Considering Homefield Prep?

[SoniaG7]

As a mum with boys at Homefield, strongly agree with many of the posts have seen. Can go far as to say if your son is bright, then you should avoid Homefield. Here is a list of facts we wished we'd known before we signed up, which will hopefully help fellow Mumsnetters before they make a decision:

1. The school will not help, in any way whatsoever, if you even consider leaving before 11 or 13+ ie. you leave when they say so. We (and other parents) tried this and not even a good luck, thumbs up or other words of encouragement for our DS. Instead, we were told "its our policy not to provide a reference to anyone leaving before 11+" even though we didn't ask for one!

This is a real shame, especially since they do seem to prepare older boys for the same schools (so could help younger ones if they wanted to). Other preps do actually prepare potential leavers at their choice, not the school’s.

2. For parents that are offer holders, they will regularly bring up a 'waiting-list' to pressure you to accept your place. IMO there is no 'real' waiting list, this is just pure hard-sell tactics. (eg. once you have joined, a few more will join shortly after you, having been told the same thing!)

NB: If there is a waiting list, why are they not happy for boys to leave and therefore free up a place for another boy that is patiently waiting? (Clearly it doesn't exist, or at best is artificial).

3. On open days, they will tell you (always verbally) of an upper limit of 12-16 boys. My DS have been in class sizes of 20+ for a number of years, and this is the case for other year groups too. Ask them to commit to what they say in writing, if you dare. Therefore, the school's priority is to get, and keep, bums on seats, before anything else.

4. Most parents at 11+ and 13+ get private tutoring that parents will have to pay for separately and externally. How much, if any, of the success stats they boast is down to the school is debateable.

5. If your son is bright and very able, they will be held back in their development. Classed have mixed abilities and although they will attempt to extend but it really felt like new concepts are 'drip-fed' so that you stay longer than you actually need to. Great for their business plan, not great for DS who’s potential/opportunity is being hindered because of this. They offer a ‘Gifted Programme’, however that’s just a tick-box to fob off and quieten nagging parents.
   We also know parents that have left because the school was unwilling to provide additional support, ie. for reading/writing.

6. High staff turnover and relatively inexperienced teaching staff. E.g. Teachers in the lower-school had less than 2-years formal teaching experience for my DS (Private tutoring & teacher training don’t count).

7. They have fantastic marketing/website, so be warned. Note their success stats for feeding other schools is an aggregate total of 10+ years. There is good reason for this and likely includes the most able boys who have left early following their own preparation.

8. The Head operates a ‘fit-in or eff-off’ policy and other staff are aware of this so at the slightest complaint you will be directed to him. ie. Have personally witnessed 2-3 parents being told publicly when asking for clarity or support they are welcome to leave. Bold move considering there is real no waiting list and in fact, its likely the only waiting list is on the inside waiting to leave the school!

On the plus side, the school has had a great makeover so have new facilities. However, note that these have come at a price, and the points raised above appear to be related to cost cutting.

Also, their ISI report was very good - although for us, external standardised reports (which the schools would have a lot of experience in prepping for) mean nothing if they do not capture the above personal experience(s).

The school is ideal for average ability boys that fit into the norm and are willing to stay at least 8 years. If your son is at either end, i.e. needs additional support for extra support or extended, then you should really, in all honestly and humble opinion, avoid this school.

Have probably said too much, but think its important prospective parents get an honest view from an existing parent and not judge a book by its cover - an insight wish we had before joining.

Hope this helps! 😊

I second this. Our son was on the other side (apparently needed additional support) and they managed the situation in the worst possible way.. made us feel so uncomfortable that we left at the 1st opportunity. I had seen post on pastoral care and I wish I had taken more notice of it rather then assumed it wouldn't happen to us.

My dears, I sighed when I saw the top of this thread.

So many people appear bent out of shape these days. Oh that pandemic!

But, Cheam Dream, how right you are.
Best thing to do is to go and talk to the boys …or the 700 or so really very smart parents.

My child, who I feared would struggle with being summer born, left handed, etc ! Well, he came on a treat and so many ways. His music became
a passion. That and maths … who would have thought!

His lovely friends are always around at the weekends (such good manners). The standards set by the inspiring teachers are high and I’ve seen have such positive impact… not just on learning but on attitude all around.

I was at the Christmas fair earlier this week. So kind of the parents to get involved. We will miss it when we graduate ( the Grammar we wanted ) … such a nurturing family school.😊❤

Thanks for this- I agree, I wasn’t sure whether to go prep or not, my DS is excitable and bright, but needs focus- he’s not an Angel by any means. All I can say is the school (homefield) has worked wonders. He was at a local state before and would become distracted and lost. He now comes home with factoids (random ones at times) but more importantly, he is tired, dirty and happy. He is super excited to go to school every day, and all the boys are polite, kind and empathetic- he may not be top of the class- but I’m happy paying the fees to have a DS who loves learning, is kind to others and a school who spends time on his learning and also on his emotional development. Look- we have our issues at times, but whenever I have contacted the school, they’ve made time for me.

It's disheartening to see Homefield under scrutiny, especially when a neighbor approached me today, expressing concerns after reading some posts here. This prompted me to reflect on our journey and compelled me to contribute our positive experiences to this conversation. It's crucial to provide a balanced view, acknowledging the hard work of the teachers at Homefield.

As a parent of two boys who've thrived at Homefield for over five years, and both have received offers from our dream schools, I wanted to share our positive perspective.

While I understand that parents may have concerns or areas of dissatisfaction, let's aim to share our experiences constructively. Rather than passing judgment, let's discuss our specific experiences with our boys and highlight areas where improvements can be made.

Addressing concerns raised about the turnover rate, it's essential to question whether it's just an impression and how it compares to other private and state schools in this area. Additionally, to clarify, the offer numbers on the website represent the past three years, categorized by different types of schools, not a cumulative figure over the past 10+ years.

One particular misconception that troubles me is the conclusion that Homefield isn't suitable for bright boys. Both of my boys, who initially didn't speak English when we moved to the UK, scored in the top 3% nationwide in CAT4. The teachers at Homefield provided tremendous support, helping them integrate seamlessly and excel in all subjects.

While I won't deny investing in tutors for the 11+/13+, it's important to recognize the invaluable role Homefield played in their academic journey. The school organizes teaching in sets, and teachers in English and Math offer optional challenging homework for those seeking extra stimulation. Homefield operates a two-weekly cycle of homework, to ensure balance for all subjects, which really benefit my older boy when he moves to a top secondary school. All subject teachers supported my older son in preparing for one of the most challenging scholarship exam in year 8. They used their lunch time to help him with creative writing and French vocabs!

Perhaps I've shared more than expected, but I genuinely hope that those considering Homefield will take the time to explore the website, call the school, arrange a visit, and speak with teachers, boys and other parents. I believe an informed decision will reveal the true essence of Homefield.