Which London (private) school for very sporty boy? Not full of the Uber elite.

[Failingteenparenting]

We are looking for a school for our son who will start secondary in 2024. He’s very good at football, rugby and athletics so we want a school that celebrates sport. He is bright but not a genius so it can be academically selective but not top top academic tier.

My issue is that a lot of the schools we have visited are full of the super rich and I just don’t want that. We are a normal professional family without a huge house, loads of international holidays etc.

We are west/central area so have looked at schools like Wetherby, Harrodian and Ibstock and I just don’t feel any of them have many normal kids in them. I might be wrong but that’s what it felt like on the open day.

I have an older son at Latymer Upper which we haven’t loved either as it’s too much about celebrating the kids who are best rather than celebrating effort and giving everyone a sense of pride. It hugely knocked his confidence and I am reluctant to try it again.

LU was mentioned as the OP already has a child there.
Wouldn't say it's not sporty though- just depends which sports.
It's never going to have the depth in rugby, football etc as there are only 80 odd boys in a year compared to some all boys schools with 200 but the A teams do well and rowing and swimming is excellent. The girls have been doing very well in football and other sports as well.

Whitgift in Croydon is very sporty. Close to South Croydon station. Lots of bursaries, also plenty of local boys, so perhaps less of a concentration of wealth.

Some very bright boys, but takes a range.

OP
Re Ibstock- there is quite a lot of wealth but also lots of more 'normal' families. The manicured gardens and flower arrangements do give a certain impression but I know lots of nice down to earth families there.
Not sure it's super sporty though.
But Whitgift has been a bit of a disappointment on the sports front for my friends very sporty son as all the top teams are full of players who play for external academies and he is struggling to get in the C/ D teams. It has put him off as he feels he is no good.

Reeds has a sporty reputation I believe.

I know lots of Hampton boys who are from regular middle class families. Im sure there are lots who are super wealthy too but I know boys who go there and live in regular terrace houses and flats.

I would agree with hampton as I'm a parent but if you live anywhere more central than Chiswick I would double think as it's quite a local school and also isolated during the school day (although Reeds is even more isolated). Think of all the Saturday morning drop offs and Saturday afternoon pick ups for team sports.

Any chance you’re near to Grey Court in Richmond? State school but real focus on sport - produced Declan Rice as footballer and currently has pupils representing national teams (in year group) in rugby, basketball (girls and boys) etc. Lots of teams in y7-8 (A to D teams) in football and netball etc so lots of opportunities. Also very strong academics for both those aiming for all 9s and those aiming for 4/5s in GCSEs, My DD has loved her time there and I think it reflects what a true comprehensive with all abilities can be.

My son is very happy at St James senior boys and just finishing year 7. He is bright but had come from abroad in another school system and was behind the curriculum when he started yr 7 (but they tested for things like reasoning ability and took his prior education into account). He’s also very sporty and we fell for the sports facilities which have just been upgraded and are fantastic.

Parents are very mixed, some are wealthy, but lots are like us and making big lifestyle changes to afford fees. No culture of ostentation or showing off and the boys in general are a nice, normal bunch of kids.

It’s in Ashford, Surrey but they run coaches from all over west London and there’s an overground train opposite the school.

Criticism I’ve heard before we joined was that is was a bit “woo” because they practice mindfulness, everyone takes philosophy and the food is all vegetarian. In practice DS doesn’t love the food but it’s fine, the mindfulness thing is basically just taking a minute to focus before a lesson and they are pretty pragmatic and straightforward.

Look at Hampton, Kingston Grammar (not for the sport but normal families).
Also, Kings seems a bit more normal than say SP, though honestly people there also very wealthy.
I think there are normal people at every school, but they are well hidden and probably try and appear wealthier than they really are, or don't put themselves forward so much (I am certainly more present and visible in my DD state school than my DS private school, which can be intimidating).

@Failingteenparenting Can I ask where you chose in the end? We're going to be in similar boat in a year from now. Thanks.

Dulwich or Whitgift.

Halliford school if you can get to it is really worth a look. Mixed demograph of parents and very regular kids. A small sporty school but lots for non-sports kids to. Academic pupils are put on a select programme, but the whole school celebrates individual achievements. Pastoral has been excellent for my son who is sporty and bright.

Oops just realised this is an old thread