Anyone know anything about the Harrodian school in Barnes (London)?

[artichokes]

I was just wondering whether any mumsnetters have children at the Harrodian? Or are you a teacher with knowledge of the school? If so how do you rate it? What are your good and bad experiences?

DH and I are considering it as an option for DD and we were impressed by the tour but I feel I need to know alot more before making any decisions.

sarratt: have you and the other parents without any interviews/places talked to the head of your school? This is where s/he needs to get his/her finger out and be really active in finding workable alternatives.

Don't panic! Put that energy into positive action. Call up H for feedback (or get your school to do it) and start calling round prep schools. However, my advice there is to consider what you want at 13+. Day, boarding? How academic? Look at the schools leavers destinations so you can be sure that they will be catering for what you want. You want a school with a good track record of CE preparation and a Head with good school contacts as you will be a new joiner. Also, go beyond your immediate geographical location as a lot of schools will run buses which gives you more choice. Go and visit, be pro active. So much moves around in London all the time that spaces come up, and you could secure one now if you go for it! GOOD LUCK!

Re Harrodian, the head at my dcs school (private prep, roughly in that area) said to me recently that he has no real idea what they are looking for and finds it very hard to second guess who will get in. He said that with most schols they have a v good idea of whether a child will/won't get in and will/won't fit in, but he really can't work that out re Harrodian.

I would ring school for feedback. He may have passed exam, but just missed getting place due to huge demand for places. In which case tell them that it is your first choice school and would even consider moving him sometime during year 7 or 8. People move or their circumstances change, so places come up at the last minute. If you are prepared to jump ship at the last minute they will take you, after all they are running a business.
On the other hand if he didn't make the grade then you know it's a non starter. Ring some prep schools. They will have places as there will be a few children who will also have done 11+ or usual natural wastage.

Fulham Prep and Thomas's have swept up a couple of boys I know who had difficulties at 11+, but remember that this just throws you straight into pre-selection for 13+, so it very much just buys a little time (not wildly helpful I know).
Harrodian seems to have gone from a school that used to be thought by some as the ultimate fall-back to turning down quite a lot of boys at 11+. Not sure where all the extra business has comes from - boys' 11+ in London seems to have become incredibly tight, more so even than for girls.
Best of luck