Thomas’s Clapham Post Reply

[Btw79]

My friend has her kid at Thomas’s Clapham reception year and we are considering it for our son. I am shocked by the fact many kids are already tutored in reception class. Is it the norm also for the other years? Are they all tutored in the exam years?
Are kids at other schools (Northcote lodge/Broomwood, finton, Hornsby) also all tutored?
I m wondering what is the point of spending that much in fees if tutoring is required? I understand the facilities, extra-curriculum etc but I would expect these school to be academically excellent without extra support required?

[Clapham Commoner]

What exactly are they tutoring them in at that age?

I can’t speak for other years but I would be amazed if this is as widespread as you’ve been led to believe at reception level

In fact, I’ve honestly never heard of it once & I personally know many parents of that year group.

I think the standard of teaching at all the schools you mention is / will be v good & extra tutoring on the side is absolutely not standard / necessary at that age group

I may be wrong but most reception children I know are either on play dates or eating ice cream after school!

[Muddy waters]

Can’t speak to this specific location, but we are at another Thomas’s. Not sure about reception tutoring but our class which is in lower upper prep is all tutored. At £9.5k a term and still paying for tutoring.

Run, don’t walk from Thomas’s unless you have buckets to spend on the brand

[FatTony1960]

Can’t speak to this specific location, but we are at another Thomas’s. Not sure about reception tutoring but our class which is in lower upper prep is all tutored. At £9.5k a term and still paying for tutoring.

Run, don’t walk from Thomas’s unless you have buckets to spend on the brand

I am curious as to why you are paying that much money to a company whose management you don't have much faith in (judging by your previous posts), and an academic product that is so poor you have to supplement it with tutoring?
 

[Goldhawk]

Is it true the fees are going up by 20%?

[Muddy waters]

We are one of MANY FAMILIES, 30 teachers, plus an entire admin team leaving. We bought into what it used to be without knowing what it was becoming. Also, between grandparents paying and former alum, cards were stacked. Our children are on to much greener pastures thankfully.

[Muddy waters]

I believe our particular branch isn’t that much but double digits. It was also sold to PE so we all know where those funds are going

[Thomas-parent]

Current parent at Thomas’s Clapham, including one finishing reception

No, tutoring in reception and the lower school is not the norm. In fact I’ve never heard of any reception children getting tutoring. Older years, yes if a parent thinks they are falling behind but this is always driven by a pushy parent wanting their child to be top of the class, and is neither encouraged by school nor the norm. It’s very mum ‘tiger mom’ behaviour which happens at every school regardless of standards and is just the way some parents are wired

Re the fee increases, I presume the 20% figure what you’ve heard regarding the Labour Party pledge to add VAT to fees if (or when) they win the next election…

Thomas’s, Hornsby, Eaton House, Finton etc all raised fees by around 8% this year, which is slightly higher than previous years but within the usual range.
I haven’t heard of anywhere with a double digit rise but not impossible giving current inflation

Muddy waters has a serious bee in their bonnet about the recent PE investment (minority stake, not a full sale) judging by their recent posts on the subject. It’s not a view widely shared by the parents, based on the conversations we’ve had with our friends, but as the saying goes, there is always one…

[Muddywaters]

Based on your use of anecdotal evidence as facts, I’d say you’re the one with the bee in your bonnet, and quite defensive about my upset at the school’s failings. Anecdotally from my perspective, and from the perspective of my branch of Thomas’s, the parents are actually very upset. But your branch was very unlikely to have suffered as much as our did given the specifics of some of the failings. Given the fact that half of our year alone is leaving and 30 teachers are leaving I’d say I’m not the only one upset about recent events.

Take that however you like.

[Muddywaters]

Based on your use of anecdotal evidence as facts, I’d say you’re the one with the bee in your bonnet, and quite defensive about my upset at the school’s failings. Anecdotally from my perspective, and from the perspective of my branch of Thomas’s, the parents are actually very upset. But your branch was very unlikely to have suffered as much as our did given the specifics of some of the failings. Given the fact that half of our year alone is leaving and 30 teachers are leaving I’d say I’m not the only one upset about recent events.

Take that however you like.

[MummyontheGo]

Current Thomas’ Clapham reception parent and I’ve not heard of anyone having tutoring in reception. Our son didn’t know any letters really before going and is now reading and writing with great progress, and we’ve been thrilled with how much joy he has for school one year in.

[Expatacular]

Same as mummyonthego. I'm a current T's Clapham reception parent. Our child walked in not able to read a word in September and now she reads everything with ease and joy. No need for any tutors and I haven't heard of anyone using them in her class. I never even considered the possibility of it at this stage. Happy kids, happy parents, and happy staff and teachers are what I see every day at drop off and pick up. Maybe it's a different situation at the other locations, but I don't recognise the situation muddy waters is describing.

[Niyome]

@Muddywaters, I'm sorry but why would it matter if grandparents pay for school fees or the fact that former alumni send their children to the school? I would expect that to happen across all independent schools.
Thanks