Thomas's Battersea vs Thomas's Clapham Post Reply

[Lilawhite]

Hi all. I'm new to nappy valley but thought you could help me reagarding schools. My husband and I visited both Thomas Clapham and Battersea and now need to choose which one to register our son for an assessment. We genuinely loved both schools and it would be the same distance to get to either, Clapham being a bit closer. We found Clapham to be a bit bigger but found out reception stays in a separate building, which was lovely. Battersea as well as great, but we are a bit unsure considering Prince George is now a pupil there. Any parents from both schools that could give us your personal intake regarding either? We would really appreciate it.
Thank you in advance.

[SW12Pops]

I met someone today who has left Thomas' Battersea due to the Royal connection. The family are lovely and grounded and incredibly posh and felt that the royal effect was attracting the sort of people she didn't want her child to be surrounded by.

She said that for some people it was the most important element of the school and for those people there can simply be no other choice, for the others it was ghastly.

[TJ74]

I have children at Thomas's Clapham and we are very happy with it. We also had to make the same decision as you when registering our eldest (though that was over 10 years ago now!) and what helped us to decide was the nightmarish school run in heavy traffic that we would have had to go to Battersea as compared to the journey to Clapham from our house. If you would like to know any more about Thomas's Clapham, please pm me and I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

[EHMorris]

Hello. I am a happy Battersea parent for the last 9 years. We chose the school partly on the basis of the easier school run. I agree with the poster above : consider the journey to and from school! We walk to school, and are mightily glad we don't have to sit in traffic.

[millymoo]

I am a Thomas's Battersea parent whose children walk to school. My children were already happily at the settled before the royal arrival and I can honestly say I haven't noticed any material change in the way that the school is run. It is the teachers and rest of the staff that make the school not the parents! It is also the Headmaster's first year at the school as well plus a end of a big construction project and new facilities. It is a busy, traditional school that has high expectations from pupils and parents and I find that overwhelming at times but more due to the fact I am also working full time as well. The upside of that is I don't get involved too much in the extra curricular parent stuff so can't really comment about that. I would choose whichever works for you practically speaking as I am sure you will find the teaching philosophy similar at both sites.

[Shoppingmom]

I would register your child for both, not sure the age of your child, but it could also be too late. Registering your child isn’t a full commitment, it’s just getting your child an “assessment.” I would also register for another school incase your child and thomas’s are not the right match.

[Lilawhite]

Thank you all very much for your responses. We have decided to go with Clapham, just feel the commute will be easier since its closer to us.
Shoppingmom, unfortunately you can't register for both, Thomas's doesn't allowed the children to have assessment in more than one of their schools at the same time, you have to choose one for the assessment. We did check and fortunately we still have time ... he is also registered for three other schools. Thank you!