Kimbolton School

[MustBeDueSomeBetterFeet]

Hiya

I have two children, one Reception age and one younger. Although I'd thought they'd remain in the Harpur Trust system, I have reservations about some of the practicalities around the schools there so have started to look at Kimbolton which is a similar drive time.

Does anyone currently have children there who can share their experience of Prep or Senior School? I've had a good look online but can't find anything negative about it.

We're going to reserve judgment on Senior School until we know whether they will board which will open our options at age 13, but have a tour of the Prep book for a few months' time to see for ourselves.

Hi MustBeDueSomeBetterFeet

Our daughter goes to the Prep and has been there since Reception. Before deciding on Kimbolton we did look at Pilgrims and Laxton. We were impressed with both but definitely got the warmer fuzzy feeling with Kimbolton and it suited our needs better.

My daughter loves going to school and misses it in the holidays, she's always very happy and loves all of the teachers especially her class teacher and TA. They are very sporty and now do games from Year 2 up in addition to PE and swimming every week. For girls that means Hockey in the Autumn, Netball in the Spring and Rounders in the Summer Term. There's also cross country at the end of each term or half term which is in the guise of a 'fun run' in the Lower Prep.

I would definitely recommend, and would find it hard to specify any significant faults. The school has just been entered into the Good School Guide which is well deserved, it's worth a read - I've pasted the link encase you haven't seen it already...

www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/schools/kimbolton-school-huntingdon/N5CMCZL#tab_review

You can't beat the open green space around both the Prep and the Senior school. Hopefully you will get a good feeling when you have your visit.

I only just saw your response, and thank you very much. We have just been invited to a show at the Prep theatre next week which I'm looking forward to using as another scoping out exercise.

Just hoping I can move son at the same time into y2 when my daughter joins reception, as I am not sure I can cope with double drop off (kimbolton then bedford) twice a day!!

Out of curiosity why would you choose Kimbolton over Oundle which isn't too far away?

Good question! We are thinking Oundle, Rugby or Uppingham from 13 if they board, but for prep I wanted to keep them day pupils. Kimbolton is 20 mins drive whereas Oundle is 50 mins.

Oundle has a good proportion of day pupils though too don't they? 50 minutes would be long for prep. Although I think the pupils from Laxton are exempt from the 13+ and transfer to the upper school? In that case it might be worth the journey.

They've just changed the guidance at Laxton. Pupils who joins before (I think) year 4 won't have to take the exam to get into Oundle. There will still be "guidance" I think but the idea is that that there's no exam pressure.

I think they've just done the same at Abingdon between the prep and senior school. That alone would make me far more interested in making the journey to Laxton over Kimbolton. I'd only chose Kimbolton if you're truly happy to keep your kids there all through as they won't prep them for any entrance exams for any other senior school. You could end up with a very unhappy 13 year old if you're trying to move them when all their friends are staying on.

Hootenanny - we chose Laxton over Kimbolton for that very
Reason. The junior schools seemed to be very similar but we were just blown away by the senior

I will look at Laxton/Oundle. The problem I have would be trying to fit a working day in, if I have 4 hours' driving each day taking them to/from.... I'm just not sure it's something I could/would be able to do. It'd be different if I were a SAHM I guess - another conversation I guess if we decided on that!!

Yes, I got the impression that most Prep kids went up to Senior School at Kimbolton which is fine if we're sticking with day for senior, but perhaps not if we're considering boarding. Boarding isn't something I'm 100% wedded to though.

They do have some day pupils at Oundle but it's says it's a very limited amount. My husband's experience (as a boarder) was that in that sort of environment, it was quite difficult being a day pupil and fitting everything in (and relationships wise with the boarders) but everyone's different.

I just wondering if I'm missing a trick here- why is nothing ever easy!! Might also look towards Cambridge (although THAT commute would be hell!).

BTW thanks for all opinions. It's helping rule stuff out if nothing else!

It’s a lovely school for primary aged children. It’s not hugely academic for secondary but I’d dehjnitelu send my kids to the prep school if we had the cash.

