Any Harrodian parents out there?

[Adiamantine]

Hi, I'm considering Harrodian for my son, starting Year 9, and would find it so helpful to be able to talk to some parents with children who go to the school. Can anyone help?! Thanks

We are at the school, I personally don't love it, many do. From my observation the ones who thrive fall into these categories:

1. Live in Barnes, so there is a good comraderie when walking to school, a quick stop at the playground, getting an ice cream on the way home while you walk with your classmate. Your neighbours kids are also most likely at the school. And parents can take a few kids from the neighbourhood on the walk to school so bonds are formed that way.
2. If you start between reception & year3 when the parent participation is high and you are getting to know the other mums and children, children who start from 8+ onwards tend to exclusively be friend with other children who started at the same time as them which is a much smaller frienship pool, and the existing parents don't really bother with the new incoming parents, they all have their friends already.
3. be famous & extraordinarily rich, I'm not being facetious but celebrity children & those who are very wealth do get additional care & attention.
4. go abroad every half term and every term where you will bump into other Harrodian parents, sometimes one will travel to a location just to "bump into" someone in particular on purpose.
5. keep a house in multiple countries
6. (for the cool mums) have many different interesting coats for the cold walk to school and back in winter to keep things interesting
7. have an incredible house where you throw parties for your children in the subterranean basement on the light up dance floor with a D.J, or a movie screening room, or hire a coach to transport children to exclusive members clubs where they wear monagramed clothing, where you will invite other children of the same ilk, you get my drift. Unless you tick off the majority of these items, really don't consider it, your child will not be happy, it's purely what I've observed. That's all for now, may update later as more things arise!

I don't have children there but my DD1's girls school did a concert with Harrow boys, in Harrow yesterday and I was blown away by the quality of music - the orchestra, the choir. It would not be out of place in Royal Festival Hall (although their own Speech Room is more beautiful). What a stunning school generally and boys in the orchestra and choir were a diverse group of ethinicities (not sure why, I assumed it'd be predominantly white - definitely not the case). In terms of looks it's definitely the most stunning school I've visited (breathing history) and we've looked at some beautiful girs' boarding schools for DD1.

Harrodian is not Harrow! Lol.

I did smile reading this!
When we were school hunting in Year 7, I did remember a parent serving refreshments at Kingston Grammar saying that you needed at least a holiday home in St.Barts to go there ;-))
I liked it on open day , but ds went elsewhere. ,
A couple of pupils we do know at Harrodian are very down to earth.
Good luck.

@Foxesandsquirrels oh, oops. Was skim reading and thought it said "Harrovian parents". No idea about Harrodian OP! 😊

Not a Harrodian parent but from what I hear from my friends, if your child is super academic and talented, his/her chances to get into Oxbridge may be quite high, as such children get a lot of help and attention from the school, and the competition is nothing compared to Godolphin or Latymer Upper, for example. Smth to think about.

I have a DC at Harrodian and our experience has been completely different from the OP above. I'm sure there are people with summer houses and lovely coats etc but...so? More importantly, we joined in the later years and DC has made friends easily, quality of education is excellent, pastoral care is great and I feel that my DC is academically stretched without being pressured. We are making huge sacrifices to afford fees and not wealthy. DC has attended pretty ordinary bday parties, and the usual play dates and sleepovers, usually has something social on each w/end, but nothing fancy.

On the same topic, where would it be a good place to live, to avoid as much traffic commuting to Harrodian, any recommendations?

Anywhere walkable. The drop off outside Harrodian in the morning is a sight to behold...Range rovers stretching for miles.

They have buses, so look at the bus schedule when considering, it's £5.50approx per trip depending on the rout your child takes.