JOINERS’ FAQS 2020
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS In week 5 of our Joiners’ Programme we asked if you had any questions that you would like answered before you join us in September. We have tried to answer these in this booklet but if there is anything else that you would like to ask, please let the Admissions team know and they will be happy to help you.
I N TRO D U C TI O N I 01
GENERAL QUESTIONS Will School be open in September? We hope so! Everything remains subject to Government and Public Health England guidance, but with lockdown restrictions easing it is looking increasingly likely and we are ready and looking forward to welcoming all Hamptonians back to the School site in September.
How many boys are joining the First Year in September and how big will the classes be? We are looking forward to welcoming 160 new boys to our First Year in September and there will be seven Forms in the First Year with 23 or 24 boys in each Form. Boys in the First Year are taught in their Form groups for each subject but as you move up the School and choose subject options in the Third Year and GCSE options in the Fourth Year the class sizes get smaller. A typical German GCSE class may have 10 boys and in the Sixth Form, there are generally 12 boys in the class for Science subjects, ten for languages and five for Latin just to give you some examples.
Will the School coaches be running and will there be social distancing? We hope to be operating our normal coach service in September and will keep your parents posted over the summer. Any precautionary measures in place on public transport at the time (such as wearing face masks), will most likely also apply on our School coaches.
0 2 I GE NE RAL QU E STION S
There may also still be some social distancing in School but it will depend on Government guidelines and we will let you know before you join us in September what these will be. Our Fourth Year and Lower Sixth boys are currently back in School in groups (bubbles) and we have a new one-way system operating in our corridors, hand sanitizer at every entry and exit point, staggered lunch breaks and plenty of notices reminding boys to socially distance! Even with these new rules, the boys are loving being back in School with their friends and teachers.
Hampton is such a big school; how many rooms are there? We're not sure that anyone has counted the exact number but we can tell you that there are more than 100 classrooms. Hampton will feel very big when you first join but you will soon find your way around. We equip all our new boys with maps of the School when they first join to help you navigate the corridors and there are always older boys or staff around to point you in the right direction if you get lost.
Is there something different about Hampton compared to other schools? Hamptonians aim for their personal best while supporting those around them with kindness. This is the Hampton way... and this is what is distinctive and different about our School. As the Headmaster will tell you in September, we believe that if you subscribe to this ethos you will have an amazing and successful time during your seven years with us and a lot of fun along the way!
G E N E RA L Q U E S TI O N S I 03
JOINING HAMPTON & SETTLING IN Will the summer picnic take place and, if not, is there an alternative? We are very disappointed that we will not be able to hold the Summer Picnic as planned this year due to Government social distancing regulations. However, with lockdown restrictions easing we are hoping that we may be able to hold a similar event later in the summer and the HSPA are actively investigating ways of bringing families together before September. We will keep you posted!
Will we still be able to go on the activity trip to Avon Tyrrell? We are keeping our fingers crossed that our new First Years will be able to go on our team building trip to Avon Tyrrell in the New Forest as planned. However, it will depend on Government regulations and at the moment we’re just not sure. We are in constant touch with the Avon Tyrrell Centre and it may be that we can still visit but that the activities are different, we are just to waiting to see. In case residential trips are not an option, we are also looking at other options so even if our Induction Programme is not quite the same as in previous years, we know how important it is and we will definitely have plans in place before you join us in September.
0 4 I J OIN IN G H AMPTON & SET T LING IN
I am the only boy from my school who is going to Hampton, will I be the only one who doesn’t know anyone? Please don’t assume that everyone knows each other. You are joining us from 75 different prep and primary schools and around a third of boys are the only one’s coming from their prep or primary school. Although it can be a little daunting there are plenty of opportunities to make new friends in the first few weeks and our priority is to make sure you feel settled and at home as quickly as possible. We actually find that, because so many boys are in the same boat of not knowing anyone, (or virtually no-one) it helps boys form a wide circle of friends because there are no pre-existing friendship groups.
Will I in be in the same Form Group as my friend? We try to put boys who would like to be with each other in the same Form but allocating boys to Forms is a very tricky process so it is not always possible. If you are not in the same Form as your friend please don’t worry, you will be able to see each other at break and lunchtime and will soon make plenty of new friends too.
Will I have a Mentor who is an older boy when I join in September? You certainly will! All First Year Forms will have two mentors assigned to them. Mentors are pupils in the Upper Sixth and they all had to apply for the role and go through a selection process. Many of them made the decision to do this based on their own, personal experiences of how helpful their Mentors were when they were in the Lower School themselves! The Mentors provide invaluable support, especially in the early weeks of the year. You will see them at both morning and afternoon registration and in some Form Tutor periods. Your Mentors will also join you at Avon Tyrrell for our teambuilding trip which provides a fantastic opportunity for you to get to know them.
