Hampton Vs KingsW

[scl1]

My son is lucky enough to have 11+ offers for both of these schools and I'm looking for advice on the pastoral care more than anything.

He is quite sporty and enjoys a lot of clubs but, when push comes to shove, he is an anxious boy and I'd describe him as sensible and sensitive. He survived 11+ but not without stress. I believe he will do best wherever he is happiest. Does anyone have any comment on the relative "pressure" once you're in either of these schools? Or how they support anxious boys once they're in?

Thank you for any insight.

I have a son at Hampton who has had some anxiety problems and the school have been fantastic about it. They have a good counselling team and the heads of year have been great.

Hi @scl1 we have the same, very fortunate, but difficult choice.
We will go to both the offer mornings and hopefully this will make the decision a little easier.

@ripple11 That's our plan too. I've no doubt they're both amazing places to learn, I'm just trying to understand whether either suits a 'sensible, sensitive but also sporty'' boy better than the other. I don't want to push mine into an environment where he won't be relaxed and happy... keep me posted

I'd choose Hampton from your description of your son. It's more laid back than KW

@PhipillaFawcett Thank you that is very helpful. My son walked out of the 10+ because the stress was too much, and although he has come a long way he'll be the boy that is stressed by end of term tests etc and will need support to learn to cope. I appreciate your reply x

@milliefiori Thank you. All experiences welcome. I know both drive for results and that's fine with me, I was told Hampton might be 'boisterous' and KW more 'gentle' but I'm also happy to hear that there is a nurturing side to H. Appreciate your post

Good tips on KCS
We are choosing between KCS and DC. I had a look at Hamptons and was keen but the test date clashed with DC where we had great impression on open day. DS is not at all sporty but very confident and sailed through 11+ unscathed. I hope goes somewhere that instill in him the best values of humankind.

The Head and staff at Hampton seem to us and our bright and gentle DS to be genuinely nice, kind and approachable. We were told by another parent that KCS do not really need to worry as much about concerns due to the fact that it's name is so sought after. If you aren't happy there, someone else will be. This is probably true of many schools though. I always thought an intake of girls into sixth form (as KCS do) boosts results but Hampton seems to achieve very highly without this.

Applied to both schools as liked them equally. Hampton felt more down to earth, but that's just a feeling. In the end went with the one with the easiest journey.

I have ds at both and agree with your impression that H is more boisterous and Kcs more gentle. The numbers are quite different, especially by year 9 (220 at h vs 160 at Kcs). The teachers are really lovely at both and probably largely from the same pool. The demographic is different, Kcs very sw19 heavy, H from a wider area. With very obvious overlap of families like ours on the whole Kcs feels more posh and more formal/trad (eg smarter uniform requirements). Hampton feels to me more like the ex grammar it is, Kcs feels more like a traditional private school that is very encouraging with tutorial system etc. I struggled with separating my two and posted on here about it. More than likely your son would be happy at either!

@monkey42 wow ds at both! Thanks that'a very helpful.

Have a DS at KCS and find it a relaxed and gentle school with none of the bully boy alpha tribes that seemed to exist in prep school. DS is incredibly happy there and has a lovely group of friends who are very supportive of each other. The school does expect the boys to work hard and achieve good results but the culture amongst the boys facilitates this and it all seems to happen without any stress or pressure. One of DS’s friends was hopelessly disorganised and the school organised for a specialist teacher to help him with his time management and organisation skills so they are also good at providing help where needed without making it a “thing”.

Well we had the KCS offers open morning today.
The boys went off and did some Physics, Philosophy and Q&A, whilst parents had a presentation and Q&A with pupils and staff. Finished with a school tour for boys and parents.
Confirmed our thoughts what a fantastic school this is.
Off to Hampton tomorrow, for more indecision!

Good luck So hard. Both great schools. M the end we simply went with the closest!

I was very impressed with Hampton today. The Head is so bright, kind and down to earth. The grounds are amazing and the boys seemed genuinely happy and fully supported. They also achieve excellent results without having the co.-ed. sixth form factor. All the staff we have met have always been so lovely. Was good to hear about the pastoral care and how the boys are looked after and also how all talents are equally encouraged.

Yes, Hampton is a fantastic school and the head is so nice. You won't go wrong with either.

These are the factors that helped our decision:

Co ed or all boys in sixth form
The option of IB
Location for DS and for us (parents evenings, sports fixtures etc)
DS's opinion (he loved both so happy for us to decide)

Good luck everyone