Lady Eleanor Holles

[Kingston700]

We'd be grateful for some information from current parents who have daughters at LEH.

Our daughter has been accepted for entry into year 7 this September but she comes from a local state primary and we're far from wealthy. We would struggle to pay the full fees but we'd gladly do it as long as we knew our daughter would be happy there.

The opinions on this forum are quite polarised, some parents saying LEH is a bit like a country club, others saying it's not like that at all and very down to earth. The teachers we spoke to were warm and welcoming and I didn't get any negative elitist impressions at all but that was from just one day there.

Our daughter is very bright but not a natural extrovert and can be quite shy, so the last thing we'd want is for her to go to a school where she feels out of place.

We'd appreciate any views or opinions to help us decide.

Thanks very much

There's a lot of loud overly confidant girls and some less so! It depends on the year group, took a very long time for ours to settle; however some fit in straight away! Less confidant can sometimes be a bit squashedFound it's also a very quite pressurised environment but this might suit
hope I helped xx

We have a daughter in Year 7 ... certainly not a country club, and definitely down to earth, more like a posh grammar school in atmosphere rather than the "mini-Oxbridge" feel of SPGS. The school encourages them to do a lot outside the academics so to fit in, it probably helps if she enjoys sport and music. My daughter is not keen on lacrosse but is enjoying netball, athletics and swimming. They are not all high powered and overly confident. If she's bright and does a few extra things she should be fine ... relax and if you think the school looks good then go for it.

Congratulations to your dd. I have 2 girls there and I don't find it country club like in the slightest. My middle child is at Kings, now that is far more country club, shopping in the village and 4wd. My experience has been that leh is very down to earth with parents from all walks of life and different financial backgrounds. I very much get the impression that my girls are far more impressed by the brightest children and not the richest.
Both of mine came in at 11 and not from the juniors. I would say that that did mean it took them slightly longer to find their true group of friends. They have a robust class rep system so do throw yourself into everything and your daughter would be put with girls who live close to you. Both my girls had children from state schools in their class.
Friendship wise there are plenty of 'quiet' girls in the school. It is by no means full of alpha females. Your dd will find her niche. Advise her to throw herself into her sport, drama or music. I have one who lives and breathes sports, the rowing has very anti social hours! The other has 2 left feet, taking after her mother but plays in the orchestra and has just joined an ensemble. They do not need to excel at something to participate fully.
I'm sure she will be very happy. It doesn't matter that she (or you...) are coming from a state school, that is to be all the more admired.

I have 2 girls there and do not recognise the description of a country club either (unless that means lost of outdoor space, a pool and the opp to play a variety of sports to an extremely competent level?)

I have found it far more balanced and varied than my dd's pre prep, where foreign hols and new cars were far more prevalent. Lots of my dds friends are from state schools. The most recent Tatler review says

We are also trying to work out if it's the best choice for our DD. she loves it and is hugely confident so no worries from that point if view. but we don't live locally (though still in sw London and on one of bus routes), and both work full time, so I worry that she might be better off at one she can reach easily by public transport. are there many after school occasions or world she largely be able to use the bus?

I don't know where you are so difficult to advise but you might be interested to know that the school have a new free minibus shuttle to Teddington train station which I think runs to 6pm. We don't need it so I'm not totally familiar with how it works. Call the school and ask?

We live in surrey and both of mine use the coach. I think both hampton and LEH are acutely aware that there are a large number of parents that rely on the coach service and that parents can't just arrive at school at the drop of a hat. I have found that the first few years the times I've had to pick up aren't too frequent, the older they get the more there is after school but they are far more self sufficient then too. She will definitely do most of her journeys on the coach. I do think they consider the coach pupils when it comes to clubs etc. I work in town 4 days a week and there has been the odd ocassion that I've thought how am I going to do this. We are lucky that there are a couple of girls who live locally in my daughters years that we can call on and vice versa when this arises. I really would advise you to reach out to those parents, you'll meet them at the coach points, you will all help each other out enormously.

thank you, both those replies are very helpful. We find out our state allocation tomorrow. then we can make a final decision.

Thank you to everyone for your replies, they are hugely reassuring. ?

I'm sure our DD will be happy there.

If you send your DD there, she'll be with my DD as my DD is joining LEH this year too!

Dear All, Our DD has an offer from LEH for Year 7 and we are quite excited about it. Would much appreciate to know from recent parents at LEH if things have turned out well and suits a bright and gentle girl (non-sporty, but interested in art, drama, music)?