Hampstead Hill School

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Reviews

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  robert kaim

  HHS is a wonderful school with a "personalised" approach to each child. Our daughter attended from the age of two to a very successful conclusion of the 7+ examinations. The teachers are amazing, with a wealth of experience. Somehow they manage to make learning for the children great fun yet highly educational. The headmistress, Andrea, has had lifelong experience in the field of education and provides motivation to the children and support to their parents. Our daughter had an amazing experience with her first school for which we are very grateful to Andrea and all the staff.

  26-05-2017
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  Gabriela Scardaccione

  We relocated from Argentina three years ago and I still remember when I landed in London without even knowing how the British system worked. I had a meeting with Sian Hoskins at Admissions and she took one full hour of her time to go through it with me and explain 4+, 7+, 13+ and even boarding school. She was lovely, caring and supportive. We got a place in Pre Reception. My son arrived without speaking a word in English. The teachers supported him and made sure he was able to communicate. They even found him an Spanish translator, a girl in his own class who was helping him through this tough time. Our experience with the school has been amazing since then. The teachers are all excellent. The place is a little bit chaotic, it's true, but that's the beauty of it as well and the fact that the Head of the School sits at the reception of the school every single morning and is available any time, any day for any concerns says a lot about the school. We just went through 7+ which is a tough process and our son got amazing results considering he didn't speak any English a couple of years ago. I would recommend this school to everyone without any hesitation. Thanks HHS. We will miss this school when we leave and it will be in our hearts forever.

  26-05-2017
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  Alfiya Nogayeva

  We would highly recommend this wonderful school to all parents and friends. Both our children have attended Hampstead Hill school since they've been 2 and 5 years old and really enjoyed it. This school is not only about high academic standards, but also has a wonderful community spirit. The headmaster, all the teachers and staff are brilliant and supportive. As parents we are very happy with amazing results at 7+ and feel a bit sad to leave this lovely community.

  26-05-2017
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  Su Manu

  Horrible school and exetremely rude staff. For the prices, this school looks old and basic... most of the toys and furniture look old. The staff is quite rude, but more specifically the two old ladies at the reception - they are definitely slow and extremely arrogant! The school is not that safe either.. the first day I went there to pick up my child, I pressed the Bell and without no questions I easily got inside the school.. very poor security! The only good side is the outdoors space which is quite nice and engaging.

  26-05-2017
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  Stephen Fitzpatrick

  We cannot speak for children with learning difficulties but we can offer our story about our child whom we transferred to HH from a state school (at the age of six) where he had had learned to neither read nor write, did not know how the principles of basic addition and was suffering from a collapsed sense of self and a fear of trying new things in case he failed. The moment we walked through the door at HH we felt that here was something different: a school which cared about learning – if felt like a village school from another place and time and this sense of old fashioned values was reinforced by the photos of Peter OToole and Patrick Mcgoohanon the walls in the entrance space. The teachers and staff made you feel that here was a place which would be nurturing but firm and focused. Our son was transformed during his time at HH and his confidence and appetite for learning was astonishing to see; he learned to read and write and he also learned mathematics. Yes, there was a lot of pressure before the 7 plus exams but Andrea and the teachers bore the brunt of most of it and were there to guide and help us. Our son got a place at UCS, where he has continued to grow in leaps and bounds. He has a solid foundation on which to build on for which we are deeply grateful to Hampstead Hill School.

  26-05-2015
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  A G.S

  Not on its own in terms of its "one dimensional child development strategy", but face it, its a prep hothouse, school that in the formative years of a child's life, is focused ONLY and SOLELY on making them prepare for and do relentless "worksheets" between ages 5-7 years and geared only to passing an exam when they're 7, regardless of the stress it causes to children, That said, the parents are as much to blame as the school in placing children, some of whom may struggle to cope with passing 7+ exams (which is THE only reason for attending such a school like this). While they run the school with a passion, their distinct lack of ability and desire to identify children struggling with any slight learning difficulties, makes them only fit for purpose for a child that can be treated like "a robot". Their handling in the case of our child whose work grossly deteriorated upon enlisting with a specific teacher at the start of the academic year, was beyond appalling and found the management protective of a teacher still at the school today who made our child's life hell upon which it took 2 years to undo what that school (specifically the teacher, protected by the school) did to the child. The school made it clear it's ALL the mothers fault! Need I say more. Some of the teachers were excellent, but are forced to fall into the "worksheet-robots" mode.This specific teacher has a history of success in getting children to pass exams, as well as a history of "breaking" children, many of the mother's have discussed openly of this happening. The current school our child goes to has made a dramatic turnaround of the child's abilities and is now excelling 24 months on from leaving Hampstead hill. If your child is 'left of centre', experiences ANY slight learning disabilities, slightly behind in maturity, send them there at your own peril. Facilities for playing are also very poor. The school is mostly geared to getting everyone in 2 schools, namely UCS and Highgate. Oh and by the way, when the school asks you 1 do you have a tutor, 2 what schools has your child applied to, LIE in both cases, as they lull you into a sense comfort with the latter, that should you're child apply to take a school assessment (4+) or exam (7+) they strike you off from continuing in the school in the next academic year, JUST for applying, should you need to stay at Hampstead Hill!!!

  26-05-2015
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  Andy Partridge

  We've had a fabulous experience with Hampstead Hill School. Our son has been there for the last 4 years and they've nurtured his confidence throughout the process and helped position him to sit exams. The good news for us is that he was successful in getting in to UCS. What we loved most about the school when we first visited was that Andrea Taylor has a wealth of experience and we felt we could really trust her with a process we were very nervous about, especially with our first child. Secondly, the environment had such an amazing spirit and we were really drawn to that. We wanted an environment that would develop both his academic skills and also nurture his self esteem, and the school has certainly done that!

  26-05-2013