Hampton Prep School and LEH

[artmo]

Hi there. Does anyone have any experience of these schools that they can share? My son is at a high pressure pre-prep in central London and we are looking to move to South West London after the 7+. I really like the look of Hampton, especially as our son seems to love sport, but wonder what people's experiences are. I guess I would like to find schools which are academic and provide de an excellent all round education, but perhaps with a little more heart (if that makes sense?!) and without the crazy pressure from schools and parents that seem to exist in central London. We also have a younger daughter who would ideally join LEH but would go to Hampton pre-prep first.

Hampton Pre-prep doesn't have many dd's, you should consider Jack and Jill school too.
Hampton Prep has 20 places allocated at Hampton School, you are advised as you progress through the prep school if your ds will get 1. Everyone can of course take the entrance exam but I believe this year not many more than 20 as expected got in. Hampton school is like all the top schools in London, they choose you. Main consideration when moving to Hampton area with a ds is that is if they aren't suited to Hampton School you are looking at quite a journey to Reeds in Cobham, Ibstock, St George's in Weybridge etc which are regarded as back up schools.

This is extremely helpful. Thank you

If you move to Thames Ditton/Surbiton/Esher you have far more schooling choice & fast trains to London.

Hampton and LEH have a vast coach network. Very accessible from huge swathes of SW London.

It’s not much different in south west London from where you are now. Rather than the sprinkling of international super rich you get swathes of hard working professional parents who still want great schools for their children and are prepared to travel / commute for it. It’s not a kindly suburb where everyone is laid back and goes to a good local school (sadly). There is less madness of 20 hours tutoring a week that you will hear about sometimes in central London but still huge competition for the top schools and a huge overlap with central London schools particularly where the preps feed into at senior level.

Hampton prep is fabulous although it appears 7+ entrance has become vastly more competitive in the last few years. You may wish to consider Rowan ( claygate) or surbiton high for you daughter also. Rowan has a mini bus network for drop offs. Feel free to PM me re boys 7+- have recent experience of SW London schools.

Hampton is a fabulous school and has worked well for us for both the sporty/gregarious (DS1) and the non-sporty/shy (DS2).
The parents are normal hard-working people who are making sacrifices to geive their sons the education they did jot have themselves in many instances.
LEH is also an excellent school for the right kind of girl (sporty, first-born alpha females). We did not send our girl there as that was not her.
We looked at St Catherine's Twickenham (small, and ambitious), Surbiton High and Putney High (large, gregarious) and Kingston grammar (small, hockey-based)

Have 2 girls at LEH. Whilst they both love and embrace the sport, they also enjoy the music and drama; whilst friends Love the music and drama and don’t participate in sport so much. So there is something for everyone. Lots of families with 2 or even 3 girls there so not just for 1st borns. The two schools have a close relationship- most of their friends’ brothers also go to Hampton. I believe there are 100 + families with children at both. They share bus routes , drama productions , have fun inter school sports etc so there is lots of interaction. Go and visit and ask lots of questions . Locally - Kingston Grammar ( indie not a grammar) is also very well thought of . Also in my view , Hampton prep is a boys school with a few sisters allowed in. It’s not great for girls really. Newland house is also highly sought after .