Rosehill or Somerhill in Tunbridge Wells

[Twinthehouse]

I don't suppose anyone could give me some insights into these schools?

We have a taster session tomorrow.

And today we met with some friends who said RH was very strict and quite competitive. That wasn't the feeling I got when I looked round, so I'm panicking somewhat.

Thank you!

Only just seen, so sorry if too late. We use Somerhill and really like it. Nice atmosphere, other parents mainly pleasant, lovely facilities, and so far the teaching has been a good balance of fun/discipline.

Don't know RH terribly well, but it does have a reputation for rather pushy parents.

Hello, I'm interested in this too. We've been to an open day without children at Somerhill but I wasn't very impressed with the teacher showing us around. She didn't seem to really know the school and kept comparing it to the State school she worked at previously and seemed to be saying it wasn't much better. I'm interested to hear from parents at the school who are pleased they sent their children here.

We've looked round Rose Hill at one of their open mornings with the children, and we liked all the staff and the children seemed to be enjoying themselves. I didn't get the impression it was that pushy though - so again, interested if this is true!! The facilities weren't as good as Somerhill though. I was a bit 'underwhelmed'.

I have two boys at Somerhill, both since nursery, one now well through yardley Court, one in the pre-preps.

We have been very pleased. It really caters for all without being pushy in the slightest. There is not loads of homework in the lower years, elder son only started minimal amounts in Y4.

The children all seem to thrive on the opportunities - it is a very happy school, and if you have a sporty or musical child it really is amazing! (DS1 is neither but still loves school enormously).

I rather liked the fact that the pre-preps were mixed but then they were split into the single sex school which (in the case of Yardley Court) really understand the boys they are teaching. So lesson lengths and programmes tailored to boys (in our case) but the children still have opportunities to mix with the opposite sex at lunchtimes and in clubs etc.

Teachers are approachable and easy to communicate with.

I would also add that they foster an amazing sense of independence in the older children - they want the children to explore and build ...so they have camp building clubs in the woods and are allowed to roll down the banks and play on the climbing frames.

The ethos of the school really is..whatever you do...do the best you can...so the E & F football teams have plenty of matches as well as the A's and B's!!