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Secondary education

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Original poster

Latymer Upper vs Hampton

53 replies

Stringplait · 17/02/2021 15:31

Currently in lucky position to have offers from Latymer Upper and Hampton but really struggling to decide as we haven’t been able to visit either school and so have only got a “feel” for each through what’s available online.
Obviously they are both great schools for many of the same and a few different reasons, but would love to hear thoughts/experiences from people who have children at either, or happen to know both and can compare...
We have a preference for coed but not before ensuring it’s the right school for DS, and we live closer to LU but also in a good location to make use of Hampton coach. So even the more obvious differences haven’t helped us decide!
Everyone I ask seems to always conclude with the thought “but Hampton is such a great school” and it’s hard to know whether people are saying this because they feel Latymer already speaks for itself and Hampton is the historically slightly less well-known/prestigious of the two so needs the mention, or if it’s because it really does have the edge! V happy to be corrected either way on that latter point, definitely not trying to be divisive, offend anyone or start a debate, just trying to understand the differences beyond the obvious and anything you can share will be gratefully received!
Essentially I would love to know if anyone can comment on any of the following:
How happy are the children at these schools?
Do reasonably sporty boys who aren’t star players but enjoy and want to do sports/play in fixtures get a decent amount of sport?
How is the pastoral care at each school?
Has anyone chosen one over the other and later regretted it or been happy with choice?
Where do children socialise outside of school? Ive heard Hampton boys socialise mostly around Kingston which isn’t an easy place for us to get to ... On the other hand no idea where Latymer kids socialise? And do they meet mostly at each others’ houses or out and about?
What is the teaching style like in the two schools?

OP posts:
Cloudymornings96 · 17/02/2021 15:59

I have a ds at Hampton, I would really focus on the journey above all the other questions. Yes ds travel long distances to Hampton as shown by the coach map but a lot live locally in Hampton/ Twickenham/ Richmond/ Kew/ Kingston / Esher and Surbiton. Plus there are a lot from Wimbledon. You need to be able to drive to the school on Saturdays to drop off / collect from sport. If your ds participates in drama or music there may be late evening pick ups, can you drive to the school to do this?
Re all your other questions, yes of course the boys are happy, the fixtures go down to lower level teams but there aren't many ( this is the same at all these type of schools), pastoral care is good, they know the dc. Once you make these school choice decisions you can't look back and ever regret, it's not in the nature of the process.
I would focus on co-Ed in west London surrounded by public transport for LU and the coach system geographic spread of boys and ease for access to get to the school for you for the odd late pick up at Hampton (there aren't many if you aren't doing drama etc).

sw15sw15 · 17/02/2021 16:29

We had the exact same choice last year and DS is now at LU and very happy. Never regretted it and we thought about it a lot- it wasn't an easy decision. I'm sure he would have been very happy at Hampton as well.
For us, it primarily came down to location. He can easily get to LU on a variety of public transport or bike and Hampton he would have had to go on the school bus. I am now v v pleased that he doesn't have to get the bus, even though I had convinced myself it would have been fine.
In 'normal' times it is also much easier for us to get to the school in the evening etc and I occasionally drop him off for early morning clubs
No idea where kids socialise as they can't at the moment (!) but lots seem to live in West London, a few North and a fair few in the SW.

sw15sw15 · 17/02/2021 16:31

I don't think you can go wrong with either but if you have a preference for Co-Ed and you live closer to LU those could be good reasons to choose LU if you really can't decide!

Original poster
Stringplait · 17/02/2021 19:53

Thank you @Cloudymornings96 and @sw15sw15, both really helpful responses, helping me focus thoughts! Smile

If anyone with children at either school has anything to add or any other reasons they chose one (over the other), I’ll be very grateful for your views!

OP posts:
Covidcohort · 18/02/2021 11:52

Well done to your son!

I have/have had boys at both schools.

Academically I think I would favour Hampton. My son's year at Latymer had fairly poor results and some of that I believe was down to the school misjudging certain things in the first year or two of the new A level syllabuses. It certainly cost my son a grade in one of his subjects, and was very disappointing. He was lucky, but quite a few of his friends did not get their first choice university offers. Hampton just feels a bit more "on it" academically, I can't really put my finger on why.

