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Secondary education

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Original poster

Hampton vs Ibstock Place

32 replies

mumislearning · 15/02/2019 18:19

Anyone have any advice on Hampton vs Ibstock Place? We have offers for both. Both are lovely can see our DS at either. He is more academic than sporty, but loves his, art, drama, science and music.

Ibstock is very close, but there is a school bus to Hampton close by too.

OP posts:
Poppyred25 · 15/02/2019 19:03

OP, firstly congrats to your ds on both offers, you must be over the moon. I can only comment on Hampton & without "outing" myself not say too much apart from it is an outstanding academic school with so much to offer all ds. From the selection process you must have sensed the attention given to your ds to ensure he is right for the school hence the offer. It is a sporty school but the music is also exceptional - if you spend a bit of time on the school website you can see the stories of the past term & in the What's on section you can read the first year blog. Also don't miss the "2019 university offers" news story with 31 conditional offers from Oxford & Cambridge this year to the Upper Sixth.

xxxxxxhello · 15/02/2019 19:22

Well done to your DS.
Do you not have a gut feel about one or the other- they are so different!
For what it's worth, we also live very near to IPS but I would choose Hampton over it for sure despite the journey but I know it would suit my DS much better.
But know very happy children at both.

misstiggiwinkle · 15/02/2019 19:25

My neighbour has a child at both. They would 100% say Hampton over ISP but then it's down to the type of child you have...

Original poster
mumislearning · 15/02/2019 19:42

Thank you soo much. It is difficult because I think he may do better in co-ed purely due to his gentle nature. But I am sure secondary school has a different series of problems.

OP posts:
Galaxygirl38 · 15/02/2019 20:00

We’ve been really happy with Hampton School for my ds. There is lots of sport and a fantastic music department. My ds came from a mixed state primary but much prefers being in an all boy environment. It is academic but in a down to earth way if you know what I mean. The head is great and very approachable. The coach network is fantastic and the boys share it with girls from LEH. There are so many clubs at lunchtime (they have a 2 hour break) it is hard to choose and he does something different every day. As most of clubs are at lunchtime there is very little after school activity although there is a later coach if required that leaves at 6pm. There are also matches on a Saturday for the top teams. Hope that helps. I have nothing bad to say about it!

Poppyred25 · 15/02/2019 20:25

OP, there are lots of gentle ds at Hampton. During the selection process they steer clear of the over confident prep school ds. If you go to the open morning you will get a sense of the other ds.

Calibri12 · 15/02/2019 23:32

I have sons at both so here are my thoughts:
IPS feels a bit more traditional and old fashioned (not necessarily in a bad way). It is stricter on uniform and phones (not allowed at all in school). Fewer trips - I think in year 7 Hampton son went on about 8 day trips whereas IPS don’t really do those.
Both schools are on the case academically. IPS probably has more homework- certainly in the first couple of years. They also quite often have work to do in the holidays whereas H don’t seem to.
Neither of my sons are into music or drama but are quite sporty. However, overall the IPS son has had some sporting opportunities his brother could only dream of - bigger fish in smaller pond. I could imagine the same could be true of music and drama.
I always thought IPS was more expensive but it isn’t. Bill is usually much lower because lunch is included, and there’s is no coach charge to add in.
At H boys are in the same form for everything in years 7 and 8. At IPS they are grouped differently for different things and therefore get to know everyone very quickly. They are in a house, a tutor group for registration (with kids from other years), a form for some subjects and sets for others.
Big difference is co-ed vs single sex. At H there really isn’t much crossover with LEH apart from coaches and the odd drama or music thing.
Food is better at IPS!

I’m sounding like a bit of a cheerleader for IPS which isn’t necessarily my intention but it is slightly the underdog here!

Good luck with your decision.

Original poster
mumislearning · 16/02/2019 08:05

Thank you all for your valid points. Really much appreciated. I have booked appointments to go and see both again.

OP posts:
Boysarefab · 16/02/2019 22:30

Hi calibri12, could you tell me a bit more about the sporting opportunities (beyond your other DS wildest dreams). We are trying to decide between IPS and another (not Hampton) and we have a sporty boy who especially loves football and cross country.
I’d also like to ask mumislearning if IPS were ok about going to visit again as I think I may do that.
Thanks

orangeplum · 16/02/2019 22:48

Hi Boysarefab
My DS is at IPS. There are plenty of sporting opportunities. As there are not so many boys as at the larger boys only schools, everyone gets to play in a team. Football A team hotly contested and they do well but other teams playing regularly too. Also rugby in spring term and cricket/athletics too. There are after school clubs for training in each main sport weekly. It’s great having the sports facilities on site as only journeys are for away matches. Lovely sports teachers who train kids well and have a good rapport with them.
Cross country is a sport and they compete in Wandsworth borough and also London schools championships. Weekly cross country club after school and yearly house cross country competition where whole school runs.

