Academic scholarship at City of London or Hampton?

[Bazelle]

My son got his heart set into Hampton, which he was offered a place at last week but now, completely out of the blue he got an academic scholarship at City. The difference in money is substantial, around £6000 per year. We are academics, and gave 2 younger children that we would love to send to private school as well. My head says City all the way, but he is now having a fit. I think he is scared about having to take the tube to go to City, instead of the cosy coach ride to Hampton. At Hampton we would have to give up on our cleaner, he couldn't go to the expensive trips etc. it is a no brainer but I don't know how to sell it to him.

We are still agonising about it. DH and I are out of phase as well, when I favour City he favours Hampton and vice versa. Hampton is the "easy" one though. I have a feeling we will end up choosing Hampton... Which to me feels a tad less academic and much more testosterone driven, which seems to appeal to DS for some reason.

We are still agonising about it. DH and I are out of phase as well, when I favour City he favours Hampton and vice versa. Hampton is the "easy" one though. I have a feeling we will end up choosing Hampton... Which to me feels a tad less academic and much more testosterone driven, which seems to appeal to DS for some reason.

Why not try some 'test runs' to see what the travel ulike?

Bazellle do the 'top' footballers at Hampton have club and academy training outside school (as is often the case)? If so would your DS have time to do that? A lot of boys grow out of the major time commitment playing top level takes after year 9 ish so taking a longterm view is important. I don't think 10 year olds can necessarily do that, they judge where they feel comfortable in the immediate. Sounds as though Latymer may be a compromise from POV of distance and standard of sport although more expensive than Hampton.

An Academy footballer wouldn't be playing for a Club also. As the academy has to come first they are likely to only miss the Saturday morning football matches at school.

Just read all of this again. I am really grateful for all your sensible and thoughtful comments. I have invested an awful lot of time in this 11+ effort, having Hampton as our goal all the way. It was really destabilising to receive this unexpected scholarship, and even a Latymer offer, as everybody I spoke to said how difficult it was. I think I should back off now, warmly congratulate him and let him decide. He deserves it.

Just read all of this again. I am really grateful for all your sensible and thoughtful comments. I have invested an awful lot of time in this 11+ effort, having Hampton as our goal all the way. It was really destabilising to receive this unexpected scholarship, and even a Latymer offer, as everybody I spoke to said how difficult it was. I think I should back off now, warmly congratulate him and let him decide. He deserves it.

He has opted for City in the end, we are thrilled! We will go and visit it again on Wednesday.

He has opted for City in the end, we are thrilled! We will go and visit it again on Wednesday.

Woop! Good much, hope he us a happy boy.

That's amazing. I can't stress enough what fabulous City boys I have met over the years. Some are friends who are now in their 40's, others are still there. They are bright, interesting, confident without being arrogant and generally very successful in their field. Great decision.

We might see you there in 2017!

We went for the open morning for boys with offers today and it was really nice to see the boys so happy and absorbed in their lessons. The atmosphere is really good, the boys looked really sensitive and brainy, despite excelling at sports too. We are really fortunate.

We went for the open morning for boys with offers today and it was really nice to see the boys so happy and absorbed in their lessons. The atmosphere is really good, the boys looked really sensitive and brainy, despite excelling at sports too. We are really fortunate.

Bazelle,
After much deliberation and a fair few u-turns we took the difficult decision to turn down Latymer Upper and accept Clsb. We love both schools and, given they are both easily accessible for us, we found it almost impossible to choose between them ( despite the schools having, in my opinion, very different vibes). At the end of the day we decided to go with our initial gut feeling that City was the right fit for our son. We love the ethnic and social mix, the inclusive and liberal ethos and the grounded and unpretentious atmosphere. It also helped that at offer holders morning the Head mentioned the school making it to the under 13 schools football finals!
You never know, our DS's may be in the same form!

Scabby - was that also for the 11+? There's going to be quite a mumsnet gang there. Oh goody! Im looking forward to pta meetings then.

Hello nochocolateforlentcake-yes 11 +! We are thrilled. His best friend is going too- they are both lovely bright, kind, football mad boys. Had a slight wobble before acceptance because of fears of Ds having no local friends but over that now. Do you have a long journey to the school?

Its good but we've other offers to consider too. All good choices.

Tutors, pah. Who needs 'em?

nochocolate...no one loves a bragger. You probably don't need a tutor if you have a naturally very bright, very motivated DS with good back up from home. Not everyone does.

I just stumbled across this thread. You will not regret deciding to accept City. My son started there this year in OG and is truly happy there. He has a lovely bunch of friends. The boys come from all over but mostly travel to school alone so they are very independent. They open the school early in the morning, my son likes to go in early and miss the busy travel times - he can play football with his friends or even have another breakfast! Last year they had a sports week in August for the new OG and 1st Form boys which he went to - it was good for him to find his way round the school a bit before starting there and meeting some of the other new boys, so I'd recommend that if he is able to go.

sorry for the zombie thread alert, but one year later and we are thrilled with CLS. The commute is now ok after a little wobble in the dark of winter, 50 min door to door. And last week DS spontaneously said that he loves his school, that everyone is really nice, from classmates to six formers to staff and that it was well worth the commute. On the scholarship negotiations point with Hampton, I have heard of a family who had a 50% scholarship from MTS who was able to negotiate a 30% scholarship with Hampton. I do not regret one bit our decision to stay at City, such an amazing school! (And we don't get to see the other parents' car lol!)

What a lovely update Bazelle. I'm glad that your son is happy and thriving. They soon get used to the commute, and I think will appreciate the freedom of the tube as they get older.

Always good to get an update!

How's he doing with the sports side - football, cricket etc and the travel to the school's sports site?

The football matches are during the week only and the school take them by coach home or away, no fixtures at the week end so far . For cricket there might be some Saturday matches I am told, we will see. There will be a sports day that I might have to miss due to work anyway, so all in all this is really manageable.