Radnor House / Kneller Hall - Anyone accepting an 11+ offer and how concerned are you about disruption?

[Rivermarsh]

Hi everyone,
We live walking distance to Radnor and DC wants a local, coed. Also mild dyslexia which I feel will be supported/the pace of teaching will be right at Radnor/Kneller.

Main concern is the disruption of building work - or more that Kneller Hall won't be ready and they'll be crammed into Radnor site.

If you are a current parent, what is the cohort like? Do your DC have a big/wide enough friendship pool?

Bumping! Would love to hear from current parents

I’ve no idea about your particular school but my DC’s school had a whole new school building built, old school demolished with very little impact to day to day school life. It was a superbly executed job over several years. Wates, I think, was the contractor.

This is a move to a completely new site and they are doubling their intake for Y7 2023 - so if the new site is not ready on time (and planning permission has not been approved yet), Y7 will be crammed into the existing very small site.

I'm not a parent but visited the Twick site at an open day and know the Twickeham schools well. Out of interest does the school contract actually state the address of the school in Sept or just name the School? I don't think the planning application has been approved so I don't see how legally they can use the whitton address but I might be wrong.

Sorry I saw you said planning permission hasn't been granted so really the whole concept of Kneller Hall is in the hands of LBRUT planning dept.

Final comment is if they can't make the move in Sept then the idea of the prep can be shelved as in reality there is over capacity in the prep schools in the area so not much demand and they may have to only fit 1 more class of dc into the Radnor site and could accommodate this by taking a reduced number into the 6th form in the summer.

OP, what are your other options?

I was under the impression there was a building at the new site they'd be using whilst the development went on with the Hall.

We are happy with the state options locally so didn't look at private schools but I know lots of my friends have concerns about paying the fees without getting the benefit of the additional facilities for at least a year (realistically I think 2 years min...). I think plenty of people will do it though for the pastoral care and long term view.

I think they plan to have the Hall itself refurbished and ready. Hoping current parents have more information than that published on the school website.

I think the plan was to use existing buildings on the KH site for accommodation in the short term. They can’t stay at Radnor the prep school is also growing and will use the space.

I just can't see how they'll pull it off and focus on the children while all that major work is going on.

The existing buildings are in a very poor state - trying to remember which buildings they might use from the tour I went on. There was a residential building right at the back that was probably the most modern of them all.

It's a grade 2 listed site, so they may not be able to do much without planning permission. I visited the site years ago when it was the military music school and we were warned to be very careful on the uneven pavements - they said they were moving out because it was too expensive to maintain. So even if they plan to use an exosting building, I don't think it would pass a safety inspection without at least some work on the walkways.

@Rivermarsh as current parent I'll pm you!

As it's grade 2 listed they literally had to get planning permission just to pull up some floorboards and look underneath, and even that took 5 months (here: www2.richmond.gov.uk/lbrplanning/Planning_CaseNo.aspx?strCASENO=22/0344/LBC).

It will take years for them to get their main planning application through. Richmond planning office have a disclaimer on their portal about staff shortages, they've had objections from an environmental group, and as the site is on Metropolitan Open Land it'll probably need to be referred to the London Mayor. Here's the file: www2.richmond.gov.uk/lbrplanning/Planning_CaseNo.aspx?strCASENO=22/3004/FUL. They want floodlighting and astroturf which are always controversial, and local councillors are asking for lots more community use to mitigate it.

I’m a current parent. Very happy with the school, DC is thriving and has made lots of friends. Current communication from school is that most of the work will be completed for Sept 2024, with sports block to be finished last. Contingency plans in place to accommodate kids onsite from sept 2023, with plans changing and improving by the day, so nothing officially announced yet but they are pulling out all the stops to provide non disruptive provision for the kids. It’s an ambitious project but they have ££ and are throwing everything at it. Have seen design concepts for the interior decor and facilities and it will be amazing. Hope that helps x

I have friends with DC at Radnor in y11 (my DC is at a different school in the borough) and 4 of the 5 DC are moving for 6th form this September. DC have typically enjoyed the school and one parent in particular is sure her DC thrived in the small cohort (when they might have been “lost” in a bigger school) but all are looking for a bigger sixth form. Some concern too about whether their 2 yrs at sixth form would be overshadowed by building works but mainly moving due to the really small cohort. Appreciate you are asking about y7 but y11 and sixth form choices come sound quickly!

Sorry, should have said that plans to double cohort following move to Kneller Hall will help but some concerns school will then struggle to maintain the pastoral care side it has been known for.

Interested in Kneller Hall too. I think it’s going to be fantastic in a few years’ time.

Is the current year group around 40 and that’s doubling to 80?

And are there really only 5 pupils in the 6th form or have I not understood your post @Nowfeeltheneedtopost

Current parents, have Kneller confirmed the Hall itself won’t be ready and the new Y7 will be housed entirely in temporary classrooms?

We have friends who almost declined Wimbledon High a few years back because they were about to embark on a major building project but it was fine in the end and building work does happen all the time in schools and school life goes on.

With Kneller it’s not just the building however, it’s many new members of staff all starting at once, new uniform, lots and lots of change all at once.

Sorry if I wasn’t clear. I know 5 Dc there in y11, 4 of whom are leaving before sixth form. There are obviously more than 5 students in sixth form but it is really small compared to others in the borough.

Thanks! I hear quite a few move for 6th form but expect that to decrease with Kneller Hall expansion.

I wonder if they’ll achieve 80-100 children intake come September. Doubtful? Which means class sizes will be small perhaps

Hi @Thirtyseven, the plan is to double the year seven cohort from 60 (size on original site) to 120. I kind of doubt that they'll get there this year though sadly. Parents are being put off by the thought of the temp construction zone though I'm confident in their abilities to pull it off with aplomb. The new school will be amazing!!!

Thanks @winetime123 . How many classes do they have with 60?

Are there 20 or 30 children in a class?

Are there varying numbers of children in each year group, because they lose some at 13+ or at entry to 6th form?

I agree the site will be incredible once finished.

3 classes of around 20. They shuffle the forms each year for 7, 8 and 9 so everyone gets to know each other. I think the year groups stay same number throughout, last I heard the school was at full capacity with largest 6th form they've had. But yes a number do leave due to RH not offering same range of A level courses. Hopefully with expansion that will also change.

Thanks, this is so helpful with decision making. We asked lots on open days but so long ago now. What time do they arrive at school and do they offer many clubs/sports before school or is that all afterwards?

Has anyone heard an update from Radnor on the move to Kneller Hall?