Hazlegrove vs Sherborne for a sporty boy boader

[tachetastic]

We are looking at boarding preps in the South West for our DS, who to be honest is more sporty than academic. I'm not too worried about a prep that feeds into a specific school as there is a fair chance we will be looking at moving by the time he turns 13, so while a Prep linked to a good senior school might be nice it is not a big consideration.

We have narrowed the field down to Hazlegrove and Sherborne. We already discounted the three Taunton Schools and Wellington. I know people will suggest Perrott Hill, but we have done so many visits I think my DOH will kill me if I suggest a new school now.

Anybody with recent experience of Hazlegrove or Sherborne Preps willing to share their thoughts? Boarding seems to have taken a massive hit at both, though that is covid-related I guess. They both have reasonably new heads, which is always something of a worry. Sherborne Prep has just merged with Sherborne School, which I think is probably a good thing in terms of investment and facilities. That said, I also quite like the fact that Hazlegrove is physically separate from its senior school (King's Bruton) with 200 acres for a boy to be a boy (meant in the nicest possible way).

They both seem to be great schools so thoughts would be really welcome.

Well, I've said it before, but happy to say again... our DC are at Sherborne Prep and we are delighted with it. There's a lot of focus on sport, and the sporty children do love that - but there's a general sense that the children are competent and encouraged to explore their interests and it shows up in the whole curriculum.

If you have particular questions, please ask away!

I agree with @StLouiseIsListening that the Sherborne Prep link to Sherborne (Boys’) School is a good thing. That said, the new Headmaster of Hazlegrove was previously Deputy Head at wonderful Cothill and he was excellent. I wouldn’t see the new Head point as a disadvantage; it offers a good prospect of continuity throughout your DC’s time.

Millfield?

Millfield is definitely in the running as a senior school, but their Prep school boarding fees stick in my throat a little, in particular for year groups below Y7 where they are very high.

I dont know much on the fees side of things, a family member works at the senior school and know both sites have incredible sports facilities! I also used to swim there and the senior school with a local club.

Ludgrove?

Millfield is an amazing school but, given the fee difference at that age group, our focus for a Prep school is at the moment on Sherborne and Hazlegrove.

😀

Perrott Hill parent here (sorry!!!!). You don’t say which year your son is in but it might be worth a looking at PH when you’re down next (come on your own, don’t tell your DOH!) It’s smaller than HZG, around the same size as SP, lots of space for kids to be kids… Some year groups are sportier than others - the U11 and U10 boys are strong and there are lots of sport scholarships at the top end regardless. The new HZG head is an Old Perrott Hillian :)

Don’t really ever post, normally trawl MN endlessly for advice on senior schools so thought time to ‘give back’ with a little info. My DS has been at Hazlegrove for 4 yrs now, came from a state primary in south London. He’s super energetic and sporty and has loved every minute of being at the school. He must be the only kid in the south west shouting at ME to get out the door early for the school run! He’s been nurtured in the early years, now being gently pushed and motivated (he’s pretty academic too) - Much more carrot than stick which really works for him. Obviously it all depends on year groups but his year consistently beat PH/Sherborne/AH at all sports, some v talented kids in his year too. I couldn’t dream of a better start for him. The problem we now have is that no senior (day) school matches up to our expectations created by Haz! Also so far so good with the new headmaster: lots of positive energy/have a go attitude and a renewed focus on academically aiming high and trying your best. Hope that doesn’t sound too evangelical😜

There are plenty of kids who board regularly in my DS's year group at SPS. I can actually see SPS from my house, but DS begged to start flexi from Y5 and has been in and out ever since. Mr Patching is a great housemaster and boarding is at the heart of the school even though only a small percentage of the children are in full time.

The merge with Sherborne hasn't negatively impacted on the autonomy of the Prep, that I have noticed, and having use of more of their facilities is great. There is no pressure to go to Sherborne and many don't as they want more of a day school model.

The school has been really brilliant for my DS, I will be gutted when he leaves!

I only have experience of Sherborne Prep though Hazelgrove is a big feeder into Kings Bruton where my son is now. We loved Sherborne and yes Mr Patching was one of our favourite people at the prep. Lots of opportunity for those who are sporty.

Sherborne prep has had 3 heads in less than 2 years! Financially unsustainable too with unstable numbers. Large turnover of staff recently with the old guard left behind. I imagine the boys school will close it within 2 years. I wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole. Hazlegrove a much better bet.

