Hi everyone, I’d really appreciate any insights from parents familiar with either of these two new senior schools.
I visited WP recently and found it difficult to get a true sense of the teaching quality and academic rigour. The facilities are absolutely pristine (my wife described them as almost “sterile”), and because the school is so new, it was hard to gauge what day-to-day school life is actually like.
A few things stood out: the library was basically empty, the teacher numbers felt very small, and several teachers were teaching multiple subjects. One science teacher was also working part-time on reception. It gave the impression that the school was still in the process of being set up, although this was based on a one-hour visit, so I may be misreading it completely.
On the positive side, the headmaster was extremely impressive with a strong track record, and that is a major draw. He speaks very convincingly about the school’s vision and ambition. My assumption is that, because academic success is so critical for a new private school to grow, they will be highly motivated to get things right.
We also visited Thomas’s College, which opened this year as well, but it felt much more complete and established. The head there is equally strong, and the campus (out in Richmond) has a more settled feel; it's unfair to compare central London to Richmond. They absorbed an existing school, which means classrooms are full and the environment already feels lived-in.
I’d love to hear any experiences or perspectives from other parents considering these options for Year 9. What have you observed regarding teaching quality, academic focus, and overall school culture at either school?