Hall Grove vs Lambrook

[legoninjago1]

Did anyone visit both and have to decide between the two? My impressions:
Lambrook is more polished, probably a fair few very wealthy families, good for girls and boys, great facilities, (perhaps a bit snooty?), has become a bit of an academic hothouse in recent years, beautiful grounds, sporty, proper boarding / flexi boarding provisions, good range of next schools with good results.
Hall Grove is a bit more of a local prep, a bit more down to earth, maybe a little more suited to boys, not snooty, more of a cross section of families, quirky, great music, academic but not pushy, good sport but not amazing, no meaningful boarding provision, happy and friendly, outdoorsey.

Would love any input to see if I'm in the ballpark!

Thanks

I’m familiar with a couple of the more well known Oxford boarding preps - and having looked at the video, Hall Grove certainly doesn’t suffer by comparison. It looks as if it provides a lovely life for its pupils.

Their boarding offering is quite ... odd. Really, emergency child care rather than a boarding environment - though presumably useful for some. I wonder if worrying over whether one of the thirteen beds might be available just when you need it causes parents any additional stress? On the other hand their co-curricular/holiday house seems to offer a glorious experience.

Have to say the only Lambrook parents I’ve met would seriously put me off the school - but I can’t offer any first hand knowledge ...

With hindsight one extra thing I’d suggest you consider is exactly how each school would handle situations where things go wrong - if your child struggles, if you have an ongoing family difficulty, if you find yourself strongly disagreeing with a decision ... Can you rely on the staff to stand beside you? That’s even more important than ponies ...

That's interesting thanks so much @SurpriseSparDay
That's my worry about the Lambrook parents. Do you mind expanding on that a little? Don't worry if you'd rather not. I can probably imagine!
We're pretty much equidistant between Lambrook, Hall Grove and Papplewick. Love P but just a touch worried about the boarding track. HG seems a bit too puny on the boarding front thought! Lambrook seems to have struck the right balance but I worry about Lambrook. You never really hear negative things about the other schools....

Don’t know what stage you’re at but if you can - look each HM in the eye and ask who your child would go to with a serious problem. And what processes they have for resolving difficult issues.

As I said, I have no direct experience of either place. I might worry a little if a school seemed to depend on just one person - but you can judge whether that’s the case or not.

I’ve never heard a bad word about Papplewick. I must admit we were too scared of the reptiles to investigate further.

What d’you mean about the boarding? At prep level (at the right school!) it’s one long sleepover - with added bed making and shoe polishing. Obviously most people hate the idea - and the minimum age is increasing every year, almost - but they have a lot of fun.

I always find it paradoxical that the amazing resources of the best boarding preps - vast acres of greenery, forest, adventure playgrounds, high level sport, specialist teaching, money for everything - are generally only available to children whose families can provide those things at home. Everyone else hears ‘boarding school’ and throws up their hands in horror ...

Ha - I never thought of it like that but you have a point!
Not throwing hands up in horror - although boarding in Yr 6 is possibly a better reason to discount a school than a cute little lizard or two You'll have missed the cockroach then. Wish I had.
No I boarded at 8 and then on and off through school. I know it can be fabulous fun but I also know it can be crap. It's just that once they start I know that will likely be it then. Off they go to boarding Senior etc. Hard to imagine it now. They're 4 and 5.

Probably won’t be any prep boarding by the time it matters!

Any Hall Grove or Lambrook parents out there please?

Bump! Any Lambrook/ HG parents around please? Thanks in advance.

Have you considered any other prep schools like Eagle House, Sunningdale?

As PP said the parents alone from Lambrook would put me off.

I've only heard good things about Hall Grove.

@aggitatedstate thank you. Yep I don't want the level of boarding of Sunningdale. We'd do Papplewick before we went there although i think it's probably a fantastic school for the right children. Veering towards HG over Lambrook but still not sure. I'm sure there are lovely Lambrook parents too!?!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/education/3485142-lambrook-prep?msgid=86126617

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/primary/3605607-Independent-Prep-schools-in-Ascot-area?msgid=87614271

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/primary/3092139-Relocating-to-Ascot-for-Lambrook-Where-to-live?msgid=73496658

Thanks @SurpriseSparDay. Not much of an insight into either school on those threads really though. Maybe I'll have to canvass the locals!

I will send a PM to you.

e name changed for privacy, but I am a regular poster (stately homes, penis beaker etc.).

I was a Hall Grove parent. Honestly, I have nothing bad to say about the place. My younger daughter thrived there, and my only regret was that my elder daughter had gone to another local prep school a few years earlier and hadn’t had anything like the amazing experience as her little sister.

There is little boarding, but we only used it on a flexi-basis so it worked for us. Manhunt in the dark was a popular activity in the evenings.

