Hampton, Halliford or Reeds for DS (11+) ??

[Leoness]

It's decision time!!
I have come down to these three schools. I've visited and looked at more, but these three are my short list. My DS is bright, above average but not driven academic. He is in a small catholic school, which he loves.
IMHO Hampton is the cutting edge school with all mod cons, excellent results and beyond great guidance and opportunities. However it seems it may be the most academic and the least nurturing. You are the best - it's up to you to stay the best, kinda attitude.
IMHO Reeds is academic but nurturing, it's expensive but covers everything. Great results throughout the school. A multitude of options with sport, music and extra curricular. The onward network is good at the school has a long -standing good reputation.
IMHO Halliford is smaller but very nurturing. A nice tidy school with excellent sport, art and music. Results are fine... about the 1/4 school SEND. I don't know much about the future onward from Halliford with respect to university placement and industry networking.
Can anyone help me with added information and thought please?
The weight of responsibility is heavy.
DS is sensitive but bright... I want him to be nurtured to his full potential and I worry that Hampton will be too much (pushy academic) and Halliford maybe too little (not pushed to potential) !
Reeds is very expensive but I couldn't obviously see where the money is spent - perhaps they spend it on the teaching, the school itself is tired in places. Hampton and Halliford are tidy, fresh and don't look so tired.
Thanks for all your sage knowledge
x

bump

With respect, what I have learned over the years is that the school chooses the child rather than necessarily the other way around! Those three sound like a perfect shortlist, and if you like them all in different ways let him sit for all three and worry again about which to choose when offers are on the table.

Are your entering for Jan 18 exam? If so these 3 are a popular combination, lots of boys will be sitting all 3. The decision is made when you get the offers. (The cost of Reeds is linked to the foundation places).

Thanks - I definitely will get him to sit two, it may be too stressful for him to sit all 3...but that's not final perhaps I should keep all options open!

Any other knowledge about the schools would be helpful too..

Sunshine - yes Jan 18... sorry but I don't know what foundation places are - could you explain?

Anyone have any thoughts about the stress in taking 3x 11+ exams?
I was told but two head masters that it isn't a good idea!

*by two

The details of the foundation applications are on their admission page. 3 schools are quite normal especially as Hampton is the first exam - 3rd Jan and Halliford 1 of the last. I would get a move on as the Registrars are finalising their listings and getting ready to send out the exam information.

Don't worry I'm taking this seriously. I'm signed up and registered to all of them. Just thinking of sitting him for two. But perhaps he'd benefit from he practice of 3?

Great - I've read the foundation criteria - thanks Sunshine.
I'm a single mum but not sure I would try for one, good to know about that though.

How easy is it to get to all three schools?

Hampton is 1 of the top boys day schools in the U.K. The Sunday times list of secondary schools is out this Sunday and will give you an idea of where they sit nationwide.

Hampton was the hardest to get into out of that list last year (based on informal knowledge of who got offers from where)

3 isn't terrible, if they are all spread out. But it depends what sort of prep you intend for him to do, I guess

OP - you may know if you have an interview at Hampton before you take the Halliford exam, it would be annoying to have discounted Halliford and then not get a Hampton interview. All 3 are fine and as many schools sit the children alphabetically for the exams you may find your DS sits near the same people in all 3.

My son is at Hampton and so far it has been incredibly nurturing and not particularly pushy academically. He loves it.

I need to find out what the date of the Reeds exam is. He's registered to take all three. He has had the interview already for Halliford. I think I may let him take three is the Reeds on isn't in the same week as Hampton.
thx

Thank you ClaraVine66
It's so helpful to get opinions!

Any other inside ( as a mum) information on Reeds, Hampton or Halliford? anyone?

Bump

If you have any specific Hampton questions I would be v happy to answer. Can't help with the others I am afraid.

Not a mum of kids at any of these schools but lots of friends sons there.
Halliford is certainly easier to get into.As a rough guide those that passed Hampton where in the top sets at state primary where as everyone from my DS2’s class who took Halliford passed. Mixture of top sets and middle sets. And often more spiky profile. Good at English less good at maths etc. All those that actually went to Halliford have done very well and their value add seems excellent. Quite a few sat Halliford as back up to state school and didn’t take up the places once they had secured 1st choice state schools.
Reeds also has a longer school day may account for some of the cost.

DS is in Y11. 100% A/A* at GCSE is the expectation. They follow this up quite intensively. DS is quite lazy, so.....

DS takes the piss out of Reeds as for duffers. Not sure about Halliford.

DS gets SEN support which is more than adequate. DS is vulnerable, but the school doesn't tolerate bullying so that's good.

Hampton is big and has lots of bright boys so there's always someone better. Like significant numbers of boys VERY good at maths, etc. When we went to Reeds I didn't get that impression.

None of the boys I know that took exams took both Halliford AND Hampton. They are at either ends of the local school spectrum. There are plenty of schools academically in between these 2 schools.

I think everyone that takes Halliford will pass.
I think most that take Reeds will pass.
I think about half of those that take Hampton will pass (could be less).

I will say that both Halliford and Reeds turns out wonderful young men, who are both polite and bright, and go on to achieve wonderful things.

Halliford is seen as a bit rough, whereas Reeds is seen as a bit posh.

You need to pick the right school for your child, but ultimately it will be the school picking your child. Only take exams of schools that you and your son are very happy to attend. Exams are reasonably spread for boys, so taking 3-4 schools (if you are unsure) is totally fine.

As others have said, it will be a case of the school picking the child. I’ve never, ever heard of anyone turning down Hampton in favour of Hallifords, although some families may choose Hampton ahead of Kings or St Paul’s, or St George’s or Reed’s ahead of Kingston Grammar etc, depending on distance, ethos etc. But that’s generally for schools that are reasonably similar in terms of achievement. Comparing Halliford with Hampton is like comparing plums with mangoes. One is consistently in the top 25 independent schools in the country at GCSE level, the other is on a par with decent state schools (which is fine but then where is the value-add)? Halliford recently announced that a third of their GCSE grades were A*/A (or 7-9). Compare that with over 93% for Hampton or 75% for Reed’s.
If your son has a choice then do your research. If he doesn’t, then ask yourself if the fees are really worth it...

My son is at Reeds and has thrived there. He turned down Hampton to go there preferring the kind/sporty/nurturing environment. 100% A*/A. It really depends what environment you are looking for for your child.