they don’t). Lots of Newland parents move their children at year 5 to radnor to dodge then11+, so if you put your youngest in Newland and the girls either on the bus to surbiton or at st cats, then the split schools is very doable. (Radnor and breaks are about a 5 minute drive from each other).
Don’t be put off by the ‘less academic’ tag for some of these schools. St cats is still in the top 200 indie schools in the country and surbiton is in the top 80! Both good schools and girls do well in both. Radnor also very good co-Ed but like i said, you would have to split the children up. My children are all in different schools and it’s not really a problem.

[alwaystakethetrip]

@Scaffoldhell

If you want them all in one school straight away , then you need to look at Claremont fan for co-Ed. Radnor doesn’t take until year 5 so you would need to split the year 3 child from the other 2 and move them later. if your year 7 is a girl then twickenham prep and Newland house won’t work as it’s only the boys that stay on (officially girls can stay but they don’t). Lots of Newland parents move their children at year 5 to radnor to dodge then11+, so if you put your youngest in Newland and the girls either on the bus to surbiton or at st cats, then the split schools is very doable. (Radnor and breaks are about a 5 minute drive from each other).
Don’t be put off by the ‘less academic’ tag for some of these schools. St cats is still in the top 200 indie schools in the country and surbiton is in the top 80! Both good schools and girls do well in both. Radnor also very good co-Ed but like i said, you would have to split the children up. My children are all in different schools and it’s not really a problem.

Agree. Claremont Fan Court had a change of head about three years ago, and I think the 'less academic' reputation is becoming outdated - apparently the school has changed quite a bit