There was a real cross-section of parents, some perhaps in the Lambrook category but most families were like us, both parents working to be able to afford the school fees (which were competitive then, I’m not sure about now).

The house in Devon is amazing and the kids love going there.

If you want a good, all-round school where children are cared for and happy, then you can’t really go wrong with Hall Grove. It’s a fab place

Thanks @Namechangeobvs27 that's the general impression I get. Yes the fees are a bit lower than Lambrook. Do you think/know whether AG has a succession plan? That's the only other thing I'd question when it's a family owned school.

It’s an interesting question, and my answer is very much a guess as my daughter left some years ago now. I think that even when AG retires, he will be very hands on. The school means so much to him that I think he will be part of it until he drops. I also very much doubt he would sell it.

I’m a fan, can you tell? 🤣

Thanks so much. Have you heard anything about bullying there?

Hi I'm new to Mumsnet so don't know the etiquette about joining a thread that's been dormant for a month so hope its ok.

We have looked at both Hall Grove and Lambrook for our daughter. At the moment we have paid the deposit for her to start Lambrook as we got a better vibe from it and the facilities seemed much better. I'm curious to know though about what 'Lambrook parents' are like though. Am I going to be ostracised for working full time?

Hi @KateFTC Don't worry about the thread being a little old! Hopefully some current lambrook parents will be along to comment.
I honestly wouldn't worry - if you felt it is right for you it probably is. It's a large school and the parents can't all be the same! I'm sure there'll be some who you wouldn't want to mix with and lots that you will. And Ive recently met 2 Lambrook mums at an open day for another school who both work. I'm sure there'll be loads.
Would you mind going in to a tad more detail about the Lambrook vs HG vibe? I'm leaning towards a single sex school but quite keen on HG. Thanks

We went for an open morning at both. Lamb room felt more polished, the children who took us around were very articulate, confident and knew what they needed to cover. The teachers answered my questions very well and the facilities were excellent. At the end of the tour we were delivered back to an area where there were drinks and the senior staff made an effort to talk to us.

In contrast, Hall Grove was a bit haphazard. The children were friendly but not as confident and took us on a very random tour of the school. The facilities didn't seem as good and when we were delivered back the staff didn't seem to want to engage but wave us goodbye. It might just be the luck of the draw but lambrook felt more professional. The other thing I liked about lambrook is their use of technology, they seem to have intergrated it into the classrooms more seamlessly than other schools and have labs for both Mac and PC (these were under construction when we went).

Lambrook had a detailed provision for extra needs. My husband is dyslexic and whilst we don't know if our daughter will be I would like to know that the school is able to help if need be.

Our daughter is only 2 so we are probably 2 years away from her joining but it felt the more appropriate school. My mother is a primary school teacher so I'd like to take her with us to look at the school again and ask probing questions.

I'm the opposite to you re single sex or mixed. I'd like her to go to a mixed prep but single sex secondary. I was at single sex for my whole school life and I think I would have benefited from socialising with boys initially although I think at secondary they would be a distraction. Someone did a study that girls do better in single sex and boys do better in mixed. Bit hard to achieve both and I don't know how accurate it is...

Thanks @KateFTC. Yes sounds like we're opposite! The polished is great and I imagine no one does that better than Lambrook! I quite like an element of haphazard though particularly at an all boys' school. As long as the academics are top notch. It's tricky too as my 5 yr old would love to be with all boys but my 4 yr old loves the girls in his class. Interesting times!. I'm touring final two shortly anyway and will make final decision. Happy Christmas!

Can anybody give me some up to date info on what Lambrook is like for girls starting age 4? Also what the nursery is like... Any current parents opinions? I keep hearing negative reviews about the parents which puts me off, what is this all about? Would love some insight from current or prospective parents: we loved our visit there but this all puts me off. Thank you.

@KateFTC did you decide on a school for your girl? I have a three year old girl so would be looking for entry in 2o21...

Cheshirecat123 I’ve PM’d you

I have two at Hall Grove @cheshirecat123 Feel free to PM me if Kate is at Lambrook!

I’m a Lambrook parent and my DD started in nursery and is now in year 1. She skips in to school and dearly misses it during lockdown. Both my husband and I work full time and that is very common among the Lambrook parents. There are a few wealthy parents and a good mix of those just looking to make the right choice for their kids and their own values. We chose Lambrook due to their investment in technology and IT as well as the setting which is impressive. In the last 3 years we have been impressed in how they have allowed the children to flourish and find themselves and also the attentiveness on each child’s requirements. In 3 years our DD has not been in a class size of more than 14 children. All the parents are welcoming and collaborative. Especially helping each other with home school. The teachers are all warm and approachable. It was the right decision for us.