SW London Boys/Co-Ed Independent Schools 2022

[Nearlythattime]

We are in the process of registering our son for his 11+ entrance exams. We have seen a few schools recently and really like the open space of Ibstock and KCS. We are aiming for mid- academic schools as DS is fairly bright (CATs of 137/132 in Maths/English). I was hoping someone could provide insight on the stage one test for Ibstock. Is it a computer based test? Which subjects are tested?

I’d also be grateful for views on Hampton. I’ve heard great things but having seen the school, thought it lacked the green space some other schools offer and wonder whether it’s worth sitting. What is it about Hampton that gives it the edge above other schools?

Thank you in advance!

How is Hampton lacking green space? It offers more green space than most schools in the London area!

The edge of Hampton is results, strong link to a girls school, very successful sport teams, amazing music opportunites and big emphasis on kindness.

Hampton has loads of space! And all the games are on sight. KCS and Ibstock have far more manicured lawns and flower beds but not entirely sure that’s a plus!

Thank you for your replies. I know Hampton has the big sports fields but on our tour, I couldn’t see many other outdoor areas for the children to spend break/lunchtime.

@goldil0cks thanks for your insight and that’s just what I want to hear. I hear so many great things about Hampton and whilst it is further to get to, they do have a good school bus network. Does Hampton have good indoor sports facilities too?

@Nearlythattime , the dc spend their lunchtimes in school clubs or out on the 3 G or sports fields playing football etc with each other. There are 2 indoor sports halls but no swimming pool and no swimming lessons offered. It's a great school but a distance from many parts of London & it's often that distance that helps parents make a decision once they are offered a place.

Thanks for starting this thread, we're in the same position as you and looking at the same schools.

For London, it will probably be a good idea to have quite a few schools on your list. KCS and Hampton are notoriously hard to get into. Have you considered Trinity and Whitgift too? What does your Head advise ? Whitgift will cover all your bases in terms of sporting facilities.

@Mummy195 we actually have a place at Hampton via the deferred 10+ route. Sorry, on reading my original message, I didn’t make that clear. When I referred to “sitting”, I was referring to 11+ exam which they can take for scholarship purposes. My son took the 10+ exam during the pandemic so we hadn’t seen the school before. Now we are deciding which other schools we would rank above Hampton in our list. It’s a tricky one. We loved the head and the school. It’s further but they have the bus. Also, links with LEH seem genuinely strong. KCS seems to have missed a trick with Wimbledon girls there.

Trinity and Whitgift and Dulwich all too far. Latymer is also on the list. Would we be silly to turn down Hampton over say, Ibstock?

@Nearlythattime , KCS have girls in the 6th form.
I think you would struggle to find a parent who turned down a Hampton 10 plus and went for Ibstock at 11. Your ds is obviously bright and will enjoy Hampton and the teaching, the good preparation for external exams, university guidance and results are hard to beat.
I'm a parent at Hampton, the schools the ds in my ds's class had turned down to go to Hampton at age 11 included Tiffin, Wilson's, KCS, KGS, Epsom, St George's, St John's, RGS, Reeds, Ibstock, Dulwich, Harrodian, whitgift.

DS had a 10+ Hampton place a couple of years ago. Ended up going to LU which is closer but also much easier to get to via public transport.
He only sat a couple at 11+. Would never have sent him to Ibstock over Hampton for example, despite it being much nearer, so no point in sitting for it. If he hadn't have had the 10+ in the bag we would have sat many more at 11+!

@dreamingofbeaches2022 thank you for your insight. This is exactly the position we are in and I just want to ensure we are making the right decision by only asking ds to sit exams in a couple of schools. KCS and LU are much closer but clearly, very competitive and over subscribed. So just want to be sure Hampton is a good alternative. Sounds like we can’t go wrong with it.

@cricketjoys85 great to hear that from an existing parent. Really appreciate your view.

@Nearlythattime DS luckily had the choice of Hampton and KCS at 11+.
Really difficult choice , and in the end we with Hampton , mostly due to travel arrangements.
As your son got a Hampton10+ offer, he has an excellent chance of a KCS offer imo, so I would consider that , especially if its an easier commute.
Hampton has large playing fields on site, and a large enclosed 3G pitch ....whereas some of KCS sports fields are off site iirc.

Following, similar dilemma. It’s just I like the idea of ibstock being close and my DS not having to get a coach so early and back so late etc

@Pastamaking ds will definitely be applying for KCS. He’s a strong mathematician but nowhere near as strong in Comprehension so I’m worried that will let him down. If he got KCS, due to logistics, it would be an easy decision.

Any views on LU compared with these schools? We don’t mind co-ed or boys, so that’s not a key driver. Ds would be happy in either environment.

@Whstdoyouthink does you ds have a 10+ offer somewhere?

@Nearlythattime LU is our nearest school and so we were very keen to like it and send DS there, before the 11+ process started. Unfortunately after the open morning and feedback, we felt it wasn't quite the right school for him. We have friends with kids there and they are very happy, so definitely go and see it.
All green space is off site of course.

Can I ask what it was about LU that didn’t quite click. Appreciate they are all good schools and it is “horses for courses”.

@Nearlythattime For us LU has a "cool urban" vibe, and we just didn't think it would suit. Hampton and KCS just felt right (no doubt their grounds/space/facilities helped!)

Thanks for this thread. We are in the same boat and looking at many of these schools for 2022 entry. I see the girls have a support thread going but not yet one for the boys. As registration deadlines loom, has everyone decided what schools to register for? We have just had up to date CAT scores in and will be finalising our list this week.

Controversial but my DB's job involves him meeting boys from many of these schools. The KCS and Hampton boys are by far the most arrogant and misogynistic. He was not remotely surprised by the Everyone's Invited scandal.

Wow thanks for the warning Puddletown. I’ll make sure he doesn’t go back after half term.....any schools you can recommend instead?

How's everyone getting on? We had Tiffin stage 2 yesterday. It was really well organised. Onwards to Hampton in a couple of weeks.

Hello, anybody’s son taken the Hampton 11 plus this weekend. My DS found the verbal reasoning tricky and left a few. Don’t know what to make of it. It’s going to be a difficult wait. Anyone in the same boat.

Hi @Mominafix, yes definitely in the same boat. Ds found both the maths and the reasoning paper tricky, and missed quite a few Qs, so we are not feeling hopeful! He has since told me that the head chatted to them at the end and said 1500 boys sat - I can’t quite believe this is correct and must be a misunderstanding on ds part??!

@ Blandpedant. 1500 does seem like a big number. Not sure there were so many boys there but anyways just hope and pray the boys find a school correct for them. My DS didn’t have much information other than the VR was very tricky.

For the 1500 number it could be 10+
11+ and 13+ combined. I don't think it could be 1500 for 11 plus, my ds is at Hampton and the site would struggle to accommodate that number on 1 day.

It was a few years ago but my ds got an offer despite missing out the maths questions at the end. My tip would be that the school teaches at a fast pace and if your ds struggled with the depth of the exam papers then it isn't the school for him. It's not a great place to be near the bottom sets for any high achieving school.

Hi! My son sat Hampton on Saturday and hasn't said anything about it. I know he was in a room with 7 other boys but that's it. The communication from the school has been lovely.