Hampton or CLFS

[NikiA]

We've recently moved back from overseas with our sons who have started prep school in Years 7 and 5. My eldest has just sat the 12+ as we missed out on the 11+ as we weren't here. we have offers from a few schools which is great but we have narrowed it down to Hampton or CLFS. Can anyone give me any insights into the two to help me choose? Like them both but think slight edge towards Hampton. Quite a commute as living in Guildford but have seen that the catchment area is huge and he can get the school coach from Effingham. Like the interaction with LEH too. RGS not a contender btw. Be really grateful for any comments. He's bright, enjoys sport but isn't great at it, likes music and is quite a gentle boy. Thank you

The thing that put us and DS off CLFS was the fact that you are still in a junior school up to 13 albeit at the top of it and within / next to the senior school. He wants to go to a 'senior' school where yes he will be bottom of the pile, but as he is old for his age he wants that. At clfs you would still have 8 year olds running around. For the exam they said you could take a cuddly toy mascot in with you also which put him off!

Can't say anything negative about Hampton but they do work the boys hard, the homework levels are quite significant compared with other schools - though I cannot compare with clfs.

Facilities at both are great, and clfs have the new swimming pool plans drawn up on the website which look pretty good.

Obviously you have the coed side at clfs and all boys at Hampton.

You also have the possibility of boarding at clfs also.

That's about all I can add. Hope it helps.

Thanks; that's very helpful. I've read a lot about the workload at Hampton. Is it any worse than other high performing schools though? My son is finding he has a lot of homework now; often an hour an a half a night.
Can you comment on the catchment area? The bus system looks very extensive so am assuming it's normal to have boys traveling from far and wide?

Yes it is normal. Spoke to a friend last night who has a son in year 3 at Hampton I think and he said the boys he knows are all over the place... so the request of can I go round to xxx in Chiswick on Saturday doesnt go down too well! (From Esher). I can only compare the Hampton homework with older DS at Reeds and DS had significantly less than a friend of his at Hampton.

Thanks. I think that's decision made. We had an offer from Reeds too but think Hampton will offer him more. He loves football too and Hampton is one of the rare schools to offer it!

Older DS has done well at Reeds though, looking like straight As and A*s for GCSE this year, despite the less work received.

We have Reeds 11+ offer too and await Hampton result tomorrow.

Which side of Guildford are you- don't underestimate the trip to Effingham to get the bus if you need to go round the one way system! Also consider the length of day - what time is the bus from Effingham, how early will you need to get up to get there, what time will he get back, how much time will that leave for homework or other activities. How likely is it that he will be needed at school at the weekends? How will you manage invites from friends who may live in Central London? My DS at A different Surrey school not far from Guildford and has friends from as far away as Canary Wharf (I kid you not) and deepest Hampshire. It is a real factor for the social programme /mums taxi especially when it's late night pick ups from parties. It will take over your life!

The other thing about Hampton - and I get that it is completely subjective, because it depends on where you live - is that the public transport back up options are a bit thin. It must be a good 15-20 min walk to the train station and it is not (to me anyway!) on a particularly main line.

I genuinely would not discount how often at secondary school you have to shlep either yourself or your child there out of hours. Everyone always say "oh, you never end up going to the school at all when they are in secondary" but that has not been our experience and we seem to have regular early/late/weekend things. My message is don't forget to evaluate how you/your DS will get there not on the school bus (and for you/your DH both from home and from work - we often have to go to parents' evening and plays etc directly from work).

Good luck for your Hampton result and thanks for all the useful feedback. We're central Guildford and I drive my boys to Cranmore every day so not far. Would need to leave at 710 and all boys leave Hampton at 4pm as activities take place at lunchtime due to wide catchment area.
Off this afternoon to take another look