From a general perspective Kids are happy and you have a wider range of ability than you would find at Hampton. This allows your DS to shine.

The schools are v different and having another look at both when you know you have a choice a good idea. That should help you decide. Good luck.

Original poster
mumislearning · 16/02/2019 23:09

Hi Boysarefab
Yes, IPS are fine about revisits. I think they have a couple of days allocated to revisit. Best to check with other schools too.

OP posts:
amidaiwas · 17/02/2019 11:28

Congrats to your ds. I'd have a think about how he feels academically compared to others. If he goes to IPS i'd imagine with a Hampton offer he'd be amongst the brightest. If he goes to Hampton he probably wouldn't be... a universally very bright bunch of boys. Which would suit him better?

Calibri12 · 17/02/2019 20:23

@boysarefab - I have sent you a pm!

Parkshore · 05/03/2019 10:36

HI My child has an offer from IPS . V bright sensitive child . Is IPS full of nice children ? Several visits to other London day schools have shown the kids to be very cliquey and not kind ! My child is pretty opinionated so cant bare to see other kids being excluded or bullied ! Also when people talk of Academics the school is clearly high in the top 200 about 44th or something which means clever kids getting A at a level ? Why talk that its not academic as others ? Is this just a comparison with the prisons in Hammersmith?

nerbek · 08/03/2019 21:53

These are all great comments could you please advise how much homework per night roughly how many hrs in ibstock?

Poppyred25 · 08/03/2019 22:06

@mumislearning , where did you choose in the end?

Original poster
mumislearning · 08/03/2019 23:07

We went for Hampton in the end. DS really liked it, and wanted to go there.

OP posts:
Poppyred25 · 09/03/2019 07:58

@mumislearning , thanks for updating, I'm sure your ds will be very happy, best of luck for the future.

nerbek · 09/03/2019 08:27

Hi mums

Trying to find 2 things from mums who are currently in ibstock place. 1) the number of hrs per night for homework 2) i heat very different stories one saying you're kid has to be very academic and another saying average kids go there can someone with experience please share them with them much appreciated niamh

Original poster
mumislearning · 09/03/2019 09:02

For what I have gathered through the visits and talking to people. I think the homework at IPS is around 2 hours a night.

Academically may have a greater range of students, but it is focusing on them academically to get the best results. Definitely is becoming more selective. ( again this is from feedback from teachers and visiting the school)

OP posts:
79abbot · 09/03/2019 19:59

I have a DS at IPS in Year 7. Homework tends to be about 1 to 1.5h a day - sometimes more and sometimes less but it's not overwhelming and it can be done in Study Hall after school or at home. DS sat 11+ at Hampton too but wasn't offered a place. IPS was our 1st choice and so far we haven't regretted it.

nerbek · 09/03/2019 20:28

Thanks a million 79abbott it's quite normal to have that much otherwise it'll be difficult to pass gsces thanks a lot this really helped . Can I also ask was the exam very difficult and do you think it's a school for super academic kids

ancientgeordiegirl · 10/03/2019 07:51

@nerbek my DD is going to IPS in September so the 11+ exam is very fresh in my mind. IPS do a computer test (details are available on the admissions section of the website) which my daughter didn’t really prepare for insofar as she looked at the example test for about 30 mins the day before. There was a second exam day with the usual maths. English and an interview. My DD found the exam very doable easier than PHS (where she didn’t get an offer). My DD had 1 hours tutoring a week from year 5 as she is at a state primary so needed some preparing but other than that didn’t do anything. She’s a bright child but not overly academic so I think IPS will be a good fit for her. I’m hoping she’ll be made to focus on the academics but not feel too pressured as she might have done at more selective schools. IPS has a more traditional feel about it not using iPads or Chromebooks in the classroom until 6th form but I don’t necessarily think that a bad thing. The position beside the park is hard to beat.

nerbek · 10/03/2019 08:00

Thanks a lot, ancientgeordiegirl...I'm also in the same situation my daughters Sheenmount state school and has been tutored for 1-2 hrs per week and would love this school because of the same community feeling, nice kind kids for friendships and the proximity but what my fears were too academic and too much pressure put on kids, I think 1-1.5hrs homework should be the case currently we get 30mins homework per week so no wonder we need tutoring.
It must be such a relief to get her in well done and good luck with everything would love to hear from you once's she's settled your views. Thanks for the reply

ancientgeordiegirl · 10/03/2019 10:01

@nerbek pm me in about 9 months and I’ll let you know how she’s getting on! What years are your DDs in? I’ve got a younger DS (eldest DS in year 9 at a state secondary FBS in Fulham) and now my DD is going to IPS think we will probably send him there too in 2021. We’d not really focused on co-Ed before as the decent state secondary schools in Fulham are both single sex (Fulham Boys School & Lady Margaret School) and my daughter was on the LMS route (church primary school) but recent changes in finances have opened the option of private up for us so I’m very pleased that such a lovely school as IPS possible