Hornsby House or Eaton House? Post Reply

[LAV000]

Hi

We are lucky enough to have offers from Hornsby House and Eaton House... but are really struggling to decide between the two!

As a school, we really love Hornsby House (it seems to strike a really good balance between academic success and the overall happiness of the children in a warm and friendly environment). We do also like Eaton House although probably not as much as Hornsby. However, we live a 15 minute walk from Eaton House and have a few friends within walking distance of our house going there. But we're a 10 minute drive (30 min walk) from Hornsby House (we live near Battersea Rise). So I guess it's a question of whether we like Hornsby enough to choose the drive over the walk. We have a girl and a younger boy, both of whom we anticipate going on to London day schools, but they're 3 years apart so there'll be a few years of juggling with the nursery drop-off.

So I have some questions:
- I don't mind a 10 min drive but is the parking a complete nightmare around Hornsby House at pick-up and drop-off?
- Do you think it would be a shame for our children to live a drive away from school if all the rest of their classmates live near each other - e.g. from the perspective of play dates after school etc? Could we feel cut off from the school's community? Or do loads of kids at Hornsby have to drive to school?
- More generally, do people prefer Hornsby House or Eaton House?

I'd be so grateful for anyone's thoughts! Thank you!

[Bunnypigeon1]

There was a long chain about this not long ago- might be worth looking it up!

[MMmmm]

Congratulations! Your in a very enviable position, they are both fantastic schools. I have a very happy child at one of the schools you mention and had to make a similar choice a few years ago.

Without wanting to over complicate your decision, I wonder if there may not be some other factors that may help you come to a decision. For example, you mention that you lean towards London day schools for secondary school. This year Eaton House will be sending about 8 boys to day schools and the other 27 to boarding schools. I’m not sure if the results have been announced yet for the girls school. At Hornsby I believe it was almost all day schools with one or two going to St Johns in Leatherhead. While I’m not suggesting that your tied to day or boarding at either school, a number of boys day schools have a 13+ intake, it’s worth being aware that each school appears to be geared to different types of secondary education.

Another consideration may be your views on sports. Eaton is a bigger school with more pupils to choose from when it comes to fielding teams. People will have different views as to whether or not this is a good thing. Big fish little pond v’s little fish big pond. I’ve been told that Eaton House also have more sport in their timetable, playing almost every day.

As well as the obvious co-ed v’s single sex debate I’m sure there are a number of other differences but the above two struck me as the key differentiators when we were deciding. I’m sure other posters will have comments!

To your point on distance to school, we are lucky enough to be able to cycle to school every day which as a parent I really value. There are a large number of other pupils that live in the roads around us and chatting to them along the way as they walk, cycle, scoot to school every day fosters a really nice atmosphere. As a result children know one another across the year groups and up and down the school which is lovely. As parking is pretty horrible at school, I'm always grateful that I don't need to factor that hurdle into our commute-- tho ask me in the winter and I may not be as upbeat! All that said, I don’t think proximity to school plays a role in how well you integrate. The children tend to determine who they wish to invite over for playdates and they aren’t aware of who lives where.

I hope that is helpful and doesn’t make life harder. I really don’t believe that one school is better than the other. They are both fantastic and I would be thrilled if my child where at either. Good luck with your decision!