KGS vs Hampton vs Whitgift for highly sensitive boy

[ExpulsoCorona]

We are trying to pick between these schools for our highly sensitive DS. He feels things very deeply, is very empathetic, cries easily. He's lovely, makes friends easily, is very kind and considerate.

Does anyone have highly sensitive boys at any of these schools? What have your experiences been?

No advice because we are also picking schools but following this with interest.

I think Hampton is very alpha male so would be more likely to choose whitgift or perhaps KGS (very sporty).

Whitgift is the most sporty of the 3 schools! It offers rugby, football and hockey, Hampton is either 2 terms of football or 2 terms of rugby and KGS is hockey and football - I don't know how you select.
OP, go with your gut feeling. When you visit Hampton this week look at the boys on the stage at the presentation and at the parents and boys sitting in the seats around you and see how you feel.
There are plenty of kind, sensitive boys at all these schools.

@ExpulsoCorona perhaps try to speak to the head of pastoral care at the open days if you can and chat through any worries you might have. This should give you a better insight into each of the schools. You will find all types at all schools but I can confirm there are plenty sensitive souls at KGS (one of mine included, who loves the slightly softer approach they often take to things). Kindness and respect for others is at the core of everything they do at school. As pp suggests, chat to as many students as you go around and watch their interactions with each other. The biggest differences between Whiftgift/Hampton and KGS are the size of yeargroup (WG/H are almost double KGS) and the all boys vs co-ed. You just need to think about which dynamics would suit your DS better.

Thank you, it's really good to hear experiences and we will be going back to look at the schools. I've noted down KGS as having 125 in the year and Hampton as 140. I haven't got any idea about Whitgift though, I'll ask. KGS had their whole assessment process online so it's been the most difficult to gauge.

Whitgift is massive and will also have a further intake at 13. Hampton will as well. I don’t think KGS does.

Yes Hampton has @ 60 join at 13 and they mix the classes up for year 9 so the new boys are spread out across the year. I think KGS take in a few at 13, you would need to ask. It really doesn't seem to make much difference and there is movement in all the schools during first couple of years.

The kids joining at 13+ hadn't occurred to me at all. Thank you, food for thought. I'm probably overthinking it all. The visits this week should help.

@ExpulsoCorona , at Hampton it makes little difference, the ds joining at 13 are coming from local prep schools and because they have spent 2 more years in a "junior school" setting with a focus on french, Latin, cricket etc they tend to fit in easily.

KGS is very academic (not sure about the others), so am unsure if they sways your decision. They have been known to kick out students after GCSEs if they don't maintain standard.

I wouldn't go Whitgift with a highly sensitive boy - it's a pretty robust environment

Visited KGS today and they seem extremely strong in pastoral care, it's a very gentle, inclusive and positive environment.

@smooshraspberry I don't know what your comment is based on but the Head today was asked about this and made absolutely clear that all children need to progress to 6th form is grade 7 in those subjects they choose for A-levels and 6 in others, which pretty much everybody achieves. This is barely more in terms of expectations than many state school sixth forms demand. He was very clear that the very few who may be struggling to reach this standard receive a lot of extra support.

I'd be looking at somewhere like St John's Leatherhead for a sensitive soul tbh.

My only experience is Whittier, it is highly competitive academically and sporty.

Hampton is fine for sensitive boys. My son is fairly quiet but there are plenty of other boys like him at the school. The school has an emphasis on kindness and their pastoral care is brilliant. If he makes friends easy I’m sure he’ll find his group of similar boys. They are definitely not all alpha males. Also your son might change as he grows up over the next few years. I found my son grew in confidence at Hampton. The year is large but they stick to their forms for the first couple of years anyway so I wouldn’t let that put you off.

swgeek - what the headmaster says in public to prospective parents and the reality on the ground are two different things.

I know of another top academic private school that uses a couple of tricks to keep their A-level results high. This is one of them - asking them to leave.

The other is asking the pupil to take the A-level from a public exam centre so should the grade not be to the school's liking, it's not on their record...

I would think many of the top schools do the same and KGS is no different.

Ratings are supremely important for many parents... they are for many the final decider so you can to some extent see why schools do this.

Hi, yes Hampton has a substantial intake at 13+. May or may not bother you but definitely worth asking about as I seem to remember when my son was doing 11+ it was around 70 boys at 13. So the year-group goes north of 200+ boys. Equally my son’s friends joined Whitgift into a year of 220 boys when they started. It’s huge. They are having a great time though, and they are lovely boys but they are very robust types :)

@ExpulsoCorona , how did you get on today?

[quote hockeygrass]@ExpulsoCorona , how did you get on today? [/quote]
@hockeygrass Thanks for asking. We saw Hampton again on Thursday and KGS on Friday. We are leaning more towards Hampton.

KGS doesn't really have a 13+ intake, just fills the odd place left by children going overseas or whatever. Stays at 125 max

Oops - sent too soon. I only have experience of KGS but would say it's excellent for a sensitive child - but there is quite a fast pace academically

My DS is now 15 started whitgift aged 11. He was very quiet and sensitive. He enjoyed the sport but wasnt a jock, but what I loved about Whitgift is my quiet sensitive boy appeared in a yr 9 play dressed as a woman. I was so shocked when I was watching, he hadnt said a word to me!! You will be able to judge the school that fits your DC. There all good schools

KGS has a lovely vibe and a great reputation for pastoral care. But DS seems to prefer the idea of a boys school. I'm not too worried about him academically, more that he's a bit of a geek and not very alpha if that makes sense.

With Whitgift, there's a scholarship. I'm not sure if that would be a confidence boost or an additional pressure.

@ExpulsoCorona , well done on the scholarship at W. Re location and cost of travelling to school, W may be more attractive than full fees H and school
coach if that is your travel option.
There are many kind, sensitive geeky ds at Hampton, if you have any H queries do PM me otherwise best of luck with the decision making.