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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Christ's Hospital Horsham

80 replies

pinkhebe · 11/02/2011 14:15

I've just found out that my son has won a place here, we're very excited and I wondered if anyone elses child goes, I'm already panicing a bit about the boarding bit, so as positive as you can please!

OP posts:
badgerhead · 12/02/2011 18:33

I don't, but I live in Horsham & want to wish your son congratulations on getting into such a fab school Grin A friend has a dd who attends as a day pupil & she loves it & is flourishing there.

Original poster
pinkhebe · 13/02/2011 17:33

Thanks Badgerhead Grin He's really excited, it's only just sinking in for me!

OP posts:
MABS · 13/02/2011 17:42

marvellous,great school,well done

FluffyMummy123 · 13/02/2011 17:45

i went and hated it. Spent the whole time snivelling on phone.
This was 20 years ago though.

the uniform is hilarious - always was even then.

FluffyMummy123 · 13/02/2011 17:45

i spent two years eating rice krisipies with a fork and suffered mild malnutrition

Original poster
pinkhebe · 13/02/2011 17:48

no I didn't want to hear that iCod Grin
But from what I hear it's changed alot, and believe me if he was that unhappy, I would bring him home.

OP posts:
FluffyMummy123 · 13/02/2011 17:51

yes
but after a while you get a kind of stockholm syndorme and kid yourself you like it.
and they blither ON and ON about themselves and 1553 and how pleased they are with themselevs.

got the mag the other day and it brought it ALL back.

personally nothing on this PLANET would make me send a kid there or to board generally.
sorry

( btw mroe like 30 years ago)

Feelingthestrain · 13/02/2011 17:51

Congratulations to you and your son. When did you get your offer? This waiting for offers lark is killing me (n.b not waiting for CH though)

FluffyMummy123 · 13/02/2011 17:51

and marching to sodidng meals
wtf is that about
and kids running away and jumping out of windows.

Original poster
pinkhebe · 13/02/2011 17:52

we got the offer on Fri

OP posts:
hilaryt · 13/02/2011 22:20

sorry pinkhebe, friend's DS went there was badly bullied in yr7, beaten black and blue. His mum didn't know till he came home one weekend and she walked in on him changing and saw the bruises. He refused to let her speak to the school about it. While things improved in later years and he loved it in the end they failed to diagnose he was dyslexic he'd been there 3 years by that point. Other things went on towards the end that I won't go into but she feels it was a big mistake sending him there.

waggytaggy · 14/02/2011 18:46

I just want to say that I had 3 children go through Christ's Hospital and it is the most marvelous education that any child could have. It's a priveledged education yes, by not at all elietist. Children come from all backgrounds and the staff are as experienced as you could find anywhere. My daughter left only last year and has gone to a good university.

Schools change and while I won't say hilaryt's coments above are passed on here second hand, in my experience the schools policy's deal well with problems that exist in all schools today. In my view a mother of a year 7 child should not be dictated to by her son and she should have told the school of her concerns. I found Christ's Hospital staff very happy to talk through anything with parents.

Congratulations to your son pinkhebe, he got to a good school on his own merit. I hope you and he really enjoy the opportunities at the school.

Dustylaw · 14/02/2011 22:50

First of all, congratulations. CH is a great school. Re the comments about the way CH used to be, that's not really surprising as boarding schools have changed hugely in the last few decades. My brother went to CH years ago and although he did fantastically well, very few people these days would send their children off to boarding schools if they were as they were in those days. Well they have (like day schools as well) changed hugely since then including CH. My daughter's friend goes to CH and loves it - a bit homesick at first and the usual niggles that go with having to get used to living communally but certainly no bullying or bad practices. I think CH can be a bit of a pain to deal with for the parents (the baggage that comes from being for many years just about the only boarding school that offered a free or subsidised education). So they are finding it a bit difficult to get into more modern ideas of parental choice and power but no doubt doing their best. So, well done - it's a great school and your son will have every brilliant opportunity. Another of my daughter's friends has just heard that she has a place so there is another family just as pleased as you and rightly so.

Dustylaw · 14/02/2011 22:54

Oh, and google Christ's Hospital Unofficial Forum for a good advice forum.

CointreauVersial · 14/02/2011 22:56

This reply has been withdrawn

Message removed as it refers to a post that's been withdrawn

CointreauVersial · 14/02/2011 23:01

I loved CH, by the way. I still feel "privileged" that I attended the school, and it gave me many opportunities.

I would love to send my dcs there, but alas wouldn't be able to afford it.

Congratulations OP!

Original poster
pinkhebe · 15/02/2011 08:42

i found the unofficial forum a couple of years ago, when we first found out about it, and as long as I stick to the parents forum it's great!
Cointreau, we're have to remortgage to afford it, but luckily GP's are helping with the uniform list.

OP posts:
CointreauVersial · 15/02/2011 13:04

You have to buy uniform?? It was free when I was there; when you grew out of anything you went to a vast wardrobe room where they swapped it for a larger size. Stuff was handed down for generations!!

Good idea remortgaging; our problem is we stretched ourselves to buy a bigger house a couple of years ago, and they don't take account of a large mortgage when they do the fees calculation. If we'd stayed in our tiny cottage we'd have had enough to spare. Shame really, but at least the local schools here are good.

hatsybatsy · 15/02/2011 14:47

friend went there.

v high pressure.

threw himself under a train just beforee his 'A' levels.....

Original poster
pinkhebe · 15/02/2011 15:58

The sports uniform I meant

OP posts:
FluffyMummy123 · 15/02/2011 15:58

free when i went there

FluffyMummy123 · 15/02/2011 15:59

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This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

FluffyMummy123 · 15/02/2011 16:00

i cant believe you liked it CV
it was a HELL HOLE of bad management and crap pastoral care

CointreauVersial · 15/02/2011 16:48

iCod - were you at Hertford? Which house?? Dying to know if I know you!

I think it is a lot better now it's co-ed, and some of the money is at last being spent on the girls.

But I liked it, because I didn't have a happy life at home.

It taught me how to live with/get along with people and made me very self-contained.

And I was a girly swot who scooped the lot on Prize Day .

waggytaggy · 15/02/2011 17:17

iCod - Really, if you're attitude was so bitter when you were at Ch then it's not surprising that you failed to take advantage of what was on offer for you.

I've had 3 children at the school over a 10 year period and it's been constantly good. The school offers the children a first class, rounded education and the fees are means tested, so parents pay what they can afford. Pupils come from a mix of social backgrounds and have the chance to get involved in so many activities beyond the class room. Any child going there is encouraged to take advantage of all that's on offer. I would have thought that if you'd actually gone to the school you would appreciate that fact!

I wonder when you were there? I hope you would be gracious enough to accept that most pupils thrive at CH, and have done over the centuries, and not inflict unsubstantiated views on a mum with a young son about to embark on an exciting phase of his life.

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