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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Notting Hill vs Kingston

18 replies

KeyboardSlave · 15/02/2019 14:55

DD has surprised us by getting unexpected offers from both Notting Hill & Ealing and Kingston Grammar. Now we have a decision to make that we didn't expect - nice problem to have, of course. Thought I was staunchly single-sex, but Kingston so lovely that we made an exception. Would love to hear thoughts on both places, esp. any negatives. Both seem to be both excellent and lovely.

OP posts:

HerdingPigs · 15/02/2019 15:25

How would the commute be for your DD for both schools? These two schools are quite some distance apart. If all things equal, the one with the shorter commute?

amidaiwas · 15/02/2019 15:29

Yes - commute?
Also KGS sports ground is at Hampton Court. How is that for you?

Original poster

KeyboardSlave · 15/02/2019 15:33

Commute not ideal but do-able for both, so I suppose doesn't really influence the decision too much. KGS sports ground further still, but looks lovely. Notting Hill presumably not as sporty? Do they do stuff elsewhere or mainly on site?

OP posts:

Poppyred25 · 15/02/2019 15:45

OP, I would drive to the KGS sports ground in Thames Ditton this weekend & then imagine doing the drive on a regular basis for many years. I'm not a parent but i know KGS has a high participation in sports teams rate - like 90% - so Saturday sports matches / training plus the option of rowing based at the boat house needs to be considered.

HerdingPigs · 15/02/2019 15:46

NHEHS has big grounds hidden inside the school, plus indoor gym and a swimming pool. You will benefit from offer holder open day to see the school again. Don't know much about KGS though... Sorry

Original poster

KeyboardSlave · 15/02/2019 17:51

Think I'm going to need to find out what sports DD is particularly keen on and see whether that sways things. What she's into now may not be what she fancies doing when there are other choices. Again, I think the journeys could probably be coped with if they had to be. Still yet to hear anything negative about either school!

OP posts:

Poppyred25 · 15/02/2019 17:57

OP, it's highly unlikely you will hear anything negative re these 2 schools especially on today of all days when those contributing are overwhelmed with good wishes to all. In situations such as yourself the decision often comes down to a final visit/ gut feeling & journey times. (Sport is a massive part of KGS so do make that visit to Thames Ditton sports ground).

Testbunny · 15/02/2019 17:58

Does she like gym, dance etc and things like that? Kingston don't offer those, the girls do the same sport as the boys, except for netball. I would imagine, as a girls school, Nottinghill would offer gym and dance,but could be wrong Depends what she's into.

Original poster

KeyboardSlave · 15/02/2019 20:47

Chatting this evening, dance definitely got the DD nod of approval, so that may well be swinging things in a Notting Hill direction. Also good advice about how unlikely it is that we'd get any negative views on 'offers day'. Thanks all! Looks like I'll be making a journey to Thames Ditton tomorrow :)

OP posts:

Daftapath · 15/02/2019 21:03

I would look at the journeys very closely. Dd has been at NHEHS for a few years now and initially was exhausted so a longer journey would have been awful. Sometimes the tubes are down and she has the option of using the bus instead. She seems very happy there and there is a good mix of ability.

Original poster

KeyboardSlave · 17/02/2019 09:59

Thanks Daftapath. As you have DD at NHEHS, any additional feedback would be really welcome. Any negatives at all? We don't know anyone with a child there which makes it feel a bit 'unknown'.

We do know people at KGS, and they swear by it, but do also know of two very loutish older boys who go there, and not such a good advert. And that puts me off a bit.

OP posts:

amidaiwas · 17/02/2019 11:18

Does she like gym, dance etc and things like that? Kingston don't offer those, the girls do the same sport as the boys, except for netball.

I would generally agree with this, however they do kind of do gymnastics at KGS in PE lessons (not games) as part of general fitness / core stability etc but there isn't any specialised gymnastics equipment. Dance isn't on the curriculum but House dance competition each year is massively popular.

Testbunny · 17/02/2019 12:19

Oh, yes, gym in PE. Drama is amazing too (have experience) - the kids love performing in house competitions - so is music, according to friends. (no experience).

I wouldn't let a couple of loutish boys put you off a school. This will be everywhere, as is bullying, bitchiness etc. Just because kids are bright doesn't mean there won't be a couple of bad pennies that get in. My colleagues daughter was bullied badly at NHEHS. It's everywhere. It's how any school deal with it (well, apparently). KGS have excellent pastoral care, but can't compare with anywhere else.

Go with feel, extra curricular, sports offered and travel

ilikegibbons · 17/02/2019 14:46

I would also like to know about Notting Hill. Been trawling around everywhere trying to find info and there is so little on it. It gets great results but just nowhere near the level of discussion/gossip as other schools. Please please anyone out there with anything else to add?!

Daftapath · 17/02/2019 15:39

I think NH has a very local school feel to it. Most of the girls do not travel from far away (unlike other larger schools where students travel from all over London). This means that DD's friends are all fairly accessible easy for her to meet up with - which is a godsend when collecting from parties late at night!

DD has really developed in confidence in the last couple of years and is turning into a young person who I am very proud of.
I think this may have taken longer if she had been surrounded by boys as she would have more naturally taken a back seat.

The school has been responsive to issues that I and other parents have had which would not be any different from those I have encountered in my other dcs school.

They have a strong drama, sports and music department but at the end of the day they are only a 3 Form intake at year 7 so quite small compared to my other dcs school which was 7 Form.

I'm afraid that I don't know KGS to compare them but the biggest difference must be that one is mixed and one single sex.

Happy to answer any specific questions but trying not to be outing!

Whatsnextiwonder · 22/02/2019 23:00

Hi Daftapath, as you have another DD in a 7 form school would you say it is easier to get into clubs/sport teams if you are in a smaller 3 form school then larger school? Would you say that LHEH is s busy school with lots of happening to keep girls happy & motivated?As half of the girls come from the junior school at NHEH with already established friendship groups, did your DD have any difficulties making friends?

HunkyDory69 · 22/02/2019 23:18

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Whatsnextiwonder · 26/02/2019 22:10

What are you comments about pastoral care st NHEHS? Would you say the school is more suited to girls who are motivated, independent learners than to those who need more support and nurturing environment?

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