Help! Harrodian or St Catherine's Twickenham?

[Mum7592]

My daughter has received her 11+ offers and has narrowed down her favourite two to St Catherine's Twickenham and Harrodian. They're both very different in culture, but seem very pastoral. DD is sporty, middle of the road academically and quite adaptable to new environments. I'd love to hear from parents or people who have experiences of either school, positive or negative, to help inform our views.

Location and commute are very similar and we've been impressed by the manners and confidence of the children at both schools. Thanks in advance - only a week or so left to decide! 😬

Someone one of my DC met at university and who started out as a good friend was a Harrodian alumna and my DC met lots of the friend group. Very competitive in a rather out there way - more celebrity status than academic.

Yes agree, very different cohorts, the celeb element at Harrodian. Maybe a visit to the open day for offers and carefully studying the type of parent might help. I once went to an open day for offers at a Surrey school outside the M25 and the level of 4x4’s, snow goose jackets and complete lack of diversity in every sense made it an easy rejection.

Thanks for your thoughts. I have heard from others who don't have children at Harrodian that there might be a focus on celeb families etc. However I've also heard the opposite from families in Harrodian, who have said families there are very down to earth and that seems be true of what I have seen of the children on the open days.

I'm more concerned regarding how nurturing these schools are and whether both will offer my daughter opportunity to flourish academically and socially. Anyone have any thoughts on either school? :)

A school where a significant proportion of parents are extremely competitive and focussed on their child's celebrity status is not a nurturing school by definition. It might be reasonably academic if by academic one means public examination success.

We were very impressed with Harrodian. My son received an offer last year, but we declined it for two reasons: the distance and our belief that it was too small for him. However, I believe your daughter would thrive there if you feel it is the right environment for her (a small, co-ed school, etc.). I felt that the pastoral care was outstanding, and the children we met during our visit were the most confident, happy, and outspoken of all the schools we toured.