Hampton vs Ibstock Place

Hampton - they are not in the same league at all

Could anyone with a sporty girl please tell me a bit more about Sports at IPS? I have looked at the website but I would
value another parent's views. Other than the timetabled PE or Games lessons, do they have sports clubs only during the lunch break or also before / after school? Have you been impressed by the PE department or are there any issues you aren't so happy about. Is there such a thing as Saturday Sports at IPS? Many thanks in advance for your help!

My DS is in year 7 at IPS and is very happy. He is enjoying it and has made friends, is on the sports team (this was important for him), and generally it has been a good fit. Good selection of co curricular too other than sport. Some posters remark on homework, but I don't notice it as being excessive. Some evenings none and some an hour. Doesn't differ much from older DS when he was at a different school in same year. Happy to answer specific questions if you want to pm me.

Bump

We are also considering IPS over several other offers. Would be interesting to find out how those who chose Ibstock are getting on?

@nerbek I wonder if you wouldn’t mind updating this post. Are you happy with IPS? DS Has an offer and we need to choose.

Thanks will do she's in year 5 now so will be doing the exam in January. I couldn't find the sample test online maybe I misunderstood.
Looking forward to hearing all about your experience next sept. All the best

@nerbek pm me in about 9 months and I’ll let you know how she’s getting on! What years are your DDs in? I’ve got a younger DS (eldest DS in year 9 at a state secondary FBS in Fulham) and now my DD is going to IPS think we will probably send him there too in 2021. We’d not really focused on co-Ed before as the decent state secondary schools in Fulham are both single sex (Fulham Boys School & Lady Margaret School) and my daughter was on the LMS route (church primary school) but recent changes in finances have opened the option of private up for us so I’m very pleased that such a lovely school as IPS possible

Thanks a lot, ancientgeordiegirl...I'm also in the same situation my daughters Sheenmount state school and has been tutored for 1-2 hrs per week and would love this school because of the same community feeling, nice kind kids for friendships and the proximity but what my fears were too academic and too much pressure put on kids, I think 1-1.5hrs homework should be the case currently we get 30mins homework per week so no wonder we need tutoring.
It must be such a relief to get her in well done and good luck with everything would love to hear from you once's she's settled your views. Thanks for the reply

@nerbek my DD is going to IPS in September so the 11+ exam is very fresh in my mind. IPS do a computer test (details are available on the admissions section of the website) which my daughter didn’t really prepare for insofar as she looked at the example test for about 30 mins the day before. There was a second exam day with the usual maths. English and an interview. My DD found the exam very doable easier than PHS (where she didn’t get an offer). My DD had 1 hours tutoring a week from year 5 as she is at a state primary so needed some preparing but other than that didn’t do anything. She’s a bright child but not overly academic so I think IPS will be a good fit for her. I’m hoping she’ll be made to focus on the academics but not feel too pressured as she might have done at more selective schools. IPS has a more traditional feel about it not using iPads or Chromebooks in the classroom until 6th form but I don’t necessarily think that a bad thing. The position beside the park is hard to beat.

Thanks a million 79abbott it's quite normal to have that much otherwise it'll be difficult to pass gsces thanks a lot this really helped . Can I also ask was the exam very difficult and do you think it's a school for super academic kids

I have a DS at IPS in Year 7. Homework tends to be about 1 to 1.5h a day - sometimes more and sometimes less but it's not overwhelming and it can be done in Study Hall after school or at home. DS sat 11+ at Hampton too but wasn't offered a place. IPS was our 1st choice and so far we haven't regretted it.

Hi mums

Trying to find 2 things from mums who are currently in ibstock place. 1) the number of hrs per night for homework 2) i heat very different stories one saying you're kid has to be very academic and another saying average kids go there can someone with experience please share them with them much appreciated niamh

@mumislearning , thanks for updating, I'm sure your ds will be very happy, best of luck for the future.

@mumislearning , where did you choose in the end?

These are all great comments could you please advise how much homework per night roughly how many hrs in ibstock?

HI My child has an offer from IPS . V bright sensitive child . Is IPS full of nice children ? Several visits to other London day schools have shown the kids to be very cliquey and not kind ! My child is pretty opinionated so cant bare to see other kids being excluded or bullied ! Also when people talk of Academics the school is clearly high in the top 200 about 44th or something which means clever kids getting A at a level ? Why talk that its not academic as others ? Is this just a comparison with the prisons in Hammersmith?

@boysarefab - I have sent you a pm!

Congrats to your ds. I'd have a think about how he feels academically compared to others. If he goes to IPS i'd imagine with a Hampton offer he'd be amongst the brightest. If he goes to Hampton he probably wouldn't be... a universally very bright bunch of boys. Which would suit him better?

Hi Boysarefab
My DS is at IPS. There are plenty of sporting opportunities. As there are not so many boys as at the larger boys only schools, everyone gets to play in a team. Football A team hotly contested and they do well but other teams playing regularly too. Also rugby in spring term and cricket/athletics too. There are after school clubs for training in each main sport weekly. It’s great having the sports facilities on site as only journeys are for away matches. Lovely sports teachers who train kids well and have a good rapport with them.
Cross country is a sport and they compete in Wandsworth borough and also London schools championships. Weekly cross country club after school and yearly house cross country competition where whole school runs.

From a general perspective Kids are happy and you have a wider range of ability than you would find at Hampton. This allows your DS to shine.

The schools are v different and having another look at both when you know you have a choice a good idea. That should help you decide. Good luck.

Hi calibri12, could you tell me a bit more about the sporting opportunities (beyond your other DS wildest dreams). We are trying to decide between IPS and another (not Hampton) and we have a sporty boy who especially loves football and cross country.
I’d also like to ask mumislearning if IPS were ok about going to visit again as I think I may do that.
Thanks