Epsom or Claremont

[SpringBlooms21]

Hi folks,

Have offers from both Epsom College and Claremont Fan Court to join year 9 with a deadline tomorrow 😬

Appreciate they are very different schools, which is part of the dilemma! We like both schools but are drawn to Epsom for all it offers and Epsom would win were it not for Saturday school.

12 hour days he can adapt to, but my son worries that having only Saturday late afternoon/evening and Sunday as downtime/family time would make him unhappy. And knowing him, we fear the same.

But this - major issue - aside we feel Epsom potentially offers much more for him so struggling to turn our backs on it. I was worried about that Epsom ISI report and sceptical that all was magically fixed but was willing to trust that it was.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Do we ignore fears of the possible impact of such little family time at Epsom on our sons wellbeing - hope he’ll be fine - and opt for what we think is overall the school with more to offer (Saturday school aside) or, do we play it safe and opt for Claremont, even if we think that whilst it’s a lovely school, it perhaps has less to offer our son all things considered?

My son is bright and sociable. Loves sport but not an alpha athlete. Pastoral care important to us. Travel wise the two are the same. Thank you 🙂

Well done to your ds. They are academically apart and Epsom has a much more established 6th form with more experience of guiding your ds through A level selection and uni applications. The 5 years will fly by so you need to be considering this.
Saturday school really isn't that big a deal and if you take the dates of the next year and take out weekends without school it's not as many as you may think. If your ds goes to Claremont and gets put in a sports team he will still need to be at school at 9am on Saturdays etc.

A major consideration here might be whether he wants to be a day boy in a boarding school, or a pupil in a day school? Would the experiences be different from a friendship point of view?

Thank you. Some really good points that I hadn’t considered particularly weekends without school and guidance around a levels / uni

Thank you - I hadn’t thought about different friendship dynamics in the two - ie day Vs a school with many boarders

Saturdays at Epsom really aren't such an issue, it is only 3 Saturdays then exeat, another 3 then half-term and so forth. They are also under review currently so things might change in the coming years (I think they are debating to keep Saturday sports but potentially reduce the lessons).

I think both academics and facilities at Epsom are better, too. I am not sure the Saturdays are a good enough reason to choose Claremont but I don't know much about Claremont other than feedback from friends who visited and were underwhelmed by their facilities.

Think Epsom and Claremont A level results were very similar last year. What did you decide OP?

Why only these two schools? If you are in the area there are other local schools that are day schools but a bit more rigorous than Claremont, though it has massively improved academically over the past few years. Did you look at Reeds? Hampton? St Georges? Halliford?

Thank you all so much for your replies which I have just been able to read now. I think the fact that DS’s father and I are divorced and he spends every second weekend with his father is a factor because the four days a month he has with dad will become 2-2.5 days a month with Saturday school. However, I take your point re the other (positive) factors in that equation and it’s hard to disagree. I suppose I’m also just nervous of the stress of rushed household, too little time and overtired children and the effect on well-being and go to bed, mental health. But maybe I am worrying about this too much it’s just partly knowing what my son is like. But again, agree with your points. For various reasons we are doing this all late via waitlists/occasional places. Halliford and St George’s too far logistics wise. Reed’s couldn’t help and Hampton we were waitlisted - but to no avail. Thanks so much for your replies. Much appreciated and def food for thought

swgeek - thanks. So they essentially have 1 in 4 Saturdays off? I had no idea about this

OP, great shame about Reeds. It sounds ideal for your needs. But of the two, I'd go for Claremont under your circumstances. Your DS can thrive there. If he's stressed about missing his dad or not getting family time, his MH could suffer and that could impact his grades and social life too. Claremont pupils are happy. I know a few.

My 2 DC have gone through Claremont. One up to A level and one for sixth form. Both loved the school and were stretched in different ways. I particularly rate the pastoral support and I think they were both given opportunities to stretch themselves. They've both done very well. Looking back my advice is that a happy child with thrive and do well so that's the most important parameter to consider.

Yes that was the concern; the impact of an almost halving of family time albeit alongside lots of super things to access at school. Thank you

Great to hear of your DC’s positive experiences. I agree that a happy child will thrive and wellness in that regard is fundamental.

@SpringBlooms21 yes, they are called exeat weekends, very common at boarding schools. So apart from half-term and holidays, in between holidays and half-term (usually the third weekend of each half-term) is an exeat weekend where boarders go home, there are no fixtures etc.. If you look at their calendar, you will see exeat weekends.

Apologies for bringing up this thread from a few months ago, but looking at schools now, and I wonder if there is any further news on the Saturdays at Epsom? @swgeek you mentioned above that perhaps these are under review presently?
Also, does anyone know whether the rugby at Epsom is mandatory after Y9? Or can they do touch rugby as an alternative for example. Thanks!

Well hopefully if the take some Saturday time they will reduce the fees too (hmmm maybe not)

Is this a cost reduction exercise too

How many are boarding full time there?

Whilst Epsom is searching in the long term for a head to take over from Anthony Seldon, the school is incredibly popular, very oversubscribed and very expensive. As a prospective parent it's probably best to buy into the Saturday school/ sporty ethos if you are considering it. Otherwise there are plenty of other options like City of Freemans to consider.

@User834621 there is nothing new or concrete, just a long term idea it seems so for now I would assume that Saturday school continues. I doubt very much that you can get out of rugby and I would probably not choose Epsom if you would not want to see your son play rugby.

The fees include all clubs and full care and extracurricular programme / supervised homework till 6pm in the lower school and till even 9pm if I am not mistaken in the upper school so I am not sure they are really that much higher than other schools that might charge lunches / clubs extra.

Last I heard was they would announce the new Head in late November (definitely before 11+/13+ decisions are made) so there should be news soon.

Thanks very much - all good to note.

I like that there is an abundance of choice of extra curricular, including academic options.
Though if full rugby Union is forced and no allowances for those children who prefer less contact sports whether that's because of a learning difference or otherwise, I would be concerned how inclusive the school is.

Saturday academics not a big deal as mentioned only 3 on, then exeat etc, but just curious if there was any update as it was mentioned that it was under review.

Claremont does stretch the higher ability too. My nephew went through the school and had all top grades at GCSE and 4 A* grades at A Level. If your child is bright they will get the best out of him. The new head there is very focused on academic attainment.