Claremont fan court school

Yes they can and do stretch the more able pupils. There are streams/sets.

We did not have a very positive exam experience at Claremont. Kids in cold hall, six kids in a room for interviews. Offers day disappointing.

And @Localher0 too. I was very positive about Claremont school. What is wrong with saying someone's DC are doing very well in another school, particularly when it is one that others seems to be just trashing as a hothouse school. Who is being narrow minded? Keeps you out of the country - really? You delicate flower. This thread showcases small-minded tribalism at its worst. I'm not smug at at all. It's just about finding the right school for the DC.

Thanks. That’s helpful. Do you think lessons are pretty structured (good discipline - horrible word but…). I am v keen on pastoral care but that sometimes comes with the downside of poorer behaviour etc which I think he’d find hard. Il looking for pastoral but well run if you know what I mean . He’s v bright but I absolutely don’t want pressure as he puts a lot on himself - he needs looking after. Is playground supervision good?

We have two children at Claremont and we're very happy with it. It's a lovely school, the Head and teachers are on the whole extremely kind and decent people who obviously work very hard to give kids the best experience, and it's ambitious without being too pushy. We're both professionals and our kids are able but we didn't want to subject them to the ridiculous 11+ process.
That said, no school is perfect. There is definitely a wider range of abilities than there might be at other schools. There are a few kids who get 8s and 9s or even 9s in everything, and we have a number of friends whose children did better at Claremont by some distance than others friends' kids at Hampton, for example. So be open minded about it because it's about where your child will thrive, rather than survive. Some will excel at Hampton as they need to be surrounded by other driven kids (or, rather, kids being driven by their parents as sadly is so often the case) whereas others will enjoy a slightly more relaxed approach.

Can anyone help with how I can PM someone - I’m receiving them on another thread but seem unable to do so - operating in an iPhone.

Hi again. I’ve definitely DMd people in here and they are DMing me but I just can’t work out how can someone help? Plannjng to go to an open day but would like to chat before,

It's just humblebragging....at its worst in Surrey!

Jeez. The smugness if those posting whose kids are thriving at not hothousing academic school.

Keeps me out of the country

I don't think you can do it on the app......

Hi I can’t seem to DM you can you me so I can talk. Not sure how to do it.

@Arisaig1 of course - my 2 DCs have been there. My youngest left this year.

Thank you I might DM you - in due course if that’s ok.

In my experience it's very good for SEN including mild ASD. There will be enough very bright kids to give yours a challenge. They challenge all the students. He won't be bored. It's a fabulous school.

Hi I’ve been advised it’s good for mild aspergers - shy socially awkward but extremely bright in maths sciences - any views? Is there scope to do v well - I want him looked after and happy first but he might be bored stiff if it’s too average academically

I think there are some really very outdated views about CFCS on this thread, I know of some very able boys and girls at my DS's school who didn't get into Claremont last year! They do seem to place a big emphasis on the interview though which is really refreshing.

I also think it's incredibly easy for the schools that 'cream off' the top students at the point of entry to get great results at GCSE and A level - it says a lot more about a school like Claremont where they can take students at a more mid range level and yet manage to get stellar results at GCSE and A level - have any of you seen the results they got this year? If not have a look at their youtube site... Time to have another look at them I think! Plus new head seems really genuine and he has brought in a new team from good schools. 👌

Completely agree with this. I have friends with DC at various SW London / Surrey indies including Claremont/St Georges/Halliford/RGS/GHS/SWPS and all are happy and thriving. I have a DC at Hampton who is happy and thriving (and would laugh if you suggested he was being hothoused). Different schools are right for different DC. It's sad that some parents feel they have to justify their decisions by making negative comments about other schools.

Totally agree!

Not criticising Claremont Fan Court at all. On the contrary actually. I came on the thread late to say that I have a few friends with DC there and they are having a great time and doing really well. It was just the 'hothouse' label about other schools that I flagged. As I've said it is much more about the fit for a DC. My DS had offers from KCS, RGS, Hampton and Tiffin. My DD had offers from Tiffin Girls, LEH and GHS. These schools would all no doubt be considered 'hothouses' by some but that they are also good schools for the right DC and are certainly not just exam factories. Some DC just thrive in that environment naturally without any pushing from the school or parents. My DC have never found their schools pressurised and have lots of time for socialising and sports and pure downtime. They have lots of well-balanced, polite, kind and modest DC too. Stereotyping and schools is never helpful. A school can be the best school for an individual but it is never the best school for every child.

Of course it's different strokes for different folks, but for a current perspective ... my dd has just started in year 7 at Claremont Fan Court and is having a great experience so far. We know several academically able children who did not get offered a place there this year and it seems to be no longer thought of locally as the 'back up option' that it once was. I have had an older dd through SHS (disliked) and my ds is currently in Reed's (love) sixth form having been there since year 7. My eldest daughter went there for sixth form too - it is a fantastic school (for us!). All three children went to a state primary school. Imo Claremont has really upped its game since the appointment of the new headmaster a few years ago and is now attracting children from as far away as Wandsworth, Putney, Twickenham and Wimbledon. It has a beautiful campus with great facilities and is a very different place from the one I viewed 6 or 7 years ago for my ds. There's a very happy and positive energy about it, an almost equal balance of boys and girls, and a mixture of children from state primaries and preps, and from the local area and further afield. We decided to take up a place there for our dd over her offers from Epsom College and Tormead School and are very happy with this choice so far. I would describe my dd as an academic all rounder and she seems well engaged by her lessons, sports and the extra curricular timetable on offer.

Agree it should be all about the right fit for a child.

I know children at many of the above mentioned schools - parents moving them around. Some being embarrassed that their child didn’t get into the top school. It’s sad really - the happiest children are usually at a school best suited for them.

I was quite relieved that we didn’t have to play that game and there are as many good secondary schools around the same area.

I quite like Claremont and I know two friends children there and very lovely polite, doing well with a good nurturing environment. I have another friends son at one of the others and he is very rude - looks down at others I guess that’s the boys he around. He is super academically but his attitude & sense of entitlement is something else - even his parents aren’t sure what to do!