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Original poster

Hurst Lodge School

32 replies

Hedgehogheart · 12/12/2020 12:44

Hello. Any opinions on this school please near Blackwater. Just came across it and interested for my DS. Thanks

OP posts:
afewtoomanychoices · 13/12/2020 16:13

pretty sure it closed down!

teachcolate · 13/12/2020 16:50

It's suddenly merged with another school, closed and surprisingly seems opened again now.

Personally I would not send my children because of uncertainty. I saw many children and families had hard time at that time.

Arianrhod · 27/01/2021 12:44

@Hedgehogheart I have twins at this school - happy to give you our experience if you're still looking?

PetuniaClark · 03/02/2021 19:28

It was Hawley place school.......then became HawleyHurst school .....shut very suddenly in 2019 (?) & has now miraculously reopened. I would approach with caution.

Arianrhod · 03/02/2021 20:52

This isn't quite true. It was Hurst Lodge School, an excellent school whose lease ran out on their existing site so purchased the struggling Hawley Place School and named the merged school HawleyHurst School. They took on a lot of the debts of Hawley Place School, and then got hit with financial issues mostly due to Covid (their chief backer had to suddenly close their own doors because of the first lockdown).

Thanks to a massive effort on the part of the senior management team and many of the parents who didn't want to lose the school, they managed to secure funding so that the school survived. They decided to return to their proper name, and reopened the school once lockdown ended in Sept 2020 as Hurst Lodge School.

Not so very mysterious, but rumours are always going to circulate on social media. There are some disgruntled ex-parents who have expressed displeasure very vocally in various places, and this tends to get replicated around.

I'd suggest that anyone interested visits and makes up their own minds, rather than just listening to rumours. But that's just my opinion 🤷

Goldensyrupissticky · 15/02/2021 11:30

I have heard it being recommended for its special unit for ASD. I had thought it closed down as I was aware of staff who were laid off with little warning. I have seen loads of adverts for SEN staff for the school on TES. Must be a big unit as always advertising. Perhaps it is focusing on SEN?

ElizaParker · 05/03/2021 15:40

Avoid at all costs. Children's education severely disrupted by sudden closure. Then it managed to open again, so magically and deeply suspicious. No idea if it’s based on a firm financial footing or if we will go through a closure again.
All the best teachers left. Skeleton staff left to do all the teaching the best they can. Teachers are marvellous, but back room staff severely wanting. If you care about your child’s future and your rights as parents, do not bother with this one.

Arianrhod · 05/03/2021 16:06

Personal opinion @elizaparker, as is mine of course. Personally, it's absolutely the best school for my twins, and I know many other parents who are very happy what the school is doing for their children. Clearly you have a problem with the school, and I'm sorry to hear that - did you take it up with the school directly? If it's not the right school for you and your child, so be it - but it IS the right school for many of us.

ElizaParker · 05/03/2021 16:43

I’m seeking legal advice for a serious safe guarding and data breech.
I think it’s only fair that people comparing it with other schools know there are internal issues. Again I stress the teachers are marvellous.

Snorlax100 · 04/04/2021 21:11

My son went to this school when it was Hawley Place. At that point it was a great school and he was happy there. We did look at Hurst Lodge but it was less academic focused and more arts and drama focused, which is great if your child prefers that side of things. Then a year and 3 months later, 2 weeks before Xmas all the parents got a letter saying it was being bought by Hurst Lodge and renamed to HawleyHurst. We decided to give them a chance. They put up tents (in winter) to accommodate both sets of kids from both schools. By March, dozens of parents took their kids out of that school. There was too much disruption and no proper overall control. The headmaster left and many of the original Hawley Place staff left. My son lost a term of education. We left over Easter that year. We know many more left at the end of the next term once the academic year had been completed.

HawleyHurst went to administration in 2020, staff and parents had a few days notice and all the teachers were gone. The administrators couldn't find a new buyer for some time, and I believe they have rented it back to a few of the original school owners whilst they look for someone to take on the site permanently? I may be wrong but there are public records. Check Companies House gov website.

Anyway I wish them all the best. It all depends on what sort of school you want. Many ex Hawley Hurst have gone to Luckley House or Holme Grange, Collingwood College, Edgebarrow and elsewhere.

beetroot797 · 22/04/2021 20:58

I have personally been to both Hawley Place and Hawley Hurst. Whilst I am slightly biased and not very happy with the school I will try to maintain a balanced argument.

During my time at Hawley Hurst (HH) I found it very difficult to get any support and would not recommend. Some of the teachers are good and I am not criticising them but the way the school is run is not for the faint of heart. Whilst some parts of the school (such as the drama and theatrical department) were well supported, if you want a good academic education please do not go here. My education has suffered greatly because of the troubles this school has put me though and I wish that I had left when the schools merged.