Sport wise your son will be a bigger fish in a smaller pond at Latymer, (more likely to be in the A team) but will be part of stronger squads with a more structured training set-up at Hampton. Latymer has an on-site boat house, if rowing is likely to be his thing which could be an advantage.

Both schools have great facilities but have a very different feel. Obviously LU is a more urban, compact site.

Social lives will evolve according to your son's geographical spread of friends. My LU son was usually out in Hammersmith or more towards central London. My Hampton son seems to spend most time with friends from Ealing/Chiswick (but their LEH sister was more Kingston/Surbiton/Esher based with her school friends so it really does vary).

Good luck with your choice.

Ozzomum · 18/02/2021 12:30

@Covidcohort

Well done to your son!

I have/have had boys at both schools.

Academically I think I would favour Hampton. My son's year at Latymer had fairly poor results and some of that I believe was down to the school misjudging certain things in the first year or two of the new A level syllabuses. It certainly cost my son a grade in one of his subjects, and was very disappointing. He was lucky, but quite a few of his friends did not get their first choice university offers. Hampton just feels a bit more "on it" academically, I can't really put my finger on why.

Sport wise your son will be a bigger fish in a smaller pond at Latymer, (more likely to be in the A team) but will be part of stronger squads with a more structured training set-up at Hampton. Latymer has an on-site boat house, if rowing is likely to be his thing which could be an advantage.

Both schools have great facilities but have a very different feel. Obviously LU is a more urban, compact site.

Social lives will evolve according to your son's geographical spread of friends. My LU son was usually out in Hammersmith or more towards central London. My Hampton son seems to spend most time with friends from Ealing/Chiswick (but their LEH sister was more Kingston/Surbiton/Esher based with her school friends so it really does vary).

Good luck with your choice.

Interesting. I don’t have children at either school but have a friend who had DS’s at Kings Wimbledon and LU. She much prefers LU for a number of reasons but mainly because Kings messed up the year her DS did A Levels with the syllabus as well so a lot of them missed a grade! I wonder if it was all around the same time?!
Alwaysfrank · 18/02/2021 13:32

Maybe - my son left LU in 2018!

Alwaysfrank · 18/02/2021 13:34

Oops name change fail.... I'm the poster above

Original poster
Stringplait · 18/02/2021 18:58

Thank you @Covidcohort and @Ozzomum/ @Alwaysfrank! Super helpful to get your views and interesting how everyone’s experiences can be quite varied.

Anyone have any views on how quickly Y7 settle at Latymer? I think Hampton do a one week residential in normal times but Latymer don’t provide a trip until the summer term... is that right?

OP posts:
sw15sw15 · 18/02/2021 19:08

I think Hampton do a one night residential- half the year group at a time. I know some older boys there.
At LU DS had an activity day in the first week he joined. I think normally the whole year goes the same day but they split it into 2 this year due to Covid.
DS has settled in fine. They have pastoral tutor groups of 14-16 and then different teaching groups so meet kids from both.
To be honest it has been a totally different experience than normal this year as far less opportunities to mix and meet others both in and out of school but nevertheless has all been fine. He didn’t know a single soul when he started!

Original poster
Stringplait · 19/02/2021 14:44

Thanks everyone, so helpful to read your comments and great to hear children at both schools and happy and settled! Really appreciate you taking the time to post.

OP posts:
Gettingcloser21 · 11/02/2022 19:49

@Stringplait I hope you’re still picking up this message after a year. We have found ourselves in exactly the same position as you were in last year. DS secured a 10+ deferred entry place at Hampton. We therefore only applied to a couple of schools closer to home,
SW London. He received an offer from Latymer today and we are thrilled. LU is a 15 minute bus ride/cycle or 30 min walk door to door. We do however love Hampton and their PR/Comms. has been exemplary during the past year. Hampton has a really nice feel about it ands the head is very impressive. We have no real preference between co-ed and boys only. DS is academic, loves Maths, Chess, football and cricket although not naturally the most athletic (not A Team).
What did you decide in the end?

Any views very welcome.
Thanks in advance.

3WildOnes · 11/02/2022 20:02

I know boys at both schools. The boys I know at LU are a bit more streetwise, they party more, they seem a little older than their contemporaries at Hampton.

