Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Habs boys or common entrance?

35 replies

Toratoratora · 18/04/2015 08:43

Hi everyone , I have 2 sons at habs boys in elstree in the prep school and am thinking of moving them to a prep school that takes them to common entrance standard with good links to Winchester, St. Paul's, Eton, Radley, Harrow and the rest.

Obviously I'm somewhat torn - in habs they are at a good school with great academic results, but not happy with the school management (arrogant and unresponsive) or the overall feel of the school (not great at sport, slightly uninspiring set of other children/parents, and for a school with such high academic standards, there are too many duds).

Has anyone else gone down this route? I'm attracted by the boarding option at 13 which in unavailable at habs and I think he will be in much more like-minded company, with a richer set of extra curriculars and academic options (early languages, Latin etc).

Any advice welcome from people who've made the switch or have boys in both systems.

Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
jeanne16 · 18/04/2015 12:04

You will find ethnic minorities really dominate top schools like St Pauls and Westminster. Presumably because of the intense work ethic and the importance placed on education that is dominant in some of these cultures. In fact the only group not seen is the white working class!

howlongwillthesunlast · 18/04/2015 11:22

The parents are uninspiring to? I didn't realise the parents had a role to play in your inspirational leanings as well, no doubt the parents at Eton, Radley etc will be highly inspiring bearing in mind you'd hardly ever see them, but then you don't like 'hovering parents' either..........really can't win here!

forago · 18/04/2015 11:02

Are you a teacher? how are you judging who is and isn't a dud? They haven't done 11+ or 13+ yet. You may be surprised.

Original poster
Toratoratora · 18/04/2015 10:57

I do take issue with your assumption. Rather a rash judgement.
I Have no issues with the multiculturalism - coming from one of those cultures myself.

OP posts:
Cantdecideondinner · 18/04/2015 10:54

Your description of Habs is like nothing I have ever heard of. It's one of the best schools academically in the country with truly outstanding extra curricular including sport. I am not sure what you think you will find elsewhere. The Central London preps certainly don't have great sport and the other local preps are either less academic or rarely feed into the kind of schools you mention - exits are to places like Merchant Taylor's, great school but not that different to Habs.

I take your point about hovering parents but that's going to be the same anywhere and yes, management may well be arrogant. Habs isn't for everyone, I know it very well but uninspiring isn't one of the criticisms I have ever heard levelled at it. Pushy, competitive, academic, unsympathetic to those struggling and arrogant absolutely yes, heard that a million times but uninspiring, no never heard that.

Clearly you have issues with the fact that the school is racially, culturally and economically mixed. It's a true multi cultural school, absolutely representative of the local area with lots of Asian, Jewish, black and Chinese children as well as White English Christian and perhaps your comment about them being with like minded children is that you have a problem with that mix?

Original poster
Toratoratora · 18/04/2015 09:53

Its my impression of the children. I don't expect inspiring discussions, but I do think there's not the focus on independent thought that I've seen elsewhere. I'm certain many parents are perfectly happy there. I am not. In any case, this is not the place to have a debate about social status, I'm just interest in whether anyone has had experience of both systems.

My point exactly. Far fewer hovering parents at boarding school, whereas habs is full of them, which I don't think is necessarily great for the boys and probably explains the attitude of management to a degree.

I would look to move them as early as next academic year. That was they have 4 and 5 years to prepare for common entrance and enter senior school at 13plus. Any later I think and they start missing out on bits of the curriculum that are essential for CE and not covered till year 6 elsewhere. (Ie French).

OP posts:
summerends · 18/04/2015 09:38

The brightest DCs don't spend their time being 'inspiring' and exchanging great thoughts, especially in younger years. That won't change in a boarding school. The extracurricular and other opportunities would be different. The management are there to do their best for the DCs normally but not necessarily respond to parental demands

TheFirstOfHerName · 18/04/2015 09:01

slightly uninspiring set of other children

?? What were your expectations? How inspiring should they be?

I think he will be in much more like-minded company

Although Habs is academically selective, the intake is socio-economically mixed, especially in the senior school. If he stays there, you are risking exposing your children to the hoi polloi. Shock

carltonscroop · 18/04/2015 08:57

How old are they, what entrance points would you prefer (or are you looking for ad hoc places), what is your max travel time for a day school, from what age would you consider boarding?

Springshere · 18/04/2015 08:54

... too many duds??