Hampstead Hill School

[lalista]

DS1 has just been offered a place here and even though we've heard some good things, we were not too convinced after visiting the school. Then again, this is the first time we're doing this. Anyone who has sent their kids there or has heard of friends who've sent their kids there? I'd love to hear from you...Not much other choice where we live as we fall outside the catchment of all good schools in the area. thx

Alot of my friends dc go and all go on to very good schools. what about the pheonix. He can go on to UCS then as pre prep for it

I think they do extremely well at getting children into the top schools at 7 plus, but that is obviously not the be all and end all. I do not know much about it otherwise as do not have any friends with kids there.

What did you not like about it out of interest? I know someone with a child at another (lovely) pre-prep who is thinking of moving her DS there because she thinks it will increase his chance of getting in to UCS, Highgate or Westminster (she does not seem that worried about what the actual school is like, just the results). I also know lots of girls go on to South Hamstead, NLCS and City.

thank you timetomove. My husband didn't like the school coordinator and we found it a bit strange that at the older classes (6-7yrs old) there seemed to be a separation of girls and boys. There was one class full of girls and just one boy and another class full of boys. We ran out of time to discuss it there and then, will call tomorrow to understand... On the plus side, the children seemed really happy and I've heard that somehow they manage to have very good results without putting the children under a lot of pressure. You're right this is not the be all and end all but I would like to give my DS the best possible start, while not putting him under too much pressure academically. And HH School apparently achieves that... by magic!!! :)

What is the name of the other lovely pre-prep your friend's ds currently goes to?

thank you 100lilgreen, exactly what i've heard also. I had called the phoenix a few months ago and it was completely full...

It is also very tight for space and not alot of room for them to move around. Does the school have to only be a preprep. what about a school that goes all the way to 13? The Hall, Hereward House, Lyndhurst, Arnold House. They all go from 3 and are fab

My DS is at HH at the moment. It's a lovely school, although slightly chaotic. He is very happy there, the teachers are lovely and the parents are a very good bunch. It is considered an academic school. They start them with their numbers , shapes, letters, pencil control pretty early on, but at the same time they do a lot of playing, baking, arts and crafts etc. It gets very good 7+ results, but it also has a v. good track record for 4+, 5+. My DS is young so can't comment on the separation of classes later on. However I would imagine the reason they have boys' and girls' classes in year 1 and 2 is that they prep the children for slightly different type of 7+ exams (e.g. girls and boys schools; CLGS has its exams in November, whereas most other schools in January so different targets etc). If you search mumsnet older threads there are several posts about HH and other local preps. A few MNetters have or had children at HH, but they may be away this week (half term for older children). As to limited pace, I fear it is a pretty common problem in the area.

Hi, my DS is at Hampstead Hill. It is quite chaotic, but the children seem really happy. There is not much space really (garden is tiny compared to other schools), but they really prepare children for 7+.

I tried the Phoenix myself and they are full. No chances for the Hall as you are supposed to register before your DS turns one. Have you thought of St Anthony's (Catholic, lovely school, from 4+)?

I agree with Hampstead mum, the separation must be due to the different preparation the children require to get into academic schools. I really appreciate that as I am very interested in academic excellence.

To be honest, unless your DS gets into UCS or Highgate now (I don't know how old he is), I think HH is the best bet.

My son has just got in to UCS having spent the last 4 years at Hampstead Hill. We've found the experience wonderful and he has been nurtured throughout the process. We love the spirit there and Andrea has helped build his confidence over the duration and has helped him prepare him for the recent exams. His teacher in year 2 Belby has also been awesome. I think there's a lot to be said about 40 years in the business and I would recommend this school to everyone.

Even though this thread is so old it's growing cobwebs, I would also say that HHS was fantastic for all 3 of my DCs. They still visit to say 'hi' to Andrea and their old teachers and are welcomed back. In addition to the academics, results and all that stuff, you are a part of the HHS family for life. When my husband was seriously and suddenly ill, Andrea took my DCs home and gave them supper and kept them calm until I could get away from the hospital. I didn't get a fee bill that term. They said that I had enough to worry about and it could be sorted when everything was ok again. That pretty much sums HHS up.

Andrea would hang you up by your thumbs if you tutored your kid. She'll even ask the ones she suspects if they had a nice time with **lette. She feels that her recommendation can only be trusted if the child is actually right for the school and she'll tell you not to apply to places that wouldn't suit.

I know HHS is a great school but thats amazing horsemadmum. What a fab thing for the school to do.

yep thanks to the team at Hampstead Hill and special thanks to Andrea and Belbi Kalia...

Well done, AndyPartridge. Hope your DS has a great time at the JB. Mr. Albini (dep. head) is an ex-HHS parent. My DS has had a great time there. We're planning a 'blazer burning' in 5 months. Two short terms til 6th form!

There are two sides to to every story and I will be reporting mine once the current nightmare we are going through is over

Hi - Our DS was born in Nov-18. We want him to start school ASAP and have been offered a morning only place at Mulberry House for Nov-20 which we have to accept in the next 10 days. We are also on the waiting list for Hampstead Hill for a Sep-20 start. We have a preference for HH given it’s a full day school but they won’t give us guidance on whether we have a confirmed place until Jan-20 (for a Sep-20 start). So before we turn down the Mulberry House offer, I wanted to get a sense for our chances of getting Into Hanpstead Hill. We registered DS the week he was born. So will be great to hear from parents who got offers at HH when they registered and their sense for probability of getting an offer at HH. Thanks a lot, and apologies for the rather long message