Horris Hill

[Cherrybellapie]

We are considering sending our DS to Horris Hill from year 6 onwards . He would be boarding and hopefully he would go on to Winchester. I would love to hear from current or recent parents on their experience of the school. Also happy to hear other suggestions for good prep schools for Winchester. TIA

A genuine question: Is the prep test for Winchester pretty early in year 6? In that case, HH would have pretty little influence on him gaining a place. If he is capable to get into Winchester, what are your motivations to move him now as he clearly must be very able and his school must have been reasonably good to get him so far? As a school, from personal experience, HH is very, very lovely. Good ethos, their termly move system works equally well for quick learners and DC who need extra help, so HH is one of the few schools that is equally sought after by parents of kids who need extra challenge and of those who really struggle at their present school. But it's a small school, so plusside is: lovely and kind family ethos, virtually no bullying or airs and graces but staff teaching lovely manners and kindness by example and modelling it through lots of personal interactions, eating together etc. .Downside is that it could feel claustrophobic and has relatively poor facilities and due to its size relatively (as in compared to larger first class schools - it has of course alm the normal offers) limited scope of extra curricular options (except if your DS is really into model railways). Compared with the other main Winchester feeder Pilgrims it lacks the strength in and focus on music. If you choose it in order to give DS his first full boarding experience in a small and caring environment and your DS is not an expert musician or sportsman but most happy in wellies, climbing trees and playing with and building model railways, HH might be a really good choice. But if your DS comes from a large London or shiny country prep school he might find it all a bit dull and spartan (especially having swimming lessons in a cold outside pool when all local competitors have a nice heated indoor poo) and will end up calling it Horrid Hill. It seems quite popular with militay/foreign office parents, so maybe there is a tiny bit of 'tough them up with cold showers and on muddy sports fields to prepare them to serve their country in the less cosy parts of the common wealth'

Thank you for the detailed reply @NellyBarney. I have also received a few private messages and have decided that Horris Hill is not the school for us.

In answer to your question. Boys now sit the ISEB in the Autumn term of year 6 and if successful are invited to Winchester for interview during the Spring term. My son is doing very well however his current school ends at year 6 .We will have to look for a school for 7/8 to help prepare for Winchester. We are now considering Pilgrims or Summerfields.