The Roche school class sizes

[Ju2020]

Hi, can someone confirm the class sizes at The Roche school in Wandsworth, and are there 2 classes for each year group? It seems to be a bigger school than some others in the local area I'm looking at, which have one class for each year group. Any insight gratefully received.

HI @Ju2020

A friend's DC go there - from recollection I think it was 20 per class - will double check and let you know.

Most classes have 18, sometimes 17 or 16. They are split into sets for English and Maths though, so they are taught in classes of 10-13 children for some of the day most of the term. I think it is generally two form entry but there is the occasional bulk year. I don't think it is larger than Hurlingham / Prospect House, probably smaller in terms of year group size except for the 3 form entry years.

My DD is currently at Roche. Her class (in what they call a bumper year - 3 class intake, usually they have a 2 class intake) is 15. The children are taught in sets for Maths and English, usually 10-12 per class. The pastoral care is outstanding and the school leaving destinations stand on a par with schools in the area with a selective intake - which is remarkable as Roche is non-selective. I cannot recommend it enough.

@AlwaysMoreThanMeetsTheEye - just wondering from what year do they set for English and Maths and academically how strong are they in 11+ preparation. Many thanks

My daughter joined in Y3 and has been working on sets since then (not sure if beforehand, tbh). The school publishes on their website the leavers’ destinations (and offers) so that gives you a good proxy for their performance (especially as non-selective) in the 11+. Beyond the academic dimension (and crucially) it is a warm school with lots of happy kids (and parents).

Class sizes are roughly between 15 and 20 at the Roche which is not dissimilar to many of the other independent schools in the area. However if you’re looking at the Roche, I’d be far more inclined to look at Hurlingham which is obviously right by it. It’s exit results are far superior for a very similar price, and it’s pastoral care is out of this world. Loads more space for the kids to run around and closer it Wandsworth park for proper sports sessions. Lots of friends at both schools and all this seems to be a pretty big consensus.

Anyway, good luck in your choice!

@Ju2020 - In case useful, in my humble opinion, there is no 'best school' in absolute terms, but schools more (or less) suitable for different children. Visit the school (if possible, in these Covid times), speak with teachers, head and children, and with families with recent direct experience, and get a feeling for the place, the ethos and the families. At the end of the day, you know your child better than anyone else and you also where him/her and your family would feel more comfortable. We visited schools considered as "highly desirable" and strongly felt that their 'factory-like' approach to education did not work for us and were lucky to find one, in Roche, that we considered was more suitable without having to compromise at all on the academic front. I am delighted with the decision taken and I am happy to share my insights, but will always steer clear of advocating that I am in the right and others in the wrong.

As for school results, they are usually available on the schools' websites and I am sure you will peruse... I think that they speak for themselves, but it is always useful to refer to offers received and places accepted (not only accepted one), and to do so in the context of whether the school is selective or not. Useful also to look 3-4 years. Similarly to above, I find reassuring that Roche has got children into St Paul's Girls and other top-academic schools, but also know that children able to get into such 'aspirational' schools have, in the past, opted for others that fit their personality and interests better.

Good luck with your search and choice. I gather that you are in SW London and we are lucky to have many lovely schools in the area - to add to the reference to Hurlingham (which we did look into and is indeed popular in the area), and following with the co-ed theme, you may also want to look into Prospect House and Finton House (no personal experience of either, but I know families with happy children in both schools).

@AlwaysMoreThanMeetsTheEye
Thank you very much for your response (and indeed for all the replies to my post), it's been very helpful. I totally agree that each school suits a child differently, depending on their personality, ability and interests. My daughter is outgoing, bubbly and creative and would probably struggle a little in a more academic setting/selective school. We're in NW London, moving SW in the summer. We visited lots of schools in SW London (after the first lockdown was lifted), Hurlingham wasn't one though we registered there, we got several offers and have chosen the Roche (my daughter loved it when we visited) because of the ethos of the school, felt it was down to earth (not snooty), liked the headteacher and was a bit more diverse than some of the others. I decided against Prospect House and Finton for this reason. I attended an exclusive boarding school and wanted different for my child. I feel comfortable with my decision, and I'm sure she'll be happy there. Really appreciate everyone's views and suggestions.

@Ju2020. Thanks for your kind message. Welcome to the Roche extended family (incidentally, your reasons for choosing it are very much aligned with the factors we considered at the time and that made us opt for Roche over other options) and, if you have any question, feel free to pm me.

