St George's college or Hampton

[Madaboutcake]

Does anyone have experience of St George's college, Addlestone, Surrey and/or Hampton in Hampton, Middx?

If so what do/did you like/dislike?

Thanks so much for any feedback - sleepless nights at the mo!

[willow]

If you have both on the table I suppose you have to weigh up what each school can offer your child - make lists and all that, taking into consideration everything including travel times/costs etc? Don't know St G, but do know lots of very happy kids at H - DS' junior school sends them there by the cart load each year.

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

Isn't St G's co ed? That might be a choosing point. Single sex or co Ed

[mummytime]

St George's is Co-ed and Catholic, also has amazing Tennis facilities (so if yours are destined for Wimbledon I might choose it). (I also liked the Car park, the librarian and the dining hall.)

[CarGirl]

St G takes them from nursery to 18, and asks dc to leave if they don't pass exams at 7 and 11 - not an ethos I'm particularly keen on!

Where do you live as the traffic through Weybridge to get to St G secondary campus will be horrific - but presumably you can send them on the bus?

[MrsGuyOfGisbourne]

Myummytime - you sound like me - car parking and library has swayed it for me twice when choosing schools, and once for nursery

[amerryscot]

We've been through St George's - one at university and the other in sixth form.

We've been very pleased with the school in that DS1 has gone to a top university, and that both boys have been very happy there.

DS1 is model student and has done well on the academic and sporting route. DS2 is less academic but he is valued in school and well liked by his teachers (more so that DS1).

I can't really think of any negatives (except for the humungous school fees).

[Madaboutcake]

Thank you so much for all your comments. My DS is already at St G's (since Sept so still early days) but we have a few concerns re quality of teaching and discipline. It's hard to judge completely as I am finding that you don't get so involved in secondary schools. The Hampton ISI report was glowing - but I have heard they are a hot house environment. My DS is bright but a worrier so if we decide to move him from St G's my concern would be whether he would thrive at Hampton due to his sensitive nature (and whether the fact that it's boys only would exacerbate any alpha male tendancies).

Any thoughts? x

[CarrotsAreNotTheOnlyVegetables]

IMI schools that have a "hot house" reputation do not feel pressured to DCs that are well up to the mark academically - they just enjoy being able to study at the level they need. Would that describe your DS? If so, don't worry about it.

I don't know anything about St G, but DD goes to LEH next door and shares coach. Hmpton is also a possible choice for DS later on.

AFAIK it does have an academic reputation but is not over the top in that respect. All the boys on the coach seem very normal boys to me!

The only way to judge is to go see it and talk to the teachers.

[amerryscot]

What are your concerns about the quality of teaching and discipline, mad?

[Madaboutcake]

One teacher broke down crying in a class. Another said he was the weakest link amongst the geography teachers. The discipline seems to be not what we're used to (admitedly compared to a prep school rather than teenagers) - fighting in the room where their lockers are.

Does this stuff happen at other schools? It may be one off incidents so I am really keen to know of others' experience to either reassure me or let me know I need to move him. The fact that you've been happy with the school does help - have you ever heard anything like this at the school? I'm really curious to see the ISI report when it comes out - the Inspector is there next week.

Thanks - it's lovely knowing there are mums out there willing to take the time to give their thoughts!

[CarrotsAreNotTheOnlyVegetables]

Incidents like that would definitely concern me, Madabout. Even as one off incidents.

How was the fighting incident dealt with?

Has the teacher who couldn't cope been taken off classroom duties?

I would have a meeting with the head to discuss your concerns and, if you don't like what you hear, consider moving.

[amerryscot]

Where are you getting your info from?

DS is doing A-level Geography and all the teachers seem to be very robust.

Kids in lockers rooms - that's to be expected. You won't find any school where the behaviour is pristine. If you think you do, you are probably being fooled.

[siasl]

Interested by people's opinions.

My DH and I were looking at buying a house in Weybridge last year. We looked at St George's as a potential school option. Anecdotal feedback seemed very good. We were put off by its academic results (A levels) which don't seem that impressive.

Hampton/LEH seems top-notch academically but we've found it harder to get anecdotal views.

The whole school selection process is a really difficult.

[CarrotsAreNotTheOnlyVegetables]

siasl - I can give feedback to you as an LAH juniors parent.

We have found it a lovely, lovely school - has suited DD down to the ground. But they definitely do work at a high level academically so if that is not going to suit then to be avoided. Really not a good idea to try to "cram" your DD into a school like this, she would be very unhappy if could not keep up.

We are really hoping it will be possible for DD to go on to the seniors - she has a place, but we need to make sure it is possible financially.

Anyway, that's my two pennorth for what it is worth.

[CarrotsAreNotTheOnlyVegetables]

LEH, that is, not LAH!

[Madaboutcake]

Hi to all,

The fighting was dealt with my not allowing kids in the locker room (but the reason was because they were leaving it in a mess) - not sure they knew about the fighting.

The info re the geography teacher came from my son - the teacher said it to the whole class. It's reassuring that your experience, amerryscot is positive re Geography.

The A level results are a concern and apparently they are very focused on improving them.

Still don't know what to do! It seems impossible to make a proper analysis of each school.

My son was in set one in most of his subjects at his prep school and wants to work, so I feel he would cope with the academic rigour of Hampton -may even be reassured by it.


Anyone out there got a child at Hampton?

[JetJungle]

My son is at Hampton (Yr 8) - and very happy he is too.
The level at which they work is extremely high and it would be a stressful environment if your son is not academically very able.

One thing you said further up the thread which resonated with me was ...'whether the fact that it's boys only would exacerbate any alpha male tendencies'. I have to say, that I have noticed that it is a very 'alpha male' environment. It is all very competitive and very sporty.

My son is thriving in this school. He seems to work best with a bit of pressure and I think the school really understands how to bring the best out of the boys' naturally competitive natures. And again, because they seem to really understand the nature of a large group of boys, they are big on discipline.

I can?t fault the teaching so far and their A-level results are phenomenal.

[amerryscot]

For me, I would be lookinga at how I feel about co-ed vs boys only, RC vs not, moderately selective vs highly selective.

Then I would just choose on how easy it was to get there.

We basically chose SGC on ease of transport (we missed the pretest dates for Hampton because we moved to the UK a few months too late). Our other candidate schools were non-selective, and we thought that selective would be good for our boys.

For our girls, OTOH, they are bright and could easily do well in a selective school, but we felt that non-selective was better for them.

You have to decide for your individual children, based on all your individual values and practical needs.

But don't overlook the transportation ease as they get older. If they can use public transport, this is so much better than a school bus.