Help! Habs boys or MTS

[Kicca]

I was really hoping for some help / thoughts that could help us decide between these 2 schools as we are finding this decision VERY difficult. I know we are lucky to have the choice (DS just got offers from both).
I had some reservations about Habs under the previous Headmaster but I really like the new one and the school is a bit closer to us. I know however that MTS is generally perceived as more of an "all rounder" school.

Our issue / question is whether Habs would suit a child who is academic (never been tutored in his life) but academics are not all for him (he is really sporty - county level) and can be quite sensitive at times. Is pastoral care really good at Habs or do they tend to sideline kids if at any time they struggle?
By looking at their curriculum online, it seems to me that sport is played less from year 9 and ahead to leave more space to the academics. That sounds sensible to some extent but I would not want his life at school to be just about pressure on the academics (even if he can keep up by himself).

Any thoughts of mums with experience (particularly recent experience) of the school(s) would be ENORMOUSLY appreciated!

What sport does he play - is it something that is player more at one school and the other. Academically nhs will do brilliantly at either so you are now looking at marginal difference in maybe sport, extra curricular activities, etc.

Many thanks for your message, Hersetta.

DS plays rugby and does competitive swimming (at county level).
It seems both schools offer a lot re extra-curricular activities etc.
Our main concern is whether Habs is indeed rather "ruthless" re Academics (as you often read) and whether Pastoral Care is good.
As mentioned, DS is good academically (but definitely not an academic genius) and passed his all exams without extra help but can be quite sensitive at times (which may cause temporary blips) so I just want to make sure I am not putting him into a School where the pressure to be super steady on high level of Academics is relentless and/or not supported with some good pastoral care if needed.

It seems to me that with the new headmaster at Habs there is more emphasis on kids being "all rounders" rather than "just" Academically brilliant but it would be great to hear from someone who has direct experience of the school.

@kicca congrats and well done to your son.

If he is into rugby it is a big part of the curriculum at Taylor’s. There is a whole week in the autumn term dedicated to rugby and it’s a highlight of the year. And some of the schools that they compete against in a normal year are very varied. I can’t remember exactly but it does include some top schools.

I have a ds at MTS. Very happy and he is flourishing and all the teachers have ascertained what kind of boy he is and know how to get the best out of him. I was very impressed by their understanding when we had a zoom parents evening. My son is not an academic genius at all but quiet and reliable which is appreciated. It has been most reassuring as so many schools want the extrovert geniuses but there are lots of different characters at Mts with all sorts of strengths and they will work on the weaker points if they feel its necessary. As one teacher told us just because your son is quiet thats who he is and there’s nothing wrong with that. And he could identify with that personally. It was so refreshing because for so many years we were told he needed to be louder, more interactive in class, sign him up for drama etc.

But from reading your post you seem to have more questions about Habs than MTS. You do have a nice problem however. What is your sons preference?

Many thanks for your message, @cockneygirl, as it really resonates with me. DS is not a super confident, extrovert child - which is why I do wonder whether Habs may be a good fit for him. He can be very confident in the things he does (whether academic or sport) but he certainly is not the child that likes to talk about himself (he gets rather embarrassed even when the school celebrates his achievements).

We do have the impression that MTS may be a more "relaxed" environment than Habs but we do liked a lot its new headmaster and his speeches and wonder whether how the school is doing now in this regard. I'd love to hear from someone whose son is there now.

DS likes both schools. He loves the sport (particularly swimming) facilities at Habs and the fact that Habs is closer to us but he is tempted to choose MTS because he too has the impression (or worry) Habs may better fit very extrovert / confident kids.

We'd love to hear whether anyone has a different experience to tell.

@Kicca hope you made the right choice and your DS is happy? Which one did you go for? I stumbled upon your post as I was trying to find some comparison for these two schools, but that's for my DS fir his pre prep admissions... Any suggestions which one to go for as a through school? Obviously for my little one we still don't know how he will be academically or even in sports or what other interests he may have ..

Someone who went to the sister school wrote about habs girl school. Probably not relevant
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3670527--Opinion-Former-Habs-Girl-I-would-not-send-my-kids-to-Haberdashers-Askes-Elstree-Heres-why