LadyP11 - new head of Hazelgrove is an OS (went to Sherborne) and his wife went to Sherborne Girls.

pdrummond - horses for courses. Sherborne Prep is a lovely small school for those that suit that environment but Hazelgrove looks fab too. At one stage a few years ago there were a few children moving from Hazelgrove to Sherborne Prep - they are very different. Plus these things can weirdly go in fashion! 😬🙄 I am not sure the Prep will close as it has Sherborne School behind it (have you seen their accounts)? But frankly, any of them could get hit with a Labour Government!

Mr Patching the housemaster at Sherborne Prep is fantastic. I am told that my friends' children love boarding at Hazelgrove too. Not much help I know. Go on gut feel! Best of luck!

Hi everyone and thanks for all your comments and suggestions.

We visited both schools a couple of times and decided to go with Hazlegrove, with our DS joining Year 4 in January.

Both schools looked amazing, and I am sure would have been good choices. In the end, our decision was driven by a number of factors including the fanastic facilities, the greater focus on boarding and the amazing energy we felt from everyone we met from the Headmaster to the House Parents to the ladies in the school shop. As DS is a boarder, we also liked the fact that the school is slightly out of town, in its own 200 acres of land with plenty of space for him to ride his bike and skateboard safely. The amazingly strong reviews from Talk Education and Muddy Stilettos may also have helped confirm we were making the right choice.

We are coming to the end of his first term and to date everything is going brilliantly, so we couldn't be happier. That said, I have no doubt that Sherborne Prep is also an amazing school that will be a great choice for lots of families. If anybody is in a similar position to us I would strongly suggest that they visit both schools (yes, and Perrott Hill!) and then go with their gut instinct.

😁😁😁

Our experience of Hazelgrove has been schizophrenic. Many of the teachers are fantastic and go the extra mile to make the kids succeed and be happy. The grounds are lovely and events like bonfire night magical. However a sizeable and growing portion of the staff, including the new Head, seem primarily interested in an evangelical Christian agenda with a thinly veiled contempt for reason and curiosity over dogma and obedience. This leads to a culture of conformity, intolerance and bullying. Something of a dirty secret which has broken surface recently in the hastily revised school aims. Contradicting claims to welcome those of all faiths and none, the aims now set out a mandatory programme of bible study and Christian prayer. Something many parents were surprised to learn, long after sending their children to the school thinking it was more forward thinking and inclusive. It isn’t.

I'm not going to disagree with your opinion, @Edutainment, but I would just observe for the benefit of anyone reading this thread that your comments do not reflect our experience, and in fact the school has organised a day of Hinduism workshops next week, including experiencing stories and music from a different culture as well as getting experts from Hinduism Education Services to talk to the children about their faith and what it means.

We are also parents from a minority group and have not witnessed or heard rumours of any accusations of intolerance or bullying at an institutional level or among the children. We have been welcomed by staff, parents, and on our DS's part by the other children, with warmth and enthusiasm.

You have your views and I totally respect that, I just wanted it to be clear that they are not universally held.

A Hindu student at Hazlegrove will be forced to practice Christianity, regardless of their own faith. If you read the school’s aims they will be expected to study the bible, say grace and pray with their classmates to Jesus. If they don’t, good luck! Most parents aren’t troubled by the lack of diversity, for many it’s frankly part of why they like the school. Something the Headmaster alludes to in his sales pitch to prospective (white, English, Christian) parents, proudly highlighting the “local” character of most of the students. The kindest way to describe the attitude is parochial. It’s a nice school, with nice people. It’s just not the progressive place it sets it self out to be.

On another note, for some reason classes are being combined as of next year, with much larger class sizes and presumably therefore a much lower ratio of teachers to pupils. Many parents are in dismay over this change, and there’s a bit of an exodus to Port Regis.

As a Londoner reading these threads, it really concerns me that some of these schools perpetuate such a traditional and frankly non inclusive culture.
Friends of mine have been happy with Sherborne Prep for many years but they say the biggest issue for them is the lack pretty much anything in the curriculum relating to equality, diversity and inclusion. These children will soon be seeking employment in the world outside this local enclave, often via Uni, and they need to have an understanding of different cultures and faiths, gender equality, disability etc and how to work alongside people from all kinds of backgrounds. The schools are selling them short by not introducing this to them now. Modern Britain is a very diverse place.

Hello! Would anyone be willing to give me a current view of Hazlegrove? I would really appreciate some opinions!