Radnor House & Halliford

[Aspin25]

advice, thoughts please on these schools for secondary education ?

Sorry first post late last night -
What I really want to know is your thoughs on these schools . I am torn as to which school is right for my DS Yr7 entry .
He's from primary state school. Sporty , clever and kind . He is very sociable.
Anyone have a son at either school that can give me some insight.

One quick observation as you say your son is sporty - I think that the sport at Halliford will be much more robust than at Radnor. Radnor is small, and co-ed whereas Halliford is all boys so able to field much stronger teams. Halliford has its own on-site sports facilities whereas Radnor doesn't.

Location may also be a factor, is one much easier to get to than the other?

Good luck with your decision.

I did think that the sport would be better at Halliford but the journey is longer. he would have to get train from Teddington.
Do you know anyone with a son at either school to compare their experiences

The 4 boys I know at Halliford armed all very happy. Quite different characters. None very academic. One always sporty and still is. On not at all sporty at primary. Got into sport at Halliford. The other 2 not sporty and remain so. One mum commented that all the boys semed quite individual. They certainly seem to work hard at Halliford. Lots of homework and extra curricular. They do well by the boys who get in.Radnor probibly has aspirations to become more academic than Halliford

Forgot to add, quite a few get train from Teddington to Halliford. However its a long day. 7.30 start for train then after school sport so not back till 6pm +. Above "are" not armed!

Have you had a look at St James, as that is another option.

I've got a son at Radnor and am very happy with the quality of the teaching. We moved him from St James because we felt the teaching and ethos at time, (before current head) was very poor. My son isn't particularly sporty but loves being stretched academically. He also suits a smaller school environment. The location on the river is also very calming imo.

I know someone whose son moved from a state primary to Halliford for secondary. So far they are happy but finding it a bit of a shock coming up with the fees. They felt their son needed a more gentle environment than that offered by their local state secondary.

Thanks for your comments everyone.
Mary21- I have seen alot of H boys on the train to Shepperton. But that is a very long day indeed thanks for mentioning .

lalamumto3- My son did also get into St. James and we really liked the boys and teachers we met on the tour. however I think the journey to Ashford would take even longer than the journey to Halliford, so we are ruling this school out.

Radnor House is our preferred choice due to location (around the corner from us), co-ed and the headmasters vision for the school , my main fear is really just the size of the school, team sports and no DT.

Changingnameforthispost- please can you tell me if your son finds any of the classrooms too small or the canteen area/ outside space?
Where do they go during lunchtime and breaks?
What is the music department like?
Are his friends from School from the local area?
Do they do good school trips. Pompeii, skiing and the likes..

St James's used to do a minibus from Strawberry Hill, is that still running or was that just for the boys transitioning from the old site to Ashford, who i guess have now all left?

Another vote for Radnor here. DS is the sixth form and has been at the school since it has opened. He has skied twice with the school and been to Rome/Pompeii
He is very happy there and did well in his GCSE's. It is on the small side but they are about to extend the sixth form area and despite being over 6' he's never complained about finding any of it too cramped - that said he's not massively sporty and def not musical!!
All his friends seem to live near the school - we're the furthest out at about 2 miles away.
The reason we like it was summed up when then head of the sixth form spent well over an hour with us discussing suitable Unis for the DS - not from the point of view of where his predicted grades could get him as that's easy to look up - but from the perspective of where would suit him as a person.

Thanks Charmund - very helpful information.
Just wish I could hear form someone with a sporty son at the school

Totally understand that Aspin - In all honesty I can't say that DS's friend are particularly sporty either although quite a few of his year row for the school. Might be worth talking to the head of sports and asking about what they do for those who are sporty? I've always found the school very open to interaction.

Good luck!

I was a nanny,and one of the boys went to Halliford. I really rated this school.He had aspergers and left his old school due to severe bullying. He flourished at Halliford and was very happy. I also liked being able to park in the carbpark in front.

Carbpark?