Tiffin versus Hampton

Having known someone in Tiffin girls school the the pastoral care is not that great. It’s very competitive and unfortunately lots of girls with MH concerns who feel unsupported by the school.

I’ve also know people who work at Hampton and they are not always as qualified as state school teachers as they have their own rules etc. Would also add that many experienced teachers are moving away from private schools, as they all slowly opt out of the pension scheme - but that’s a whole other issue and thread.

I guess everyone has their own biases and opinions, hope it works out for you and your son.

Ah this is interesting regarding sports. Maybe that is why they decided to incluse a Sports aptitude opportunity for the admissions for 2025 entry.

and btw, I would not think about Hampton School basing on the knowledge of LEH. I know people working in both schools. LEH is a nice school but past its glory. See the latest A level results as compared to previous years.
Hampton Boys still shines. My neighbour told me that last year they were building a car there in association with some car maker. They have many initiatives like that.
I have completely opposite impression about Tiffin schools. Girls school surpasses boys school

Fees and distance aren't a problem

@bferkoff If the fees are not a major sacrifice, I would not hesitate and in a blink of an eye would send him to Hampton Boys. The school has a very positive energy and the boys are very well balanced. The mental health is very important in that school. Teaching is superb. If it was co-ed school and I could afford I would send my kid there.

At Tiffin is also an amazing cohort but the school is underfunded and the latest OFSTED report downgraded it to Good due to teaching- find it online

Difficult choice. One thing to consider is that if you went with Tiffin and your son didn’t like it would probably be possible to move to Hampton in year 8 etc.

Also Tiffin has a lot to prove as it was downgraded to good from outstanding, so imagine it will be pushing everything to improve. I understand they are introducing football this year and improving the sports provision.

Good luck with the decision

If the fees and travel are no issue definitely go for Hampton. I have two sons at Hampton and it’s an amazing school. The teachers are mostly excellent and there’s great support. My sons went from state schools and settled fine. They’ve both been happy there but there’s lots of competition for sports team places so be prepared for disappointment. Tiffin is also an excellent school (and free!) but I have heard some struggle with the pace and tutoring continues to keep some up to speed. PM me if you have any questions re Hampton.

I would expect that it is different now. At least, I would hope so.

I think my other issue was that only one of my friends from primary school went there, and I wanted to go where my main group of friends went.

My other trick was that the school never had my dad's signature on record, only my mum's. Anything that needed a proper signature got brought home to mum, and anything I didn't want them to know about (Saturday detention etc), I signed in my dad's name. I can't believe I got away with this either. Can you imagine an 11 year old scrawling a signature? I also wonder how my parents didn't ever question me going to watch football on a Saturday morning when I have zero interest in football. It was a different era.

Funny thing is, I only really became interested in learning when I could choose the subject and have gone on to gain qualifications at night school.

I went to Hampton a long time ago (80s). I am intelligent but was lazy and didn't apply myself. At that time, Hampton (and probably all other schools of that type) had many gifted children and focused on them. I found it very easy to slip through the net (for example, as soon as my voice broke, I would call up saying I was my dad, and that I was ill and wouldn't be coming in - I look back and cannot believe I got away with this).

The facilities there are excellent, and if I'm honest, the few qualifications I did get were the result of them having teachers who were able to motivate me. I wasted a golden opportunity.

My point though is that I feel I would have been better off in a state school who would have needed the results more and would have pushed me harder.

I think if your son is motivated and works hard he would do well at either. I have friends who went to Tiffin and have all done well.

Of course, I would expect that it is all different now, but this may give you thought for some additional questions to ask both schools.