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

Harrodian

34 replies

AlwaysGoodToChat · 14/09/2022 07:13

We are considering applying to Harrodian for 11+ for our daughter - quite bright (upper set in Maths and English) but anxious and not very confident, sociable, not very sporty (more into the social aspect of sport) but quite musical and also enjoying art. It was suggested by her prep as a potential but we were initially put off by the reputation as 'celebrities playground' - we are a professional couple with a house in a middle-class area of SW London but by no means hyper-wealthy or famous. Any views really appreciated, including (especially?) on the pastoral care and inclusivity.

OP posts:
Porcupineintherough · 15/09/2022 08:14

at GCSE level the vocabulary and confidence that comes from that privileged lifestyle mean a huge amount

A good vocabulary is always a benefit but I've yet to see swishy hair or confidence take the place of actual knowledge on a gcse paper. If the kids were doing well at gcse then some actual teaching and learning was probably taking place.

Decidualcast · 15/09/2022 07:54

I know someone who pulled her daughter out - she described it as an expensive playgroup. 2 others described it as very white and privileged.

Nowfeeltheneedtopost · 14/09/2022 20:38

My knowledge is second-hand and only relates to experience of one child so please do treat accordingly. I’m afraid her experience was not good. She moved her DD at y5 to Harrodian from state primary, partly to avoid 11+ issues. But found pastoral care really lacking and moved her to another private school for y7. Her very sporty DD enjoyed the sport but was bullied in school and she didn’t feel the school addressed the issues at all

Original poster
AlwaysGoodToChat · 14/09/2022 19:32

Many thanks for the comments so far. We are aware that most schools will have some very rich families and some celebrities and are not faced by it (or bothered)...just a concern that if that is the majority, kids from a less affluent background might feel left out (although I appreciate the school have a role to play, hence my question, as do we as parents).
Any comments on the academics, extra-curricular and general pastoral care also appreciated

OP posts:
Luckydip1 · 14/09/2022 07:59

It used to be very oversubscribed but now Hammersmith Bridge is closed, more difficult for families from north of the river to drive to, so easier to get into.

TizerorFizz · 14/09/2022 07:55

Also, in a school with 900 pupils, not everyone will be very rich. My experience is that you don’t see these parents much anyway. You would find many DC have normal London lifestyles.

TizerorFizz · 14/09/2022 07:47

The former High Mistress of St Paul’s sent her DD there. Any private school will have big name/rich parents in London. It’s just what it is. If you truly feel out of place, don’t do it. However parents won’t be your best mates so does it matter who they are? Or what they have? Be yourself.

whywhywhy5 · 14/09/2022 07:28

Oh and it’s an absolutely gorgeous place! The libraries!!

whywhywhy5 · 14/09/2022 07:27

My knowledge is hugely out of date (I taught there briefly 15ish years ago), but it might give you some ideas to test if it’s still like this.

The standard of teaching was startlingly low (think constant free worksheets printed from the internet), academically the kids weren’t pushed at all and they were known locally as the “clotted cream kids”- rich, white and thick.

BUT - I’ve never seen such happy, kind kids in my life. My heart actually bled for the lovely state school kids I’d known because I just wanted to transport them there. They were just so NICE! Including to each other. And actually they were going to do fine in exams anyway because at GCSE level the vocabulary and confidence that comes from that privileged lifestyle means a huge amount. And they were great at marking and individual feedback.

There were definitely the kids of very famous families there - Brian May for one. And they talked about going skiing and different holidays etc. But it wasn’t too in your face.

I have friends who went to and taught at St Paul’s and they said academically it would incredible but the kids were miserable. A couple of friends really suffered there.