KCS vs Hampton for 11+ offer

[Cleta]

Dear all,

We have shortlisted to 2 schools from many offers my DS received. King’s was always on our top list like love at first sight. Re:Hampton, all of our experiences in exam days and open days were excellent. And we really liked the way that they communicate with us during the exams process. We live more close to Wimbledon. We are both working full time so we will prioritize the school fee in terms of our expenses for the next 7 years.
In terms of school culture, families’s backgrounds, friendship, I would love to hear your experiences.
Thank you

Which one can your DS get to independently?
Which one is easier for you to get to for concerts, matches, meetings, late pick ups etc?
I'd just go for the best location wise!

I wouldn't necessarily be swayed by the communication during the application process at any school. DS got a 10plus place at Hampton which we accepted and they couldn't have been nicer. When we decided to go elsewhere at 11plus we wrote a very nice email explaining why and never even got an acknowledgment back. We never got a bill for the first term so I assume they got it!

Thank you for the feedback. May I ask which school did you choose in 11+ ?

We chose LU- much better location wise for us!

Are you happy in LU ? We also have an offer from
there. In terms of GcSe we didnt put LU in our short list, and we live in SW so Kings is the easiest commute. We also have Emanuel but hubby dont find it academic as Kings & Hampton

If purely on academic and ranking as stated by your husband’s viewpoint go for Kings and apply 13+ for Westminster or St.Paul or their Sixth form. LU would not have GCSEs so harder to move.
Or go where your kid would be happier with travel, clubs and will shine in his cohort. All great offers.

Very happy- involved in lots of things that I wouldn't have thought he would be when we chose the school. He would have had to get the bus to Hampton which would have been a pain!

Go for the school with the easiest commute. KCS is better in my view for that because Hampton is on a bus for another 7 years every day and schlepping back and forth on that would not be fun.

Also, he'll meet more people locally who live closer to KCS as well which makes going out on the weekend easier and in holidays too as he gets older.

If it were you and you could choose between two pretty similar jobs and one involved and easy commute and the other a daily coach, with no flexibilty about when to leave, except when the bus leaves... well, I know which I'd choose.

Journey time can't be underestimated IMHO.

As for the schools it's neither here nor there, your DS will do very well at either.

Thank you dear☺️