Advice? HCH School / Hampton Court House

[SchoolRunMum80]

Hi
Posting in the hope someone with DS or DD at the school can help. We are newly relocated to the area from overseas. I have two children and will need secondary place for DS but have missed chance for more popular prestigious schools. Am told this school has strengths and will possibly accept lower scores on entrance tests. However, a mum in my DS current school said to think twice. Apparently quite a lot of good staff left last year like Head of Maths and English, there are no PE facilities, and the building needs a lot of repairs. She even said the library is not a library but an old bus where the books are rotting. I don’t need brand shiny new everything but I do want good facilities and teachers. The recent ISI is good but I know I have to go on more than just an ISI. I plan to visit soon but wanted to ask for anyone’s experience to help me. I’m feeling quite worried about the prospect of a school for Sept. TIA.

I think visiting is important. We did the 11+ assessment as our backup option and were unpleasantly surprised at how few people were there. (There were two assessment days, there were 7 people at ours). I did wonder how sustainable it will be to keep the school going based on that. You don’t mention which year groups your children are in? Maybe look into other options like Claremont fan court, Ewell castle?

Yes agree you can not consider a place without visiting. It’s a “marmite” school and you either love it or hate it. I live locally and rarely ever meet anyone who would consider sending a dc there. It’s also worth noting it’s owned by Dukes Education who are opening a vast new secondary school in Whitton in the future - Kneller Hall - whether it’s sustainable for Dukes to fund 2 secondary schools in the area is unclear but the HCH site is very valuable in terms of its location.

also agree try Ewell Castle and st James in Ashford for your ds.

Hi everyone. Thank you for your advice. I went to visit. I’m not sure what to make of it. The building and its facilities seem very run down. Why is Dukes not looking after it? There isn’t even a library as the library bus was parked at the back of the site. Talking to another current parent I learned there is a planning permission issue. Will there ever be a library? There are no sports facilities to speak of either. The teachers I caught the eye of seemed friendly but I really can’t see how the school stacks up against other small schools. Do you think that Dukes is just running it down because it’s investing in Kneller Hall / Radnor instead, and all the HCH students will end up there? As you say PoppyButtons, now I’ve visited I can see it’s such a valuable site and location.

It would make a great wedding venue! The school in Whitton is taking years longer than Dukes expected to open and no doubt spiralling costs, the HCH site is very valuable and rented out for events already.

Typos noted!: noticing how auto correct reminds me I should wear my reading glasses!.. back to point: HCH, - if we had our time again, there is no chance we would send our DD there.