Independent schools for boys in North West Kent area

[T.i.p.s.y]

I love the philosophy of these schools but was never brave enough to try them. Definitely a good alternative although your son will have to lie about watching TV!

[KES Parent]

I have fallen in love with the school!!! I would love to go there. I approve of the philosophy of the school.

Me too. I think even I might have survived the system at a school like that. Mine, despite being rather pricey, more or less destroyed me - not particularly their fault, but it wasn't a match made in heaven.

[Ed's mum]

Same here. My school was a hothouse at the time, full of competitive girls who were super-bright, super-rich and super-b****y! The thought of being nurtured is appealing.

[Bexley Mum 2]

Steiner schools - now that's a whole new ball game. I have a very good friend who was Steiner educated. He's extremely clever, very knowledgeable about a whole range of things but can't cope with life - couldn't keep down a job, couldn't organise himself or cope with any sort of challenge. His brother, who went through the same system, has similar problems, though not so severe. It could of course be a family thing but I've always wondered if, lovely as I'm sure it is, the Steiner system failed to toughen him up for the real world.

[KES Parent]

Same here. My school was a hothouse at the time, full of competitive girls who were super-bright, super-rich and super-b****y! The thought of being nurtured is appealing.

Sounds familiar, although I could have put up with them if most of the teachers hadn't been so adept at bullying when they detected the slightest hint of any kind of vulnerability.

[T.i.p.s.y]

Steiner schools - now that's a whole new ball game. I have a very good friend who was Steiner educated. He's extremely clever, very knowledgeable about a whole range of things but can't cope with life - couldn't keep down a job, couldn't organise himself or cope with any sort of challenge. His brother, who went through the same system, has similar problems, though not so severe. It could of course be a family thing but I've always wondered if, lovely as I'm sure it is, the Steiner system failed to toughen him up for the real world.

Could just be classic cleverness - one should know!

[reginaphalangie]

All i want is a nice school where he is going to be nurtured and encouraged to work to his strengths (and when i find them i'll let everyone know)

[Bexley Mum 2]

Reginaphalangie - One further thought, I know you've said you're not interested in boarding, but one of my son's friends goes to Gosfield School in Halstead, Essex. It's a tiny school (190 children from Y7-13) meant to be very big on pastoral care and not overly academic. My son's friend goes on a Monday morning and comes back Friday afternoon - he loves it. The fees are, I think, around £9-10k a year. Quite how they organise classes with such small numbers I don't know, but it might be worth a look? Don't look at the 2001 inspection report which is not very good, but the 2007 one seems to show considerable improvement.

[reginaphalangie]

Just looked at fees for boarding (not that i want to ! - why would i want to send my lovely boy away??) £4500 a term - errrr no...but thanks anyway bexleymum2

[T.i.p.s.y]

That may seem expensive but by the time you factor in food and petrol its not that much more. I know you don't want him to board for 4/7 of a week but someimes we have to give our kids the best opportunities, even if we have to compromise, rather than sending them to a sink school.