Devonshire House

[mumofan8yearoldgirl]

Hi everyone, I would really like some input from parents whose children have attended or are attending Devonshire House School in Hampstead. My daughter has an offer to start Year 4 in Sep 2021 and this is my primary choice so far, please could you share your thoughts and concerns about the school if you have had direct experience? I would like to know whether there is anything I should be aware of before I commit? How are relationships between the children? How tiring are their trips twice a week by coach? Does the school give individual attention to the children? Does any have their girls in similar year groups there (Y3, Y4?)? Are you happy with the academic side of things? Thanks very much!

Hi, my daughter currently attends Devonshire House School in Hampstead. She started in year 3 and is now in year 5, (moving into year 6 in September).
My daughter is incredibly happy at the school and is doing well academically and socially.

We found the staff and senior management extremely supportive when she started mid way through year 3, in December 2018.

So far we have found the staff, deputy heads and head all very caring, they have taken the time getting to know our daughter ensuring that her Individual needs are met.
They were extremely supportive through the lockdown period and provided an excellent level of education and support to the children. In my view the school went above and beyond in doing everything possible to ensure the children’s education wasn’t affected too much and that they also had emotional support.

My daughter has made some lovely friends at Devonshire house school, and again other families have welcomed and supported us since starting.

I’m answer to your question, my daughter has adapted really well to the trips twice a week by coach to games, it hasn’t been an issue. I too was worried as she never had to do it before but it hasn’t been an issue.

Academically we couldn’t be happier, she’s doing well and we feel very supported by the school.

The school also offers some amazing trips for children providing them with some fantastic memories and experiences. My daughter loved going on the school ski trip and can’t wait to go again.

This school has given us a great all round experience and we can’t in anyway complain.

@JoCmumof3 thanks so much for your input, that’s incredibly helpful! And do you think the children are known to the teachers, do you think they know each child’s strengths and develop them?

In terms of relationships, has your daughter had any issues with the the other children? How were these sorted?

Which clubs or extra-curriculum activities did your daughter enjoy?

Do you think boys are overshadowing the girls? Is your daughter friends with any of the boys? Or is it mostly that girls stay with the girls and boys are with boys?

Thank you so much again!

Hi, pleased the feedback has helped,
In answer the other questions you asked;

Yes, the teachers do seem to know each child, they know their individual strengths, weaknesses and how best to help develop them? this has certainly always been the case for my daughter.

In terms of relationships, my daughter hasn’t really had many issues with other children? Anything that has come up has been dealt with very quickly & efficiently by the school. They take the time to understand every situation and take the relevant action based on the individual situation. The school are very good at addressing & dealing with any issues that do occur.

My daughter absolutely loves and enjoys the clubs/ extra-curriculum activities. She’s done a fair few! She’s currently loving the roller skating club & bell plates. Perviously she has done choir, fashion & design, Lego club and a few others. Their is always a good selection available.

No I don’t think boys are overshadowing the girls, this certainly hasn’t come across as being the case, all pupils are treated equally & seem to do well.
My daughter is friends with a number of the boys in her year group & this has always been the case as she’s moved through the school. There is a lovely mix of boys and girls within the school.

Like I said my daughter is doing very well and we couldn’t be happier.
I highly recommend the school.

Hi
I have three boys at the school ranging from year 1 to year 7 (all of whom have been there since nursery) and all are extremely happy. All three of them have had a really positive experience. From the early years there is an emphasis on manners and being kind to one another and this pays dividends as they move up the school.
The teachers are engaged and approachable, as is the leadership team. We had one incident where my son was struggling with another boy and it was dealt with swiftly and sensitively. The teachers and management team were also extremely supportive and kind when we suffered a family bereavement.

The school did a phenomenal job with the home schooling; providing plenty for the children to do but always with a keen eye on mental health, they insisted we do only as much as we were able so as not to feel overwhelmed. They also listened to feedback and adapted throughout the period. Home schooling gave my husband and I are a chance to really see the teachers in action and we were really impressed; not just with the teaching but with the friendly, warm way the teachers conversed with their pupils.

The trips to and from the playing field, whilst not ideal, are the same for many local schools and the children don't seem to mind at all.
Hope that helps!