There are always good and bad parts, and of course I am biased but through my own personal experience please do not attend this school

belowdeckyoubet · 02/05/2021 10:37

@Arianrhod you don't quite have the facts correctly either. It's wonderful that you are having such a wonderful experience, but you cannot dismiss the views and experiences of parents who have had gut wrenching experiences through their financial instability. All you have to look at is the disaster last year where children - who had no school to attend as it had closed down - were then not registered for any of their GCSE exams. Try that experience. Have they made ample provision to ensure that that will never happen again?

GemmaMarie1 · 05/05/2021 06:12

Hello, please can anyone tell me how they are finding Hurst Lodge school at the moment? My son has dyslexia, ASD and ADD and the LA looking to possibly place him there. I hear they are moving site too? Has anybody heard anything? Thanks

alexm79 · 12/05/2021 13:10

Avoid!!! Both my daughters went here as it merged it started okish but then both were severely bullied the school did nothing to help. The education is well below par, the behaviour that is accepted is awful. They are looking to move yet again to another site. Not a stable or an honest school in my opinion.

Arianrhod · 12/05/2021 13:44

@GemmaMarie1 I can only report as I find it. I have kept silent at the negative posts on here, because after all, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but what the negative posters are reporting, I absolutely have not found to be the case for us.

I have twin 6 year old boys there - you can see I am not hiding behind an anonymous post here, as I am the only mum there with twin 6 year old boys, so am easy to find! One is ASD/SPD, the other ASD/ADHD/PDA/SPD. Hurst Lodge has been absolutely fantastic for them - they had been through three previous educational establishments, and ended up traumatised for those experiences (as were we, as a family). We moved to the school after it had merged from Hurst Lodge with Hawley Play to form HawleyHurst School at the recommendation of a good friend whose son did well there, and we stayed with it through the Covid-related problems to it's re-emergence back to its original name of Hurst Lodge School.

Again, I can only report our experiences, but not only have the school been fantastic in their handling of my boys, but also in their support of us as a family. When I've had questions or potential issues, these have been listened to, and dealt with promptly, and I've always felt the school is 'on our side'.

I'm not saying they're perfect - their communication overall leaves something to be desired, although individuals are fantastic in their comms - but I defy anyone not to have something they would want to improve at their school.

Yes, they are moving to another site - and hooray, say the parents I know, as they're moving to a much nicer place! That was the one fly in the ointment for us when we were first visiting; we didn't particularly like the site for the old Hawley Place School, the old Ascot base for Hurst Lodge School (before they bought Hawley Place, as the lease at Ascot was up and not allowed to be extended) was a much nicer place. The place they're planning to move to is MUCH nicer, and I feel will be beneficial for the children. I don't see that moving sites makes it unstable!

We took the LA to tribunal to allow us to keep our children at Hurst Lodge, when going through the EHCP process for them both, and I am eternally thankful that we won that battle. Hurst Lodge may not be "perfect" - but our boys love it, and they're thriving, educationally as well as socially.

I suggest you visit the school, talk to them, maybe have a taster day for your son. See what you think, how your son feels, and then decide. You will always get both positive and negative stories; you must decide whether it is right for your son, and your family.

Kermie88 · 26/05/2021 18:27

Can I ask where they are looking to move to? I am looking prospectively for a job there.

Arianrhod · 26/05/2021 19:12

@Kermie88 I replied to your PM

Kermie88 · 26/05/2021 19:31

Thank you

MumKatie · 27/05/2021 16:05

This reply has been deleted

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rafeena1 · 06/12/2021 08:21

We are looking at hurst lodge at present. If I could speak to a parent whose children have been there it would be magic

penlid · 10/06/2022 15:45

I'd be interested in any more views now a bit longer has passed and they have settled into the new site - how are parents and children finding it?
Has staff turnover settled down and is the quality of teaching/support in a good place? We are considering it for our 10 year old and it's difficult to decide what is the right place

Gobbolinothekitchencat · 22/06/2022 11:51

penlid · 10/06/2022 15:45

I'd be interested in any more views now a bit longer has passed and they have settled into the new site - how are parents and children finding it?
Has staff turnover settled down and is the quality of teaching/support in a good place? We are considering it for our 10 year old and it's difficult to decide what is the right place

I see it recommended a lot within a SEN group and also those saying it couldn’t meet the SEN needs. Not sure if that helps you?

gladda26 · 25/08/2022 15:05

Keen to hear recent experiences of Hurst Lodge School, Yateley. Daughter is 12yrs and we are looking for a non selective, small school to help her with confidence and some memory learning needs. Academic excellence isn’t our priority. A happy child gaining confidence is :)

Hullykel · 13/04/2023 14:22

I would avoid this school at all costs. A lot of the older kids, who are there due to being kicked out of every other school in the area, have serious mental health problems. My son was badly beaten by an older boy and ended up in hospital. This is not an unusual occurrence there, and gets hidden by the management.

GMScott · 13/04/2023 19:26

I’m sorry to hear that. I hope your son is ok? I have a different experience thankfully. Both my children are at Hurst Lodge and doing well. There are not many schools that can cater for children who need an understanding environment but still need the academic challenge.