KGS vs, Hampton for good all rounder?

[GSOHalmostalways]

My DS has been offered an advanced place at both schools via the 10+, he's a good all rounder, gets on well with girls, plays a lot of sports and loves maths. Likes hockey and football in particular - It's nice to have a choice, but unsure as to which school to choose. Some say "KGS great, encourages independent learning and thinking, good for all rounders"; others tell me "Hampton better for boys/ for pastoral care / for sports in general". The negatives on KGS appear to relate to length (or lack of) for girls skirts and location, and for some Hampton seen as more rigid, and not great if you don't shine in some area. Confused as hell at this stage. All opinions welcome on both schools, thank you!

Where do you live (rhetorical qustion, not asking to you to reveal!), do you prefer co-ed or single sex?
DS was offered 10+ at both of those, but he only did the KGS exam as it as the day before Hampton so we thought he could get nerves/mistakes out of the way for Hampton, which we were seriously considering. We did not consider KGS as a potential school for him, as it used to have a reputation for being less academic, and also much less serious about sport, which is loves. Children we know who go to KGS(and are very happy there!)are indeed less academic and less sporty that hose who go to Hampton.

Also, re the co-ed thing - we have a DS at a boys' school, and he has plenty of contact with girls at outside school activities etc, so the absence of girls at school not relevant.

I know several children at both schools and all seem happy. We too tried KGS as a back up for Hampton and other schools for DS1. It's quite a cramped urban site compared to the wide open spaces of Hampton.

Hockey is very big at KGS and seems to take over from a lot of other sports.

For what it's worth, we would have chosen Hampton like a shot out of the two of them, but in fact chose a school much closer to our home than either.

My son who is at Hampton right now has just told me that he does not think it is rigid at all. He has totally learnt how to work the system and is only in year 8! God only knows what he is going to be getting up to by the time he is in 6th form.

Hampton is very competitive and and it brings out the best in a certain type of boy. It is not for all boys.

Only you can know if your son can hold his own (and shine) in a competitive environment.

Hi, we are in same situation with DS1 at 11+ with offers for Hampton, KGS and other schools. Not sure Hampton is that much more academic than KGS though. Results for A level grades A/B in 2010 for Hampton (89.1%) and for KGS (88.5%). For GCSE A/A grades, Hampton got 85.4% and KGS 82.3%. KGS is still an academic school that gets good results. I think it also depends on whether you want co-ed. I am not sure just having contact with girls outside school is the same as being educated with them and recognising on a daily basis the equality of intellectual rigour, hard work and other strengths that girls bring to the classroom and subsequently to the workplace. It is very much a personal decision for each family though. I agree with you about the skirt lengths! But that is an issue in all schools and the new KGS head is stricter than most about the length of skirts and the girls we saw looked presentable. They seem to both be great schools and whatever you choose I am sure your son will be happy. Best wishes and good luck!

THank you SO much for your thoughts, it's SO helpful to hear the views of others, and I do recognise we're lucky to be in this position. Wonder what KGS's figures for boys alone were, if you take the girls out of the equation? I live a train ride away from Kingston and the Hampton Coach passes at the bottom of our road, so journey time not a big issue. RKMS - which school have you chosen at 11+? JetJungle - interested in what your son has to say - people keep saying "hampton suits certain types" - my DS is sporty, good all rounder & team player, obviously a bit more academic than I had realised, BUT he's not alpha-male competitive, and always aims to "blend in" rather than "stand out" - what do you reckon?

MrsGuy, thank you for your thoughts too - I agree, we are in the same position where we know children at each, and whilst both sets are happy at their schools, the KGS kids in general are the slightly less sporty and academic ones (though still bright, I hasten to add)but they are all LOVELY and VERY HAPPY and LOVE THEIR SCHOOL. I could see DS being happy there (and he loves hockey) but the coach, the football & extended lunch breaks, the setting of Hampton (and the fact that several of his friends have gotten places there) are leaning him towards H. I always wanted him to have choices, and now that he has them, I'm confused?!!!

Hi can anyone tell me what the 10+ is please? I have two boys and time flies :-)

10+ is an "advance entrance exam" that several schools offer - for some, you get an "advance place" 18 months later without having to sit the 11+ (Hampton/KGS), for others if you get and accept an offer (Kings Wimbledon) then you transfer that year. We did it to "have a go" with our DS so he and we would know what was involved next year, and were lucky enough to get two offers (unexpected). Definitely worth exploring - I know St. Pauls/Colet Court do one too. Hope that helps.

Hi, we decided to go for neither in the end and chose one of our other options mainly influenced by distance and friendships from current school. I agree with you and the other comments on this posting that it is about knowing your child and finding the right school for them. I do think though that the most academic or the most sporty option may not always be the best option for every child, although it may attract the most kudos. I wish your son the very best at whichever of the two excellent schools you choose.

Thanks for the info on 10+ GSOHalmostalways. Very interesting.