J O I N I N G H A M P TO N & S E TTLI N G I N I 05
CO-CURRICULAR LIFE What co-curricular activities are there and will they still take place in September? There are so many co-curricular clubs and societies at Hampton that the biggest problem is trying to decide which ones to try first! The clubs take place during the hour and 20-minute lunch break and are a great way to make new friends. Whether you love sport, music, drama, art, debating, robotics, chess, writing, science or something entirely different with over 50 clubs on offer there is definitely something for everyone. We always encourage boys to try something new as well as go to clubs they know they will enjoy – you never know you may discover hidden talents that you never knew you had and a new life time passion! Our staff are keen to restart our busy, action-packed programme as soon as possible from September and your Form Tutor will keep you posted on which clubs will be running and when.
What musical instruments can you learn at Hampton? Music is really popular at Hampton! Around 40% of Hamptonians take individual lessons on a whole host of instruments; Piano, Jazz piano, Organ, Singing (all genres), Drums, Percussion, Guitar (acoustic, electric and bass), Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Oboe, Clarinet, Saxophone (all types), Flute, Bassoon, Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn, Tuba and other brass instruments such as the euphonium. In fact, we try and accommodate all instruments so please do send Mr Roland an email if you would like to learn an instrument that is not included in our list!
0 6 I C O-C U RRIC U LAR LIFE
How much sport can I do in a week and will it still take place? All Hamptonians have one PE session a week and a Games afternoon – Friday for First Years. In the Autumn and Spring terms you can choose to play Football or Rugby during Games and in the Summer term you have the choice of Athletics, Cricket and Tennis. From the Summer term of the Second Year boys can also choose to take up rowing and there are lots of lunchtime clubs for more specialist sports including Badminton, Basketball, Climbing, Fencing, Table Tennis and Volleyball just to name a few.
Will there still be competitive sport in September? As with lots of things at the moment, we are required to follow official Government guidance and for sport, we must also follow the guidance issued by the relevant national governing bodies. Although we’re not sure which sports boys will be able to play in September, or in what format, there will definitely be some form of physical activity. Hamptonians who are currently in School are playing Cricket and Tennis and some training in Rugby and Football is currently allowed. Our Boat Club is also reopening shortly. If we are not able to play inter-school fixtures we may run inter-Form competitions. We will be in touch with you before you join us in September to let you know more, although as with everything else at the moment, we all need to be prepared for last minute changes.
Is there after School training for Sports teams? Almost all sports training sessions take place during the lunch break. Sometimes, if you are in an A or B team, there may be a small amount of training after School but this tends to be for boys in the older year groups.
How many Football & Rugby teams are there in First Year? The number of teams can change from year-to-year but in the last few years we have had six First Year Football teams and two or three Rugby teams.
When can I start rowing? Boys can row from the Summer term of the Second Year onwards and we run taster sessions so that all boys can have a go if they would like to.
C O - C U RRI C U LA R LI FE I 07
SCHOOL LESSONS How many and what subjects do boys study in the First Year? Boys in the First Year study 15 subjects - English, Maths, a Modern Language, Latin, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computing, Art, Music, Technology, PE, Geography, History and Religious Studies.
What happens if I don’t get to study the language I wanted to? We have done our very best to accommodate everybody’s wishes regarding language choices, but it is a very complicated process trying to match up often conflicting criteria of friendship groups, language choice, geographical locations and other considerations, so it is not always possible to satisfy everyone’s requests. Please don’t worry if you find that you are not studying the language, you requested, you will have the opportunity to pick it up in the Third Year and study it all the way through to GCSE and A level if you wish.
What do you do in Music lessons, does it include playing instruments? You will explore a whole range of instruments in your Music lessons, including keyboard skills and African drumming. We also have a range of instruments in the department that can be used (with permission) at lunchtime. You will also study music technology, using software on Apple Macs such as GarageBand and LogicPro.
0 8 I S C H OOL L E SSON S
Which countries can you visit if you study languages? Hampton has an amazing Modern Languages Department and boys can study French, German, Spanish, Russian and Mandarin Chinese. There are trips to all of these countries. Some of these are exchanges which we run jointly with LEH and others are cultural trips which enable boys to find out more about different traditions and beliefs and practice their language skills. There are also numerous other trips both in the UK and all around the world. Some are academic related such as Biology and Geography field trips, others are for sport, music or adventure and others just for fun!
Are there any animals at Hampton? Great question! The Biology department has a snake called Maxine (Max for short) and lots of frogs and stick insects. Sadly, the Hampton hamster died but the department are planning on adopting a new one next year. We also have our own bees which live in the hives on the School field and produce delicious Hampton honey!
S C H O O L LE S S O N S I 09
Hampton School, Hanworth Road, Hampton TW12 3HD Tel: 020 8979 5526 Email: admissions@hamptonschool.org.uk Twitter: @HamptonSchool
www.hamptonschool.org.uk