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...

Jeez. The smugness if those posting whose kids are thriving at not hothousing academic school.

Keeps me out of the country

It's just humblebragging....at its worst in Surrey!

Hi again. I’ve definitely DMd people in here and they are DMing me but I just can’t work out how can someone help? Plannjng to go to an open day but would like to chat before,

Can anyone help with how I can PM someone - I’m receiving them on another thread but seem unable to do so - operating in an iPhone.

We have two children at Claremont and we're very happy with it. It's a lovely school, the Head and teachers are on the whole extremely kind and decent people who obviously work very hard to give kids the best experience, and it's ambitious without being too pushy. We're both professionals and our kids are able but we didn't want to subject them to the ridiculous 11+ process.
That said, no school is perfect. There is definitely a wider range of abilities than there might be at other schools. There are a few kids who get 8s and 9s or even 9s in everything, and we have a number of friends whose children did better at Claremont by some distance than others friends' kids at Hampton, for example. So be open minded about it because it's about where your child will thrive, rather than survive. Some will excel at Hampton as they need to be surrounded by other driven kids (or, rather, kids being driven by their parents as sadly is so often the case) whereas others will enjoy a slightly more relaxed approach.

Thanks. That’s helpful. Do you think lessons are pretty structured (good discipline - horrible word but…). I am v keen on pastoral care but that sometimes comes with the downside of poorer behaviour etc which I think he’d find hard. Il looking for pastoral but well run if you know what I mean . He’s v bright but I absolutely don’t want pressure as he puts a lot on himself - he needs looking after. Is playground supervision good?

And @Localher0 too. I was very positive about Claremont school. What is wrong with saying someone's DC are doing very well in another school, particularly when it is one that others seems to be just trashing as a hothouse school. Who is being narrow minded? Keeps you out of the country - really? You delicate flower. This thread showcases small-minded tribalism at its worst. I'm not smug at at all. It's just about finding the right school for the DC.

We did not have a very positive exam experience at Claremont. Kids in cold hall, six kids in a room for interviews. Offers day disappointing.

Yes they can and do stretch the more able pupils. There are streams/sets.

I’m still researching the place and trying to get under the skin. I wasn’t blown away by the open day - but that’s not everything. The member of staff I spoke too seemed v nice and well informed. Pastoral care is v important to me. But do they publish exam results?

Just popped on to say that I’m delighted CFC seems to have massively improved. I went decades ago (so basically a different school but same name and location) the reputation was very much for dregs who couldn’t get in anywhere else. Plus it was still CS then so the odd bright child whose parents were CS. I remember being devastated to overhear my DM agreeing with another parent that it was the perfect school if your child was thick but you wanted a nice location for sports day.

@Arisaig1 in our experience the pastoral care was excellent. And yes both GCSE and A level results are on the website.

It’s really unhelpful to call a school “good” based on its results. Of course KGS is going to get better results than Claremont because the cohort there is more able. I went to a top grammar school - lots of crap teachers but amazing results as we were all able. I have many friends in teaching and they all say that many of the best teachers they’ve ever worked with are in bog standard comprehensives where they have to work hard and very ably to get kids to a 4 or 5 at GSCE. From what I’ve seen, the teaching at Claremont is very good. My son, who is very discerning (and able) feels the same. There is no doubt that the more able kids are pushed - and moreover inspired. The teacher went into the A-level syllabus briefly during a year 9 biology lesson off the back of a student’s question. And, schools like Claremont want kids to do as well as possible, knowing the grade scrutiny that goes on in an environment where schools are all competing for students.

Oh, and the top 2 (or possibly 3 in future years as the cohort becomes more able) have to do the “further” maths GSCE.

@BleuNoir my DC have left now so I know what they did 6 years ago. It might not be what they do now so if I was you I'd ring admissions and ask how they set/stream Years 7-9. At GCSE there will also be streaming but probably done differently ie separate science GCSEs or Combined Science and those who do the lower level papers in other subjects.
Both my DCs have SEN and they were very well supported and encouraged to do their best - I'm really proud of what they have both achieved.

Can I ask is classroom discipline (horrible word) good? My child was at a less academic school previously and didn’t like the distraction of kids playing up etc. I take your point on teaching quality though at v academic schools - I think it depends how “on it” the head is. But I’ve had negative experience too in a v academic setting - teachers behind the times in approach. No-where is perfect just about trying to get the balance right. He’s v bright but needs understanding as he’s anxious. I heard Claremont was poor academically say 5 years ago but that is pre the new head who seems to be changing things without going extreme? Is he bringing in lots of new staff?

A-Levels results 2022

Epsom College 62% A*-A
Claremont Fan 62% A*-A

Did you see the 2022 A level results?

Think this is a bit outdated

No

This sounds a bit outdated