Hampton

[pearlmummy]

Hello Hampton parents! We are considering an offer from Hampton at 11+. However, we don't know anyone who attends (or has ever been!) and although we like what we see we would really appreciate some feedback on what's it's really like when you attend - from child and parent perspective. Good and not so good please!

Thank you Pearlmummy for asking the question! We r also considering and would love to hear abt some real experiences, in particular how they deal with kids in differing sets of abilities. From all I've heard and read, it's a highly academic school with multiple prize winners and Oxbridge capable kids. But what if you are not there yet? What do they do to help you or is it a case of focus on the top set kids and leave the rest to keep up/ get out?

If you get an offer than your DS is certainly able to keep up I would think. I haven't heard of sixth form cull for Hampton, in fact I never read anything negative about Hampton. We chose City over it in the end because they offered us an academic scholarship, which coupled with the already lower fees of City made a substantial difference, but Hampton was our firm favorite throughout this 11+ process and it was a very difficult decision.

DS in Y7 at Hampton. We had different concerns last year as Hampton can seem an overwhelmingly sporty type of school and DS while bright, is no athlete. As it turned out this hasn't been a problem at all. While they push sports and encourage everyone to participate (A-F football teams, A-C rugby = everybody!) There is an appropriate level for everyone.

My point being that Hampton has pupils who excel in so many different fields from art, music and poetry, to sport, science and maths, that it's easy to look at any one area and worry that your DS might struggle. However, and this was made very clear at the new parents meeting in the summer, no one is expected to be brilliant at everything.

Trust the selection process. They know what they're looking for, and if your DS is offered a place, it's because the staff know that they will thrive at Hampton.

Should have said, DS is very happy at Hampton. Came from a state primary without knowing anyone (as do many of the first years) and felt at home very quickly.

I agree with the above and especially the comment that essentially if the school has offered to you then they expect your DS to do well there. DS has been very happy there and there is a complete mixture of types, though I would say not that big a range of abilities! They work you hard but then throw in homework holidays. I like the lunchtime clubs and if you're ever there during the daytime it's fantastic to see all the boys out on the 3G or the other courts. DS went from 20mins homework a week at primary to about 2 hours a night!

We're very happy with it, football has been great and cricket has already started. I would caution that it's easy to say there are A-E football teams for example, but the C-E teams hardly play a match compared with the As and Bs, and with the standard quite high it's not that easy to make the As or Bs. But having said that all the matches have been great, I expect DS to play c.20+ matches over the 2 terms which is pretty good; the Ds and Es probably 3-4 matches. Rugby was less popular, I would guess 3/4 boys opted for football.

In the end I am happy we chose City, as homework is roughly an hour a day or less and there are no Saturday fixtures, despite tons of sports and fixtures during the week. My only regret is the grim tube journey instead of the cosy coach ride, but time wise it is exactly the same.

Yes it all depends on what you want from a school. I remember with CLSB that they tried to play most matches in games afternoon (Fridays?) with the odd Saturday but that meant they played less than half the number you would play at Hampton or others. With cricket I would guess there would be more Saturdays as the game takes longer? Certainly as you go through the school you would play more Saturdays at the fantastic Grove Park facility half an hour SE from school.

Yes, I think cricket is at the week end you are right. But the school is doing all the travelling and the advantage of being used to going to school by tube he can also do it by himself for cricket

We are also considering an offer from Hampton. I have heard good reports, and boys seem very Happy.
DS loves sport, is also quite academic, so I think it might be the right choice for us.

Thank you for the replies so far - keep them coming
We are looking for academic / Sports but also able to keep music going and it seems to tick the boxes and a good choice for us.
Is there any sense that there is too homework (or indeed workload) too early or is that the quid pro quo for the extended lunch for clubs?

Hi not sure if this is any use to you whatsoever , but I have DC at Latymer Upper which every year gets extremely simliar GCSE and A Level results to Hampton, but the homework in years 7 and 8 is NOWHERE NEAR 2 hours a night. Quite often it's nothing at all in fact! Maybe just learn a few words for a Mandarin test. DC can pretty much do it all on a Sunday, over a few hours. Latymer also have an extended lunch hour for clubs and finish at 4, so it's not that they're doing anything more in the day either. Maybe it's because they are not working to the CE syllabus?