Would definitely recommend Kimbolton. I have two children at the Prep School who both started from Reception. My children are very different from each other but both are thriving at Kimbolton. It is very much a community and offers so many different opportunities from sport through to music and art alongside the normal academic rigour.

Thanks, SleepfreeZone and supermumtwice.

In a way, I'm trying to pick holes in Kimbolton (and waiting for someone to say their kids hate it!) but really there seems no particular downside. That's definitely the feeling I got, that there was a lot of scope for children to fit in and excel, whether they are sporty, musical, academic etc.

Don’t underestimate the senior school either. It is also very good academically and also offers so many opportunities no matter how your children excel.

Anyone with kids there - how do you find the commute/parking/pickup arrangements/wraparound care??

What roads would you be travelling on OP for your commute?

In terms of parking there’s plenty of parking at the prep and normally lots in the high street if need be. I’ve only really seen the secondary get snarled up at rush hour, I don’t think the prep is as bad. I suspect most parents out of the area are going straight up the road towards Catsworth and then joining the A14. Obviously that’s a notorious road for congestion but they are doing widening work on it currently that may or may not improve things 😬

I'd come up the A1 and across at Hail Weston I think (B645).

Generally, I'd be dropping off as early as poss (ie 730 for Kim Club) so hope to avoid some of the mania!! Pick up would probably be 1540 or maybe after Film Club, particularly if it's slightly quieter travel wise.

Good to know about the Prep. If they're there for senior years, we'd probably look at the bus as an option anyway and I can avoid it entirely !

That sounds a better route. They’ll always bectraffic but it’s never as bad as the A1 and if you’re coming up that early it should be fine.

Thanks for your advice, SleepFreeZone.

I'm hoping that's the case and want to do a dummy run one day to see how it goes!

I've name changed so I'm not recognised, but I just wanted to say Kimbolton prep is the best school I know & my dd was incredibly happy there, particularly with the music!She cried when she left & still years later gets very upset when we talk about it. The support for the individual is amazing. However, the senior school is a different school entirely with lots of academic pressure, little time for music & activities & no account given to the individual. We nearly moved her to BedMod for senior which seemed very good but changed our minds & moved to Oakham where she is very happy & is enjoying all the opportunities musical & otherwise she could possibly ask for.
Oundle is good, but I believe Oakham is much more child centred with a curriculum really tailored to the needs & ambitions of the child. & they have a wonderful lower school where they can day or board from age 10! Wish we'd just moved her straight to Oakham from the end of prep

Forgot to say, Kimbolton loses more that it would admit to at age 11-13 with a large minority choosing Oundle or Oakham. So don't be fooled into thinking they all go to the castle - they'd like you to think so but it's not the reality!

Thank you for sharing. That is super useful.

I'm going to look at BMS Thursday for comparison actually.

Interesting about Oakham! I hadn't realised it took them so young. I'm Not saying I would want them to go away at 10 but it's good to have options.

Can I ask if found any issues moving to Oakham with your child's experience, skills or knowledge at testing stage?

Academically dd wasn't ever going to struggle, top marks in the castle entrance test. Oakham is probably a little less academic than both Kimbolton & Oundle but difficult to judge as they offer such a wide range of gcse, igcse, ib, btec & a levels. Near the top in the country for sport & music with many getting in on scholarships that aren't academic so they are not exactly just taking grammar school types. We took the plunge & moved to Oakham & love it here

Sounds like a great move. Such a beautiful part of the world.

I'm glad to hear you felt the education was of a good standard. I wondered if Prep at Kimbolton didn't stretch the children much but it seems to have given your DD a great start.

No danger of Kim Prep not stretching them enough - totally dedicated staff who make absolutely sure every child is achieving their best. It's the total outlook of the school which makes them love learning, from the teacher who dresses up for the fun run or puts himself in the stocks for charity, to the music staff working all the hours god sends to put on a fantastic year 2/6 show. The teachers even sit with the kids for lunch!