Hampshire Collegiate School in Romsey

[chicaguapa]

I've had another thread going about St Swithun's/ Winchester College but would like to know a bit more about HCS. I know someone who went to the old boys school but that's not really relevant to the newly merged school. Does anyone know anything about it since it merged? Friend's opinion is that it's better than KES, but I don't know if that's up-to-date opinion. I like that it's co-ed and it seems less hard-core than Winchester. Looks nice from the website and thinking of going to the open day next week.

Oh poo! The open day next week is for the nursery. Never mind. Hoping that the knowing of mn will be along soon.

Thanks.

I have a friend with a daughter there. She's been a pupil since Y3 and is now Y7. The majority of the academically very able head off to selective schools at the end of KS 2 eg. King Edwards, St Swithins, South Wilts Grammar etc. There is no comparision between those schools and HCS!! However, there are loads of opportunities for sport, drama and music.

Ok, so you're saying that the other schools are better for the academically very able? I didn't realise KES was selective. It didn't seem that way. I know SS is.

I've just looked at the KES website and I don't know why I thought it wasn't selective as it does say quite clearly that it is. The school doesn't jump out at me though. Just goes to show how important it is to actually look around a school!

KES is DEFINITELY selective!! If your child is academically able then it would be a great environment. We send a few children there each year from my primary school and they tend to be bright, articulate all-rounders.

The HCS GCSE results look pretty impressive on paper, I must say! And yes, they are selective, though I don't know what exactly they select ON!

I went to an inter-schools cross country meet there a couple of years ago when my DS was in a local state juniors, and I have to say the site is very impressive- acres of open ground, trees, all very nicely kept. The junior school is very new, built as a result of the merger. I know of a few DCs from my DC's state schools who went there for secondary, and one, a DS, Y5 who has just gone cos his mum thinks he needs an academic kick up the bum before state secondary!

I gather DCs go there from ALL OVER- you'll see them in their purple uniforms waiting at bus stops in Winchester at 7.20am, and, whilst at the end-of-school cross country thing, there were DOZENS of buses lined up on the driveway!

It is my impression that the school expect you to at least pretend to commit to secondary school there- though as someone just said, many leave. I am surprised it is seen as a prep for places like St Swithuns, though- I'd've thought The Stroud in Romsey or Tywford Prep would be more appropriate, but that's just my opinion.

KES is where the Winchester consultants send their DCs when they just can't quite bear to send their DCs to either of the 2 outstanding comprehensives in the town, but can't stretch to St Swithuns or can't get their DS in to Winchester College!

I should add that, if we had the money (or weren't in the catchments of a very good state primary and an outstanding secondary), I'd be looking at HCS with interest!

Thanks. You've also replied on an old thread of mine erebus which I've now responded to. It's about pretty much the same thing as this tbh.

I'm so confused! Do you think any of the private schools (KES, HCS, SS) offer something that the local state schools can't? Not just academically. We can move into the catchment of Thornden, Kings or Westgate as we have 18 months to decide, and DC are currently at a Thornden feeder. But my lovely dad would be paying the fees for the private schools. Which puts them all on a level playing field for us and makes the decision somewhat harder.

I actually think they're 3 different types of school, to be honest.

My understanding is that KES is sporty and really quite academic. It seems to be the choice of the middle classes who would have hoped their DC would have won a grammar school place (it was a grammar!) BUT who are not in the catchment of very good comprehensives. Friends I know whose DCs are there say it is a school that 'takes no prisoners'- you are either up to it or you flounder in large, fast moving classes.

HCS is more your 'local' (though kids travel miles to get there!) private, the sort of place successful middle managers might have sent their DCs fearing the nasty rough element and the local comp, iyswim! It's improving academic record is a recent thing.

SS is out and out public school complete with eating disorders and 'How rich is your daddy?'. I genuinely think that for SS or WC you need to be 'to the manner (manor?!) born.'

FWIW, I live in 'middle class central', Thornden catchment. I know personally of 3 DCs who have been offered scholarships to KES, but who have chosen Thornden, which is mainly because the parents feel their DCs will get a good, all round education there (and they won't be not much short of $13k p.a. poorer!). I know of no Thornden bound DC at our local primary who don't end up going there and there are many parents who could well afford KES or HCS.

Good enough for me!

PS which feeder are you at? We're at KW.

DC are also at KW. but we aren't in catchment for either KW or Th.

Your description of parents who might send their DC to HCS sounds just like the parents of my friend who went to Embly Park . So it's private for private's sake then?

I don't fancy KES and can't see what DC would get out of there over Kings/ Th.

I chose Thornden over KES. Ds can walk to school and I save a load of dosh. What's not to like?!

I wouldn't pay 50p to send ds to Hampshire Collegiate. Nice uniform, nice lot of buses, but it's for kids who can't get into KES.

St Swithun's is vv expensive and vv posh. Unless you are seriously loaded I'd avoid it.

I'd also opt for Thornden over KES or any other private school in the area. Loads of opportunities and you'll still have money to enjoy life!!!!

I guess the long and short of it is that Thornden does appear, from my experience to be 'the equal' of KES and HCS in that it provides what both of those can.

chic, I would be a bit fairer and say that HCS in perhaps more than 'private for private's sake' IF you happen to live in a dodgy catchment! I readily admit that were we in say Ty**e catchment, HSC would look very attractive!

Thanks. That's been a great help.

So in a nutshell, DC, who are both high-ability, would do just as well at either Thornden (or Kings if we move to Winchester) and there would be no point in them going to any of the private schools mentioned.

However, I've also been mulling it over for my niece and nephew, who are more middle-ability and I think would thrive at Thornden. They are also at KW and not in catchment, though only just outside it so might still get in. But if they didn't, I think HCS is the best alternative for them.

Thanks again.