The qpq for the extended lunch is the buses leaving at 4.15pm I guess. I think it works well as DS has 3 maybe 4 days when he does do something at lunchtime, and the other 1-2 days he's out on the 3G messing around.

The homework feels like a lot at times, but the qpq to that is they don't give out much (or anything) during the holidays, and they have a weeks homework holiday each term. So it balances. DS has to just get on with it after dinner and he's perhaps more diligent than some in the time he puts in (certainly more diligent than my older DS who would only ever do the bare minimum required (at a different school)).

DS definitely rushes his homework if he can get away with it

LU don't set homework in the holidays either. I think it has been recognised that homework quantity doesn't directly correlate with results.

LU do allow them to do homework at lunchtime though which I don't think Hampton do. This may be the reason that my LU child appears to have the lightest homework load!

It's not always 2 hours at Hampton by any means.

my experience from dd's friends across yr7 is that the homework at Hampton is very heavy. almost everything has to be handed in next day.

the homework is way heavier than KGS, Tiffin or any of the less academic independents.

you do need to be prepared for it. her friends (at hampton) are giving up midweek clubs due to it.

they work them hard in the term but no homework in the holidays.

if your ds has had an offer he will thrive there - the ones that seem to struggle tend to come from Denmead with an auto entry.

My DS is in fifth year at Hampton, he came from a state primary he loves it. I wouldn't say there has been lots of homework even in GCSEs year! He was non sporty until he started rowing and now he is a committed athlete. We are very happy with the school as is he so I would say go for it

Some great endorsements - thank you. Presumably homework no worse than KCS? Would assume them to be similar but have no basis for that assumption!!!

Can't comment on Hampton homework but KCS homework not too bad. Quite a bit of it and requires boys to be organised but not a big burden.

With 11+ boys going straight into the senior school this year it could be a bit different but I can't imagine it will be dramatically different.

Sounds like a great school and certainly settled a few queries. thanks so much all!!!

Thanks so much for posting - it's sounding like a great school. Couple of other thoughts - how is the pastoral care? And given bus route is pretty wide spread, do the boys manage to see school friends out of school as they would at junior school (and so as a parent are you driving far and wide !!)

It does sound a good option for us. From what I have heard on the grapevine the 5th and sixth formers often end up in Kingston for social stuff at the weekend.
I was a bit concerned about the size of the school, actually though looking at numbers there are around 1200 boys at Hampton and around 900 children at KGS. Yet Hampton has much more space so accommodation the additional 300 pupils is OK.
I think it really does depend on the child. Hampton seems to be for team players, rough and tumble, lots of activity but also lots of hard work. I guess when you have all those boys you need to keep up the discipline and keep them busy, out of trouble, engaged and happy.
I just get the feel that KGS is a softer school, less robust boys. Same with RGS Guildford. Although also just boys, it seems more gentle, very academic but perhaps for the more sensitive academic.
Reeds I think is more like Hampton, just not as academic. KCS I don't know much about really.

I am a KCS parent and DS does very little homework but it doesn't necessarily mean they don't set any.

I am a little bit surprised that Hampton is being painted as a sporty less academic school. Hampton has one of the most successful Maths departments in the country, they do extremely well in the Olympiads and won the National Senior team challenge last year. They also do well with science Olympiads. It is a very strong school for sports but it is a very academic school as well, they are not mutually exclusive it is possible to be both.

It is definitely academic most boys are expected to do very well exam wise and the teachers really stretch them. They do seem to be able to do it in a laid back way though which is one of the reasons we like it so much. There is a big social scene as well with LEH and SHS if that is what your boys are looking for. The school has a very balanced approach and cake is right the maths department is stellar. There are also boys who don't do sport but excel at music and drama, there is space for everyone to shine.
I honestly do not have a bad word to say about Hampton I am so pleased DS is there.

Just responding to the point re RGS in case this is relevant for others reading this. DS1 and 2 there - I would definitely not describe RGS as for more sensitive types! It suits resilient, self starting boys who want to get involved. Academic boys who excel across the curriculum - sport and music. You don't have to be sporty but it takes its sport seriously for those that are - it just doesn't define itself by how good it is at sport. Two hours homework per night y7 sounds steep though ....