Pastamaking · 11/02/2022 21:28

Had the choice of both . Very different attitude and feel imho. Really wanted to love LU as live closest, but just didn’t like the cool urban streetwise vibe. However do have friends with DC there who are happy,
@Gettingcloser21 Hampton sounds a great fit for DS .Fantastic on site spacious sports facilities, and teams can go from A to E .He can choose 2 terms of football and one term of cricket.

Original poster
Stringplait · 11/02/2022 21:49

@Gettingcloser21 Congratulations to your DS!
We went for Latymer. It didn’t feel like an easy decision at the time but we’d always had a preference for co-ed and we’d been told the teaching style at Latymer would really suit our DS. We were also very taken by the comms from Hampton, activity packs, postcards and virtual tour. In comparison, Latymer were less communicative, but that’s actually not reflective of what it’s like once you’re there as communication has been great and the children are very well looked after in terms of their well-being and academic progress. We weren’t able to see Latymer in person because of covid, whereas my DS had previously seen Hampton and liked the feel of it. The two schools are very different in that respect, but it turns out he loves the buzz at Latymer and for many other reasons has so far loved his time there.
He is also academic, loves maths, chess and sports (mainly football and cricket), so it sounds like they have similar interests. Having said that, I think both schools cater very well in all those areas.
Good luck with your decision! I hope that helps somewhat but happy to answer more questions if want to know anything specific (feel free to DM if you prefer).

OP posts:
wineebaygo · 11/02/2022 22:34

We had the exact same choice a couple of years ago- 10+ Hampton and 11+ LU. Very happy with our LU choice and the cycle/easy commute is a godsend!

Alexia234 · 12/02/2022 06:06

Would love to hear what your DSs love about Latymer @wineebaygo and @Stringplait If you wouldn’t mind sharing?

Gettingcloser21 · 12/02/2022 06:59

@Alexia234 which schools are you choosing between?

Sidamarink · 12/02/2022 09:31

Interesting comments Pastamaking and 3WildOnes. I’m not sure what you mean by “seem a little older” and “streetwise”. If you mean they are savvy, switched on and rather open minded/global in their views… I’d tend to agree. If you’re implying they’re less “innocent” at LU, I’d say exchanges with friends from both these schools would point to that not being the case.

3WildOnes · 12/02/2022 10:16

I guess we all have different experiences. Yes to both of those things. Alcohol and drugs appeared at parties younger at LU but obviously I don’t know everyone at both schools!

wineebaygo · 12/02/2022 12:21

My DS (at LU) is too young for parties etc but he is probably more 'streetwise' than his friends at Hampton only in the way that he is totally comfortable navigating his way around London on public transport etc. LU pupils tend to live more centrally and have to use public transport whereas many boys at Hampton are shipped in and out by bus and come from a wider geographical area.
We know older boys at both schools - no differences in the parties. In fact the boys we know at Hampton are more likely to go to house parties and stay overnight where there is alcohol etc whereas the LU kids tend to hang out and do stuff in town not involving alcohol.
But both great schools and DS could have ended up at either one. In hindsight I am SO pleased he can cycle and get the tube to school rather than have to catch the school bus every day for the next 7 years...and also that we can get to school easily - not so important last year with covid but now we seem to be there quite a lot...

Gettingcloser21 · 12/02/2022 12:54

Thank you everyone for your comments. Deep down, I think we are veering towards LU but we have the small issue of convincing DS who has had his heart set on Hampton since Y5.

sunshineclouds24 · 12/02/2022 13:13

@Gettingcloser21 , as a Hampton parent it sounds like it's the perfect school for your ds, at least go to the offer mornings before deciding.

wineebaygo · 12/02/2022 13:20

@Gettingcloser21

Thank you everyone for your comments. Deep down, I think we are veering towards LU but we have the small issue of convincing DS who has had his heart set on Hampton since Y5.
Feel free to PM me- was in the exact same position!
jeanne16 · 12/02/2022 13:27

Go with the school with the easiest journey. You won’t regret it. Btw, all the London schools have big party scenes, which your DC may or may not get involved in. You won’t be able to avoid it if they are party animals.