Hall Grove school experience?

[Arianrhod]

Hi all -

I have a 9 yo DD at Halstead Prep, and twin 1.5 yo boys for whom I'm now looking at pre-prep schools. I narrowed it down to a choice between Hoe Bridge school and Hall Grove. I have friends with sons at Hoe Bridge, so I have their perspective to go on, but I don't know anyone with DCs at Hall Grove. OH and I visited both schools last week, and I'm super impressed with Hall Grove, but I'd really like to hear parents' perspectives on it. Does anyone here have DCs at Hall Grove, or did have, and feel like sharing some opinions, please?

I would say both DD and I are very happy with Halstead, and I'd love my sons to be as happy at whichever school they end up! Hoe Bridge would be marginally easier for me to get to, but I'll put up with the slightly further trek to Hall Grove if it's worth it.

TIA!

Hi Arianrhod, which school did you go with in the end? We're looking at Hall Grove or Hawley Place for our two girls..... Any advice warmly welcomed.

Hi Freckles - Sorry, just seen your post. We went with Hall Grove in the end, as it was by far and away the better school all round. TBH I loved it so much, I half wish I had chosen to put my DD in there too; we were shown around by two girls who had actually chosen to stay on into Year 8, and it was clear the teachers inspire the children and they do very well there.

HTH

Hi Arianrhod, I've got a daughter at Halstead and am considering moving her. As much as we love the school it doesn't seem quite the right fit for her personally. We have been to see Hall Grove and were very impressed. I don't suppose you could tell me the differences at Hall Grove that make you say "I half wish I had chosen to put my DD in there too"?

@teaspoon66 I'll PM you

I have two daughters at Hall Grove
at the moment. I’m not enthusiastic, I have to say. To start, the holidays are absolutely ridiculous. They have a full calendar month for Easter as well as eight weeks in the summer and two week half terms.
Another thing to note is that being an ex boys school, the theme seems to have continued even since it has been co ed. There are many more boys than girls. Not a problem I guess if you have boys but potentially one if you girls.
The outside pool is also not a favourite with my children. They do swimming in the summer term but their pool looks very cold and I wouldn’t want to get it!

I have a daughter at HG and she is thriving. I also had some concerns about the numbers of boys vs girls at first, however it is around 60:40, so still plenty of girls to make up sports teams etc. There is no discrimination between the genders and the boys and girls jostle together like brother and sister giving as good as they get! A good preparation for a mixed gender workplace. There is a very wholesome feel to the school and a real can-do and give-it-a-go spirit.

The pool is a disappointment so my children have lessons outside of school. As OP says, holidays are 4 weeks at Easter and 8 weeks in summer. October half term is 2
Weeks, other half terms one week. Both of us work FT, so this is a challenge, but there are plenty of holiday clubs and I believe other local indies are similar. I am very pleased with HG so far. My daughter skips into school every morning, full of enthusiasm. Says it all!