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Secondary education

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

Original poster

King's college or Harrodian

15 replies

Donsab · 06/03/2020 23:55

Hi,
I have boy who is academically good and i am wondering if any one has experience about any of these schools .
I heard different opinions, some people said kings is really hard and some kids got a depression cause they over stress kids so much.
And is Harrodian academically good or it is just average school. Do they push the potential students to get in good universities?
Please need help with this issue as soon
Thanks

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sandybayley · 07/03/2020 00:31

Absolute nonsense about Kings. What on earth gave you that idea? Both my DS have thrived at KCS and I've never heard of a a child with depression triggered by academic stress there.

After8itsgrownuptime · 07/03/2020 06:28

General consensus in my area (and having visited both myself) is that kings is V academic but is a great school for those that are academically up there. Harrodian is a good school with an arty feel. If your child is super bright and capable then look at kings , if you’re child is more of an all rounder, but with a leaning to arts, they harrodian might be a better bet. Not sure where you are , but If you’re child is bright enough for kings, have you also thought about St Paul’s and hampton as well?

Original poster
Donsab · 07/03/2020 08:31

@sandybayley thank you for your reply and for sending me your experience, can i ask you something please, my son is on top set now in independent prep, so do you think he will be on top as well in kings, and do they push the kids which on middle and low groups or only top ones.
Thanks a lot

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Original poster
Donsab · 07/03/2020 08:45

@sandybayley thank you for your reply, he is bright and sooooo arty , this is exactly what makes me worried about king's .
He loves art and drama a lot , he always needs time for his thoughts and his creativity.
And what i heard about king's is academically is so so strong ,hard work ,so boys don't have time for themselves. We did visit st.Paul's but he didn't like it.
I am just worried to send him to harrodian cause they may not push him enough academically to get in good university.

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sandybayley · 07/03/2020 11:31

Donsab - my two have plenty of time for outside interests and certainly aren't stressed. Sports feature heavily as does teenage skinning.

DS1 is the higher achiever (has Oxford offer) but has never been in top sets at KCS. I think he was maybe set 3 of 8 for maths
at GCSE but still got a 9 and an A at Ad Maths (there is no A star). Top set of a prep won't necessarily mean top sets at KCS as all the boys are at that level.

All the boys do well. DS2 is in the lower sets but I'm still hopeful he'll gets a mixture of top grades and end up at a top university.

Thesunalwaysshines · 07/03/2020 11:51

Donsab Kings has fantastic drama. See their productions. I would have thought art too. My DS is also top set at prep and I don't expect him to be at top set at KIngs. He loves learning and I am looking for a school that feeds that, not just about results. I have no concerns about Kings in that regard. Take the offer. You won't regret it, I'm sure

Original poster
Donsab · 07/03/2020 19:56

Thank you so much everyone 🙏🙏

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Growingboys · 08/03/2020 00:02

If you are in any way interested in him achieving his academic potential then I would advise against Harrodian.

Thesunalwaysshines · 08/03/2020 08:29

sandybayley that is interesting. However, I would imagine that some boys who are top sets at maths may not be so strong in English, so maybe your DS's Oxbridge offer was for English / humanities?

sandybayley · 08/03/2020 11:57

@Thesunalwaysshines - nope. Chemistry and he's predicted A star in Maths.

Thesunalwaysshines · 08/03/2020 12:32

Wow.

jeanne16 · 08/03/2020 13:42

Since Bristol University has increased their intake by 60% and Exeter by something similar, it is becoming increasingly easy to get into top universities. So Harrodian will get plenty into those unis as well as Kings. I am just pointing this out as I think you should look at other factors in your decision.

Harrodian does have a reputation for having more of the super wealthy kids than other south-west London schools.

Original poster
Donsab · 08/03/2020 14:19

@jeanne16 you are right i have to look on other factors, also last year harrodian send kids to top ones like oxford, cambridge and Edinburgh.
It is really hard decision especially it is king's college Confused

OP posts:
79abbot · 08/03/2020 21:27

Donsab, I am not sure if your DS has been offered places by these schools but if I was in your position, I would accept Kings. It's an amazing school where your son will no doubt thrive. They wouldn't have offered him a place if they didn't think he would be a good fit. Apart from the academics, arts, drama, music and sports will all be at a very high level. Harrodian is a really lovely school but it isn't on the same level with Kings. Please bear in mind that Kings offers IB as well as A-Levels. It will be easier for your DS to go to a top university from Kings than from the Harrodian, although I have no doubt that a bright child will do well at either school. They are so very different...it's impossible to compare but one thing is for sure: I think you wouldn't be doing your DS a favour by declining Kings. If he doesn't like it, you can always move him. It's easier to move "down" than "up"... wishing you and your DS the best of luck.

Original poster
Donsab · 09/03/2020 12:16

Thank you everyone for supporting, we did accept King's offer.
Best regards

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