Herne Hill School or Rosemead?

[ninder]

My 3 and 4 year old girls have been offered places at Herne Hill and Rosemead Schools. We were in no doubt that HH was our first choice but have recently heard stories that there is a new Head and owner at HH and standards have really slipped. Lots of the girls moved to Rosemead when they finished at HH last year so should we just go for Rosemead and save the girls the disruption or go for HH in the hope that it will bring out their super-brains needed for them to get into. JAPS or Alleyns aged 7?? Anyone with experience of either school?

[jollyrogers]

Just to allay your fears, there's no new head at HH and it has marvellous standards with lots of their girls going onto JAP's and Alleyn's.

[enjoy]

Hi,

by now I know both schools.

First Herne Hill for my daughter and now Rosemead as she couldn't make it to Alleyn's, JAGs.

Here a short summary:

Both schools have their pros and cons.

I haven't been happy with the "new" head at Herne Hill. I feel the school lost a bit of the loving, caring atmosphere.

And some people haven't been happy with the way of teaching.

And the stress of applying for schools after year two - I don't want to do that again.

But the facilities are much better at Herne Hill.

And a lot of girls will end up at Alleyn's or JAGs

Rosemead will have a new head after the summer, as the current one is going to retire at the end of the school year.

The active children like Rosemead more than HH (that's what I hear from our class mates)

But my daughter misses HH.

The homework at Rosemead has been far too much in year 3, at the moment we get less (but for how long)

After school clubs are not as many as it seems. Many are age restricted, so my daughter is doing one at the moment (because football had just been cancelled for this term.)

I don't know which school I prefer, but the vibe at HH hasn't been good at the end anymore

(and I share this feeling with some other people).

I hope this helps.

enjoy

[mumum]

dear enjoy,

thanks for posting your information here, very helpful. If you have time, can you please flesh out about the Herne Hill new head, what do you mean by "the vibe not being good at the end anymore and sharing this feeling with other people"?

Where do Rosemead children end up after year 11, do they get into Alleyns or Japs and is an assessment at this age easier or less stressful than at 7? Who is the new head at Rosemead?

Anyone able to throw Sydenham High into this comparison? (they have a new head too!)

Thanks!

[enjoy]

Hi,

the new head at HH is not that new, but I still compare her with the former one.

I think I was put off by the constant repetition of "the kids worked so hard..."

I missed the love, it was all about performance.

It is hard to describe that indifferent feeling.

Assessments are surely much harder when they are 11.

But if you can't make it after year 2 you'll have to do it twice.

Sydenham: I loved the head mistress.

But everybody says, if you start there you don't have a chance to gat a place at JAGs, Alleyn's because they don't prepare the kids for the assessments.

At Rosemead the are currently looking for a new head. They posted adds.

enjoy

[callacc]

Both my children have been at Rosemead since nursery and both are very, very happy. (We did not look anywhere else as had been charmed by some pupils we had met outside school.) Rosemead seeks to find what the children are good at, and use this to develop their confidence and abilities. In the last 2 or 3 years lots of children join Rosemead in year 3 as there are simply not enough places at JAGS and Alleyns for those who apply! All the parents I have spoken to who made this choice seem happy with Rosemead, interestingly enough when a JAGS place came up last year, it was Sydenham parents that applied and not the children who were happily settled at Rosemead.

[ninder]

Thanks callacc. We did like the nurturing aspect at Rosemead but the most recent Ofsted was a bit of a disappointing read. That made a big impact on us. What do you think about a new Head coming?

[legalbeagle]

Re Sydenham and not preparing girls for assessments - firstly, they don't need to because girls can stay there until they are 18. Second, all the 4 plus and 7 plus assessments focus purely on academics. That only suits some kids and is very stressful for all kids. So if you want to avoid that, this is a good choice. Sydenham is lovely, caring, nurturing perhaps a bit more laid back than JAGS or Alleyns - I'm very impressed. I don't have kids there but its high if not top of my list when it comes to that time.

[taper]

Hi have you had to decide already? If not, hope this is helpful. My daughter's at HHS, since kindergarten (the current Head's been in post throughout, so not really new anymore). We've just done the Year 3 assessments and she was lucky enough to get offers from Alleyn's, JAPS and Sydenham. I think the end of Year 2 cut-off and the assessments are definitely stressful for parents, but I'm not sure how stressful for the children - my daughter and her friends seemed to enjoy them. What HHS is really good at is: a. preparing them thoroughly for the assessments, and b. giving you frank (and accurate) advice about which schools to go for. I don't know masses about Rosemead, though I've only ever heard good things, and when I visited, I thought the children were lovely. I think a lot of it depends on whether you have a view about where you want your children to end up - if you're keen on the Dulwich schools, then that's HHS's USP - if those schools are right for your children, they'll do their very best to get them in. Rosemead doesn't prepare children for Year 3 entrance assessments because it doesn't need to. But Rosemead kids do have to move at 11+, and that strikes me as potentially more stressful for them than moving at 7.

