Hawkesdown House

Our View

A traditional school with traditional teaching. Main emphasis on solid grounding in the basics plus excellent introductions to history, geography and science. French taught from the beginning and chess in the last two years. Teachers are all young, friendly, enthusiastic and imaginative. Children not pushed but allowed to develop at their own pace. As one parent said, 'they never make any child feel he is useless'. From year 1 the boys are divided across their year groups into 'mature' and 'young' learners for English and maths. All classes seemed disciplined with boys eager to discuss and explain the work they were doing. Very neat workbooks.

Most teachers also have an assistant, either a student between first degree and PGCE or a qualified teacher from overseas learning how we teach over here. Pupil teacher ratio is approximately 8:1. No full time male teachers but this does not seem to worry the parents. The football, judo and fencing coaches are all male, as is one of the kitchen assistants who plays the piano at various times and is much admired. Interactive white boards and computers everywhere.

Few language problems despite the fact that the majority of the boys come from multinational families. Homework is kept to a minimum and only during the week; mainly reading with just enough written work to instil self reliance and pave the way for the next step. 25 boys are on the high ability list and 33 on the SEN register for a variety of needs including speech and language difficulties, sensory integration problems, dyslexia, and deafness. School not able to deal with extremely disruptive behavioural problems or physical difficulties (because of the geography of the school). In case of problems emerging, the school will assess and deal with it. For instance, a boy who was found to have fine motor skill difficulties was taught to type. Good, frequent monitoring with IEPs issued as necessary.

SEN staff are young, enthusiastic and incredibly caring and will look at individual needs. Their thirst for information and new ideas is endless. When installing whiteboards, they first checked the equipment would work with hearing aids. As members of the West London specialist group, one or other of them attends any talks and relays information back to all staff members. Outside agencies support as needed with extra teaching brought in if necessary. As one parent said, 'to them, SEN children are not a big deal and are not singled out and made to feel different. They soon learn to fit in with the day to day life of the school and their classmates accept them without thought.' An excellent and caring department.

No outdoor play area but no parent we spoke to seemed to feel that this really matters, although several mentioned it. Daily walk or run around Kensington Gardens and, in good weather, they use the local park for PE. Football once a week – older boys play competitively, each child will get to play in at least one match. Perhaps not brilliant for a very physical child but fine for most. Lots of after school activities – art, drama, choir and 3 classes of Mandarin among them.

Very friendly atmosphere. After a series of confusing doors, you reach a lovely wide hall with an informative parents' notice board. Own kitchen, excellent cooking and it is compulsory for boys to eat school food (those with eating disorders or special diets are specially catered for and can bring the occasional titbit from home).

Parents pack the main hall on Fridays when awards are given out. Christian ethos but many other religions are celebrated with parents very much involved. In the hall there are also wall bars and other equipment available for use in gymnastic lessons and mats for judo, which is so popular that, although it is charged as an extra, it is timetabled for all boys from year 1 onwards. Loos are all low-level, including mini urinals, all with stickers to be aimed at, and no nasty smells.

Classrooms generally light and airy, some smaller than others but usual maximum number of boys is 15 or 16 in each so plenty of space. Lots of happy, friendly, well mannered small boys in smart red and blue uniform, with 'just the right mix of discipline and bright cheekiness'. Strong parental network, an active PTA and a good sense of community. Strict behaviour policy for the boys promoting kindness, thoughtfulness and consideration for others. Complaints system in place but, judging from the parents we spoke to, it is very rarely needed.

Most live reasonably locally and a large number walk to school. Two thirds expats (American and European mostly) and one third English, the great majority of both from the financial sector. A mixed culture school with a lot of bilingual children – so having overseas teachers helping in the classrooms is useful. No scholarships or bursaries but, in an emergency, the head is sure something could be done.

A school that any small boy would love to attend.

Head

Since 2010, Mrs Claire Renton Bourne MA (Mrs Bourne to parents), a Cambridge classicist and Nottingham theologian (late forties). Mrs Bourne is married to a civil servsant and has two children, both educated at Bryanston School, now at university. She spent three years at Perrott Hill School in Somerset, tutoring the scholars and heading the classics and RS departments. Moved to Knighton House in Dorset in 2001 as deputy head, became head there in 2004. Remained head of classics, teaching both Latin and Greek. Mrs Bourne is keen on 'children, education, classics, piano, flute, gardening, sewing' and is a 'passionate believer in single sex education to 13'.

Entrance

Either at nursery or reception level, first come first served. Boys go for a familiarisation session, normally about an hour, and, if it looks as though their needs can be met and they are enthused with a love of the school, a place is offered. Spaces for older boys – a letter from previous school (or a conversation with its head, if in the UK) and a day's assessment to see if he will fit in comfortably, is all that is necessary.

Exit

Most go on to established London prep schools – Colet Court, Westminster Under, Kings College Wimbledon, Wetherby, Thomas's, St Philip's for example; others might go to board at The Dragon, Summerfields, Horris Hill or elsewhere.