Claremont fan court school

[indevirg]

Any feedback on this school? Considering it alongside Halliford for DS.. all insights would be helpful! DS quiet, not sporty, arty...

A stars

I'm just telling you what the perception was when I was there. It's not an academic school and it is a lot more pricey than other more academic options nearby.

Also I think you need to take my comment within the context of the way privately educated teens talk about eachother too. Thick and rich, whores on the hill, etc etc etc.

It's cheaper than most local schools. Reeds, Hampton, St Georges etc are all pricier.

The year 9 fees for Epsom college are £9562 per term and for Claremont they are £6805 per term.

The OP asked for views about the school NOW. What it was like 10 years ago or 5 years ago doesn't matter at all. As already mentioned - the new head and leadership team have made a big impact and the schools reputation is on the up. Their results are good but parents need to visit and discuss things with teachers and current students/parents to get a proper insight.
The summer camps are run by Barracudas and have nothing to do with the school other than being on site.
@guinnessandblackcurrant my DC just left too and they'd be very entertained by this thread.....
In my DS's year (before Brierley) a good number of boys left for Tiffin sixth form so if your child turns out to be v academic and needs extra stretch or different subjects then there are options at 16+

Wow, lots of debate about this school. Having seen both now we have decided on Halliford!

Of course make up your own mind about schools but leavers' destinations is always worth a good look even if you don't think a cohort who joined seven years ago is that relevant. It tends to tell quite a bit about the ethos of a school.

My child is currently at Claremont and they have a lovely group of friends, the year is an exact 50/50 mix of boys and girls who are pushed academically, but not hot-housed. We turned down other schools mentioned on this thread for this particular school, as did other parents we have met. People should visit schools and do research before sharing opinions, because some on this thread are very outdated, incorrect and downright offensive: the school has no religious affiliation, pupils must be above average in order to pass the entrance exam, the new head is having a positive impact and new appointments are being from esteemed private schools with the wider area. And finally, some schools which seem great on paper may not feel right for your child when you visit: your child will do best if they are happy.

Why is it assumed that schools which are just more academic are hot houses? My DC attend schools near Claremont that are constantly called hothouses, often by parents whose DC aren't academic enough for them. My DC are sailing through and haven't been hothoused at all. They are thriving. I appreciate that you don't like the undercurrent of negativity by some posters but some of you are also reciprocating with your clichéd hothouse snipes.

Why do you assume that your child is more academic?

It is people on here who are saying other schools are more academic hothouses, not me. I am all about finding the right fit of school for the child and wouldn't look down on a school just because it wouldn't suit my own DC. However, there seems to be a fair amount of the reverse going on there. But yes, we took the decision that Claremont was not academically challenging enough for our DC at the time. There is nothing wrong with that.

Not sure why this thread has turned so snipey; it's not reflective of parents in the area that I know of but we're not yet in the independent sector.. I guess people are fiercely protective of their school of choice which is understandable. Claremont wasn't for us in the end but can honestly say this thread was not instrumental in that decision. It just wasn't the right fit for us. Nothing to do with academics.

Agree it should be all about the right fit for a child.

I know children at many of the above mentioned schools - parents moving them around. Some being embarrassed that their child didn’t get into the top school. It’s sad really - the happiest children are usually at a school best suited for them.

I was quite relieved that we didn’t have to play that game and there are as many good secondary schools around the same area.

I quite like Claremont and I know two friends children there and very lovely polite, doing well with a good nurturing environment. I have another friends son at one of the others and he is very rude - looks down at others I guess that’s the boys he around. He is super academically but his attitude & sense of entitlement is something else - even his parents aren’t sure what to do!

Of course it's different strokes for different folks, but for a current perspective ... my dd has just started in year 7 at Claremont Fan Court and is having a great experience so far. We know several academically able children who did not get offered a place there this year and it seems to be no longer thought of locally as the 'back up option' that it once was. I have had an older dd through SHS (disliked) and my ds is currently in Reed's (love) sixth form having been there since year 7. My eldest daughter went there for sixth form too - it is a fantastic school (for us!). All three children went to a state primary school. Imo Claremont has really upped its game since the appointment of the new headmaster a few years ago and is now attracting children from as far away as Wandsworth, Putney, Twickenham and Wimbledon. It has a beautiful campus with great facilities and is a very different place from the one I viewed 6 or 7 years ago for my ds. There's a very happy and positive energy about it, an almost equal balance of boys and girls, and a mixture of children from state primaries and preps, and from the local area and further afield. We decided to take up a place there for our dd over her offers from Epsom College and Tormead School and are very happy with this choice so far. I would describe my dd as an academic all rounder and she seems well engaged by her lessons, sports and the extra curricular timetable on offer.

Not criticising Claremont Fan Court at all. On the contrary actually. I came on the thread late to say that I have a few friends with DC there and they are having a great time and doing really well. It was just the 'hothouse' label about other schools that I flagged. As I've said it is much more about the fit for a DC. My DS had offers from KCS, RGS, Hampton and Tiffin. My DD had offers from Tiffin Girls, LEH and GHS. These schools would all no doubt be considered 'hothouses' by some but that they are also good schools for the right DC and are certainly not just exam factories. Some DC just thrive in that environment naturally without any pushing from the school or parents. My DC have never found their schools pressurised and have lots of time for socialising and sports and pure downtime. They have lots of well-balanced, polite, kind and modest DC too. Stereotyping and schools is never helpful. A school can be the best school for an individual but it is never the best school for every child.

Totally agree!

Completely agree with this. I have friends with DC at various SW London / Surrey indies including Claremont/St Georges/Halliford/RGS/GHS/SWPS and all are happy and thriving. I have a DC at Hampton who is happy and thriving (and would laugh if you suggested he was being hothoused). Different schools are right for different DC. It's sad that some parents feel they have to justify their decisions by making negative comments about other schools.

I think there are some really very outdated views about CFCS on this thread, I know of some very able boys and girls at my DS's school who didn't get into Claremont last year! They do seem to place a big emphasis on the interview though which is really refreshing.

I also think it's incredibly easy for the schools that 'cream off' the top students at the point of entry to get great results at GCSE and A level - it says a lot more about a school like Claremont where they can take students at a more mid range level and yet manage to get stellar results at GCSE and A level - have any of you seen the results they got this year? If not have a look at their youtube site... Time to have another look at them I think! Plus new head seems really genuine and he has brought in a new team from good schools. 👌

Hi I’ve been advised it’s good for mild aspergers - shy socially awkward but extremely bright in maths sciences - any views? Is there scope to do v well - I want him looked after and happy first but he might be bored stiff if it’s too average academically

In my experience it's very good for SEN including mild ASD. There will be enough very bright kids to give yours a challenge. They challenge all the students. He won't be bored. It's a fabulous school.

Thank you I might DM you - in due course if that’s ok.

@Arisaig1 of course - my 2 DCs have been there. My youngest left this year.

Hi I can’t seem to DM you can you me so I can talk. Not sure how to do it.

I don't think you can do it on the app......