Seeking recent experience of Hurstpierpoint College

[clarexbp]

I'm looking at independent senior schools in Sussex for DD, to start in Year 7. She is mad keen on Hurst, and I do really like it too, but would love some views from recent parents.

My biggest question is how academic it is, as DD is turning out to be really pretty able (e.g. very high scores in CATS - sometimes full marks). In conversations about what she wants from a school, she says that she'd rather be in a school with lots of other academic kids and really exciting teaching. She knows that this might mean she would be average, rather than top of the class, and she is not worried about that - I think she'd actually quite like it.

So, that makes me think that we ought to be seeking out the most academic environment for her that we can - should we be honing in on Brighton College? But, I don't really like BC - it seems very pressured. I want her to enjoy her adolescence and this just seems more plausible at Hurst.

So, are there any Hurst parents out there who can reassure me that it has a good-sized cohort of very bright kids and inspirational teaching? It has a lingering reputation as the option for less academic kids, but looking at its exam results this year, I don't think that can be the case - surely you don't get 40% 9s at GCSE without some pretty smart cookies?

Hi I can't advise about Hurst although it looks a lovely school. My DS was at BC although he left a few years ago. The school encouraged kindness and it was a very happy school and he loved his time there. The teaching was fantastic and teachers very approachable and enthusiastic. Great atmosphere. The facilities now look even more amazing but don't be swayed by that as it's not that important. My DS is very able and although not as driven as some he coped very well at BC and I was not overly aware of undue pressure either although a lot speak of it. However my other son went to South London school and frankly that was worse in some respects and without the same support as provided by BC. My DS weekly boarded at BC and he enjoyed being in Kemp town as well. Good luck with finding the right school.

My children attend Hurstpierpoint College senior school. It is a highly academic school and any evidence to the contrary is at least ten years out-of-date. My oldest child is predicted two As and an A* at A-levels and is one amongst many. Her cohort are mainly heading for Russell Group and Oxbridge universities. My next child looks set to achieve 9s and 8s at GCSE and this is not unusual. Hurst is ambitious for the individual, and encourages each student to do their best, while making sure they are well-rounded and balanced, whereas BC is ambitious for the school and its position on league tables. If you want a school which offers fabulous academic, extra-curricular and sports opportunities combined with a warm and friendly atmosphere and excellent pastoral care, choose Hurst.

I know this is an old thread but I’d be really interested to know what you decided and how it is going so far? Thanks

Just seen your message @SwabianMrs - only three months late!

DD was offered a place at Hurst for Year 7 but, for various reasons, we decided to keep her at her all-through school instead. This turned out to be a bit of a mistake (she's bored stiff) and we now have a place for her to start at Hurst in Year 9. The more I see of Hurst, the more I like it, and the more I wish we'd taken the plunge last year.

How about you? Have you gone for it? Would love to hear your experience if so.

We all love Hurst and hopefully she’ll get offered a place for year 7. It’s definitely our 1st choice. I’m a bit concerned about the admissions process because I’ve a very shy kid who freezes under pressure. What I saw from Hurst was it’d be a place she could flourish…if only she gets in. Do you recall what the admissions process was like?

@SwabianMrs I'll PM you!

I would say that Burgess Hill Girls is more academic than Hurst and has better outcomes. Hurst has definitely lowered its entrance criteria as they have accepted kids from my sons school who are generally in the bottom half of the class.

I have a daughter at Hurst who moved from BHG girls and would say that Hurst is definately not less academic. If anything it offers more subject choices and offers a well rounded educational experience in all areas, especially sports. The workload and pressure is also far more than BHG and the days much longer. Remember when looking at statistics re GCSE results etc I don't think you can really compare a girls only environment to a co-ed setting. My daughter is thriving at Hurst but your child does have to commit and isn't able to 'sit on the sidelines' or take the easy options at Hurst.

Thanks for reviving this thread @Marf6868 I'd forgotten I started it.

Update - DD started Hurst 3 weeks ago (we decided to start her in Y9 rather than Y7) and she is absolutely loving it so far. And so are we! She is completely shattered by the weekend, but is loving all of her lessons (this was most definitely not the case at the previous place) is being stretched (ditto) and is having huge amount of fun.

Early days, but it's a big thumbs up from us so far.

I've just looked up the latest exam results and Hurst's are slightly better than Burgess Hill's. Both are great, but as you point out @Marf6868 girls tend to outperform boys of the same underlying ability at GCSE, so I'm inclined to think that good results from a mixed school trump similar at a girls' school.