@NewPuppyMayhem @Rainbows18 As somebody with direct experience (rather than hearsay), I can assure you that, without tutoring, kids from The Roche has been accepted at some of the most in-demand schools, including (to name a few from this dear) St Paul’s Girls, Wimbledon High and Putney High. In fact, the school advice is not to get tutoring - they firmly believe that it is the role of the school to prepare the children for the 11+ and that it should not be over-stressful. The destinations’ table provides clear information of offers and accepted places and makes the case in itself. And crucially, beyond the results (which are indeed good) kids are happy and motivated to learn.

Tutoring is endemic in London prep schools, often even more so at the very academic prep schools due to the parents they attract. I feel the kids are very well prepared and the online lessons during lockdown have been excellent as well. My impressions of Roche vs Hurlingham were very much in line with @Ju2020 's and we went for the down-to-earth option as well and are very happy. At all schools, 11+ results will come down to a mix of school, ability and personality of the child and what the parents decide to do outside of school. Hurlingham by the way only sent one girl to SPGS in the last five years despite far bigger year group sizes, so Roche does not compare unfavourably in that regard at all. Bright kids will do well where they are happy.

There is only one selective primary school in this area, the rest test only for a basic level but just don’t unfortunately support a high number of children with learning needs. This family-run school is unique in its experience of and work with children with support requirements, some of whom might not be as academic on paper as others. They have many specialist contacts for parents to consider using and provide small class sizes and therapy sessions with LSAs. They are the go-to school for such provision, enabling considerable progress. Sets are only in Maths and English and while there is a "top" set, there are many other sets and some mixed-ability years, which provide very beneficial peer learning for the majority. The lack of facilities or value-add is a fair price to pay for their united effort to boost the self-belief of and very much encourage those who would not have this at more mainstream schools. Sport is gender-neutral and takes centre stage but there are no swimming lessons (or Drama classes) in the normal timetable. All staff very much become like an extended family to a great number of families (with some actually being family!), providing flexibility and complementing the school transfer process. The school has great contacts with secondary schools that also offer strong learning support. As with all schools, tutoring is rife. Some of the academic children can receive extra work in class to gain entry to the very selective schools mentioned above.

It is better to visit the school in person before committing. They now do regular open mornings. Next one is on 24th February. The class sized cannot be more than 20 because the class rooms in Roche are very small. To me the Roche school building felt very overcrowded even though it is a reasonably sized building comparing to some other schools I visited.
We take DS to swimming in Wandsworth and met quite a few parents who like the Roche.
Imo, it is very much about personal experience and feeling but I would not like to send my DS to the Roche.
Btw, they do prepare for 11+. When I visited the Roche I saw 11+ booklets on children's desks.

Thanks @Watchingthelonggrass. I felt there was something not right. Children looked a bit tensed, not quite happy, relaxed and carefree, as I expect children to be.

Hello,

I currently have a child attending Roche and I wholly concur with prior comments about the lack of academic rigor (teaching only the 11+ test starting in Y5, with morning cram sessions in Y6 and then focus on residential trips for the remainder of the terms (winter and summer)), mixed english and math sets (research shows that the average and lower than average students may benefit but it has detrimentally impacts the top students) is disappointing considering the high fees. One parent recently equated the Y6 teaching as glorified childcare. Currently parents receive a one-sided A5 piece of paper as a progress report (only for autumn and winter terms) and an 18 min parent/teacher meeting - this is 6 min for Math, 6 min for English and 6 min for class teacher (again twice per school year). This school's main aim is just to reach the national curriculum standards which most independent schools try to surpass and are indeed ahead of it.

The large class sizes for a school so small with no facilities (not even a changing room meaning our children remain in wet gym clothes many days after time in the park or they conduct gym classes in the tiny auditorium/theatre/gym/lunchroom) is terrible especially when you consider that every time there is free space instead of making this into a changing room or a art workshop or music room they add other class (some years have 3 classes).

The administration of the school is very poor. There is no parent/teacher/admin portal or centralised place to do homework assignments and engage with the school - everything is done on paper and by phone/whatsapp groups (we are in 2022 when most state schools have a portal).

If you look at Companies House you can clearly see that this school is a for profit not charity school so profits going to founders and family. Just in the school year 21/22 we have had a 5% increase in fees followed by a 7% increase in fees in 7 months (not even a full year). For those fees there are no textbooks, limited workbooks (teachers seem to print out worksheets every day, homework only 2x per week from Y2 to Y6), focus on drama rehearsal exclusively in summer terms, no instrument classes (you can pay extra for 1 on 1 tuition), no art studio, limited computer classes, terrible extracurricular activities (ie tennis afterschool seems to be running drills in the small playground behind the school)).

This school has a friendly environment and extols the 'nurturing' experience for children but this is at the expense of developing our children and challenging them to be more than just average and happy.

Thank you,
Anne