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Beckham kids to start at Haberdashers.

135 replies

VivaLeBeaver · 14/03/2011 08:04

Nowhere near me but I see MNers talking about this school. So if you have a kid there you may soon be rubbing shoulders with Becks.

uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/13032011/58/world-football-beckhams-moving-england.html

OP posts:
funnyperson · 06/04/2011 22:02

I think the boys and the girls schools offer a superb all round education and if the Beckham children can pass the exams and interviews they should go for it. They will get in and thrive if they are academic enough and also have a talent for something other than academe. Peter Hamilton is a very grounded headmaster. The girls school is very used to famous parents and is very discreet and safe. Haileybury doesn't cut it if a child is bright enough to get into Habs-I know this from a good friend who had sons at each.

I dont understand the Jewish comment at all- children from all religions go to Habs and they have different assemblies for each and my non Jewish children (and their friends) used to go to lots of different assemblies every week, depending on what the topic was, the food etc being offered and whether a friend (Jewish or not) was taking the assembly.

Class isn't a big issue at the two schools. No aristocrats go there. No royals. Lots of very wealthy. Also quite a few who, like both mine did, have generous bursaries. Terry Leahy's boy went there. Neither the girls or the boys school tolerate poor behaviour or sloppy work, regardless of background. One very wealthy bully got expelled.

CheerfulYank · 06/04/2011 22:05

I didn't mean to be offensive, Xenia . And I could be wrong...we Americans may really be as idiotic as you'd like us to be. Wink

Crap, I'm going to have to track down a ten year old and make them take that exam now, aren't I? :o

CheerfulYank · 06/04/2011 22:12

Hmm. Well, I stand corrected, at least a bit.

I just looked at the 7+ exam, which you said was taken at 6? Most of our 6 year olds probably couldn't do that, no. Quite a few of the 7 year olds I work with right now could.

southeastastra · 06/04/2011 22:31

surely they'd support a school that was more arts based

kittya · 06/04/2011 23:57

I think we can safely say they won't be going there. Who can blame them after the publicity? No wonder she is fed up

Xenia · 07/04/2011 06:51

The arts are very good there and sport.

As fp said it's a very mixed school with the common theme being the children were able to pass the exam and are at a similar academic level. yes children of all religions go. Arguably the mix is better than the local state schools because it is kind of blind entry (obviously subject to being able to pay fees unless getting a bursary).

I think it must be awful for it to be public (if any of this is true) that you are trying for a school where most people trying know they may well not get in. It should be confidential until the child has passed the exam and interview and the place accepted and even then not disclosed unless the parent and child agree before they start.

kittya · 07/04/2011 15:28

mustve been one of the parents or staff that leaked it. I imagine its put them right off.

HalleLouja · 13/04/2011 09:27

Apparently they are moving to the village where I live and are buying up a golf course and changing it into a new Beckingham Palace. We are the other side of Herts but still a trek from Habs.

My cousin's kids went to school with Brooklyn before they moved to LA and apparently they were nice enough. I think VBs sisters kids went there too.

As for Haileybury it does seem to turn out nice boys. A couple of my old bosses went there and both nice chaps. One of them was friendly with Christopher Nolan.

GemmaPomPom · 13/04/2011 19:23

I don't think it is about ability at all. Most of the children at Habs will have been prepped from 3 or 4 years of age to pass the entry exam for that school. The Beckham children have been educated in the States, which has a completely educational different system and curriculum. Unless they have had extra tutoring to pass the exam, which is a possibility.

I still think (if I were the Beckhams) I would consider King Alfreds. But then obviously I am not privy to what they have planned for their children's education long-term.

Onky · 13/04/2011 19:59

LOL at this thread turning into a thread about the rigours of our public schools with a bit of class hatred thrown in -- ha!

Far more likely to be Aldenham (close to Harberdashers geographically but miles from it on an academic scale) - they can all go there together -- boys and girls from 3 - 18.

The story that is currently being bandied around Harpenden and Welwyn village is that they are buying a big house between Harpenden and Wheathampstead and they were looking at Sherradswood (coed - 3 - 18).

GemmaPomPom · 13/04/2011 20:03

Aldenham. Possibly a good choice. Although maybe not pushy enough if the Beckham children are very bright and ambitious? Aldenham tended to be the school that children where I was brought up went to, if they didn't get in anywhere else.

DaydreamDollyisshrinking · 13/04/2011 20:05

Drove past a Haberdashers school bus on the M3 today. Bloke driving (sports teacher I presumed) was fit. Sorry if i've dragged the thread down. Have a Wine

Onky · 13/04/2011 20:16

GemmaPomPom - I don't think it's changed much. Wink Where roughly in Herts are you?

AlanTitWank · 14/04/2011 09:39

I can think of one farking great big house out Wheathampstead way!

youngpensioner · 14/04/2011 13:52

Sorry I am rather late posting a comment here - I have been away without internet access but read some comments about this in a Newspaper. I just wanted to say that I hope the Beckham Children get in after passing the Entrance Exam with flying colours. I hope they turn out to be best in their Class. I am astounded at the snooty, snobby remarks made here by some people about their children. I think if I were either Mr or Mrs Beckam I would probably think twice before I sent them there. There are obviously a lot of snooty people around the area. I also wouldn't want perfect strangers deciding whether or not my Children were good enough to attend this particular School. Good for the Beckhams I say and don't judge other people.

Onky · 14/04/2011 14:28

youngpensioner - perhaps you need to swot up on some rudimentary genetics.

HalleLouja · 14/04/2011 15:00

Apparently it is the golf course they want to buy and not Brocket Hall but the Mid Herts one or Lamer fields or something like that.

AlanTitWank · 14/04/2011 15:06

Brocket Hall is an events venue anyway so not suitable.

HalleLouja · 14/04/2011 17:52

It is the one on the way to gustard wood / kimpton.

QuickLookBusy · 15/04/2011 13:14

Onky you have just beautifully illustrated what youngpensioner was saying.

What a load of boring stereotypical snobs some of you are.

HalleLouja · 15/04/2011 13:31

There are a lot of snobs on here. Good luck to the Beckham kids - where ever they end up.

pawsnclaws · 15/04/2011 17:01

If they move to Wheathamsted they'll be close to me! Habs isn't massively close (I can't see them getting the bus Wink) but then neither is Aldenham.

Haileybury is so lovely, I grew up virtually next to it (and went to the local comp!) and the boys were so nice - OK so I know some people think it's not academically as up there as Habs, but I can honestly say I've never met an unpleasant or rude Haileybury boy. The facilities are amazing, especially for tennis and I know lots of Heath Mount children go on there. Not quite so convenient if they move to West Herts though.

Onky · 15/04/2011 17:48

HalleLouja - It's nothing to do with being a snob - it's to do with being a realist.

HalleLouja · 15/04/2011 18:03

So no one who comes from a background where the parents / family are not that bright or have not achieved academically will never do well at school Hmm. mmmmm..... Ok. My step dad is the first person to do A Levels in his family let alone go to uni and get a Phd. Oh and now he is an accomplished academic. But if you looked at his background you would have written him off. OK.

QuickLookBusy · 15/04/2011 18:14

Onky did you ever study even a little bit of science at school? Ever heard of the nature/nurture debate, ever known anyone whose parents worked in manual jobs but whose DC ended up at uni, then a professional career?

Snob is probably the wrong word to describe you actually. I would call it being thick ignorance.