Hampstead Hill School

[SusanAust]

We are moving from Sydney to Australia at short notice in April. Does anyone have any advice on Hampstead Hill School? Or otherwise any advice on schools that are likely to have spaces at short notice for a girl turning 5 January 06 and a boy turning 3 February 06? Many thanks

Of course I meant to London!

Susan, is it a fee paying school? I'd just ring around to see what you can find.

There's an advert in today's Ham and High(local newspaper)for the Phoenix School saying they have vacancies for Reception(4+) and Year 1(5+) in Sept 2006 with an opportunity to take up the places from this summer term.I don't know much about the school but it is the pre-prep for UCS which has a good reputation.The phone number is 020 7722 4433.It says it is a co-ed school for ages 3-7.
Again I don't have any personal experience of Hampstead Hill but IIRC it stays open most of the year so that it provides childcare during normal school holidays.

Hampstead Hill is rather chaotic imo and not great premises. It is also the most expensive school round here as it is open all year round, so costs the same but for more time iyswim. The Headteacher is lovely. You could do worse but it wouldn't be my first choice. THe Phoenix is also good. Have you looked at Devonshire House (didn't like the nursery myself), Northbridge House (DD is going there is Sept), Heathside. There are lots of girls schools but you might want them to go to the same school. Have you managed to get much local info? I will have a look through the list I've got from looking for nursery for DD although obv you're looking for older. Will dig it out and post in the next couple of days. DO ask again about any others.

I think Hampstead Hill does have a reputation for being chaotic and it is constantly looking for funds for the new building. My ds went to the nursery briefly a few years ago (he is 7 now) and we took him out. he was miserable there and there was such a focus on learning (he was only 2.5) that we didn't agree with. I don't think it has a bad reputation when compared to the other private schools in the area, but it is not the best. I think the Phoenix and Hereward House(this is boys only) are meant to be quite nurturing. My friend who thoroughly researched all of the schools in the area, sends her children to North Bridge House. The best school academically is meant to be The Hall (boys only - I think it starts at age 4) - this is very difficult to get into. Alot of the schools seem to have vacancies at that level at the moment. Devonshire House always seems to have places. I like Heathside too- that probably has places. Camden Council does a booklet on schools/nurseries etc in the area.

Many thanks for the advice. Does anyone have any advice on the International Community School in Regents Park? From the web site it looks like they have a lot of staff turnover. Thanks again!

I think InternationalGirl's DD went there. They've moved to South Africa now. She seemed happy with it but I don't know anything myself. Are you able to get a list with phone numbers easily? I can put one together for you if it helps.

I have been using the Good Schools Guide on the web. Schools that maybe have a place are International Community School, Southbank, Abercorn, Hampstead Hill and the Hampshire School. Any comments on any of these? Many thanks.

I know someone whose children go to Abercorn and she is happy. I've never heard of Hampshire School and all I can say about Southbank is that I know where it is! Do you want your children to be in "English" schools iyswim or prefer them to be with lots of other expat children? I've got a Ham & High Education page upstairs that says they are printing special education supplements on certain dates. I'll have a look at it when I'm using the computer upstairs later. Do you know when you are going to be arriving here, do you know where you'll be living?

I think in terms of where to live I'm going to sort out the school first and then rent a house, maybe around Knightsbridge area or maybe Hampstead area depending on the school. I'm actually going to be in London next week so I'll have a chance to meet with some of the schools which will be great. It's so hard to do this from the antipodes!

The page from the Ham & High says they are producing an Education supplement on April 7th, quite a long time away. I don't know the ages that various schools round here take kids, but have you looked at King Alfred and Trevor Roberts? As I said before, there are LOTS of girls' schools, e.g. The Village School, The Royal School, Sarum Hall, St Mary's, St Christina's (I think?) and a few boys' schools, e.g. Lyndhurst, UCS (from what age?).
I would love to meet up if you like and show/tell you more about Hampstead. I don't take CATs so let me know if you want to meet and I'll activate it for a short while.

Susan, my two go to Abercorn (boy 6, girl 5). (Davros, I'm intrigued re who your friend may be!) Abercorn is very very international, families from all over - people tend to be your mobile cosmopolitan professionals - and that makes for interesting and friendly parents, I find - BUT quite a turnover of children. Hence perhaps why there's spaces. The set-up is geared to people coming from different educational backgrounds, so they're very good (eg) with bilingual children. Not sure if that's relevant to you.

The nursery there is LOVELY - we started with ds in reception & dd in nursery and she was in her element. Nursery's only half-days though, so can be a bit of an admin haul if you're not living nearby. Actually if you think of going there you maybe should think of living in St John's Wood/Maida Vale.

Bink, maybe its you! Actually I wouldn't say she's a friend, more an acquaintance. She is American, married to a Brit, lives in Hampstead, 2 DDs....???!!

not me - I'm a Scot married to a Jewish Cornishman with a ds and a dd. Now, who could she be ... actually apart from the Hampstead bit, which puts her a bit further out than most, she could be any number of A'corn parents!