Aside from the Year 3 issue, my daughter's had a fantastic time at HHS - it is quite structured, and they do stretch the children, but not beyond what they can cope with, as far as I can see. And because it's an early years specialist, the Year 2 kids do get to be top of the school, which is great for their confidence. Also, lovely school buildings and playground with a little wood at the back.

Good luck with your decision.

[ninder]

Thank you so much taper - that's a lovely message to read as we've signed up for both the girls to go to HH in September. It's really good that they give you their honest advice and assessments too and yes, I'm really hoping that the 7+ will be less stressful and see them settle into one of the great schools we have on our doorstep. And well done to your daughter - she clearly is a little star in the making. You must be thrilled and proud.

[ltd-edition]

Late for the OP, but this could be helpful for others looking. Got experience of both schools. Both are good schools, but with different approaches. My tips? Compare their curricula (what they teach and the activities). Watch the kids and parents when leaving from or arriving at school. Get copies of their parents' handbooks if you can (really says a lot!). Key leaders in Rosemead come from DCPS (I think). Dunno where HH head came from. Teaching staff at both are very good.

But: overall, my experience is that HH offers a narrower set of activities and taught subjects - Rosemead offers more (see their websites/curricula etc). Both sets of kids are polite, but Rosemead kids were much more polite, better behaved, yet very active, and brimming with confidence. HH is less diverse than Rosemead (kids and staff) - Rosemead better reflects London (again it depends on what you want for your kids and yourself). Look (on their websites) at where their kids go and the bursaries and scholarships they win at their destinations. I can see why Rosemead don't (need to?) train any kids for any particular tests. HH appears to have better (brighter, newer?) buildings. Rosemead offers hot sit-down lunches in the hall - something to behold!

New head comes to Rosemead in 2012. Has excellent reputation at his school in Chelsea (can't recall). Current head will stay on longer to make the transition easier. Governors at Rosemead are impressive.

Both are good schools. It just depends on what you want.

[Readey]

I have to say that our son is at HHS, just completed a year in nursery and moving to Kindergarten, and we think it is a wonderful school. Although he is still only at the Early Years stage the atmosphere and environment and vibe of the school is one of nuture, and encouragement. There is an open door policy to talk to teachers or the Head at any time, and I have always found the Head approachable and interested, she knows every child and at the stage of recommending future schools to parents personally discusses options.

Check out the recent (last term) Independant Schools Inspectorate report online, the school achieved the highest standard in ALL areas. I think this shows the enthusiasm and dedication of the whole staff.

[ltd-edition]

I'm sure every parent at HH and Rosemead will be mainly positive about the schools and that's good, I guess.

Both schools have good/excellent ISI reports. I think it is easier to score well when you're a smaller school with a narrower range of activities, though. The ISI reports don't pick up everything - they couldn't possibly. I read the reports for both schools and the HH report didn't pick up a couple of things I and some others don't like about HH - pretty obvious in the winter. They'll change I expect. The ISI for Rosemead didn't pick up on something else I've noticed, but it's something I can more easily live with.

They're both good. If you're a parent looking to move your child at 4+ or 7+, then HH is probably for you. If you want stability all the way to 11+ and the option of moving early, Rosemead's probably a better option, all other things considered.

Oh, and if you go for the first option (HH) and your child cannot make it into the HH destination schools (for whatever reason), what do you do? Isn't it easier to get into the main prep schools early (nursery) than at 4+ or 7+?

[2children]

HH was and still is my first choice. They have had the same head teacher for more than 4 years. I have to admit that she doesn?t add much to the overall vibe of the school, which is always warm and friendly. I would say the same about the owner. What makes this school so special is the teachers and the incredible amount of very caring staff in each of the classrooms. I am very pleased with the curriculum and range of activities. Maths and Literacy are particularly strong. Music is always stunning. Entrance assessments are a con, BIG con-. It is, from my experience, a very stressful process; although I need to clarify. I never questioned my son?s readiness; our anxiety, parents only, was mainly caused by the aura of uncertainty so typical of Alleyn?s panache. Surprisingly, although we were offered a place at Alleyn?s, we decided to go for Rosemead and I am glad we did it. I believe Rosemead is a continuation of that nurturing atmosphere we?ve always found at HH, although less specialised in EY.

[vanthorne]

Hi - 2children...would be keen to hear more about your thoughts on entrance exams...when you say they are a 'con' what do you mean? My daughter has just started HH in reception and I have another daughter who will start next year in Kindergarten. We plan on doing the 7+ exams, with the hope of getting into Jags, Alleyns which I belive HH prepare the children for quite well. So, just curious to know more about your thoughts on the exams. Are the children pre-selected from other criteria other than exams (behind the scenes)..is this what you mean? Don't want to read between the lines...

Look forward to hearing more.

Thanks!