Hampton Voices

Sixth Form life is notably different from the lower years and the independence, co-curricular opportunities and studying your favourite subjects make it a really exciting time.

the independence, co-curricular opportunities and studying your favourite subjects make Sixth form a really exciting time.

I am studying French, Politics and Latin for A Level and enjoy the smaller sized classes where everyone in the room feels able to contribute. Also, the greater emphasis on independent work has allowed me to come to considered opinions on a variety of issues.

Music is a very important part of my Hampton life. I have performed in several school musicals and play in most of the wonderful concerts held throughout the year in the Hammond Theatre, with either an ensemble such as the Jazz Trio or one of Hampton’s many choirs. I have also had the incredible honour of performing at the Edinburgh Fringe with Voices of Lions – always a trip to look forward to!

I have recently taken up basketball, but before then I was a proud member of the football B team that reached three ESFA finals in a row – experiences I will never forget! It is surely testament to the variety of sports on offer at Hampton that, as well as basketball, I have been able to try out several sports for the first time, from athletics to rowing.

For me, clubs certainly offer some of the most enjoyable aspects of Hampton life, such as attending the Sixth Form Ethics Society each week, as well as appearing on the student-run podcast, Spare Thoughts.

It is great to be able to use the Sixth Form Common Room – paninis and table football are an excellent way to unwind between lessons. Also, our dedicated study area, the Sixth Form Study Centre, has proven to be both a useful and enjoyable space to work in.

With this my last year at Hampton, I will miss the amazing opportunities on offer each week and the down-to-earth environment at School, but I am also excited for what is to come.

I went straight into teaching after university, completing my PGCE while at Hampton and have been here ever since. I was well aware of Hampton’s excellent reputation having grown up in London and my grandfather Victor attended from 1932-1939 when Hampton was still a grammar school, so there was very much a part of me which wanted to follow in his footsteps!

What struck me about Hampton when I arrived was its strong sense of community: from the porter greeting me as I walked in, to the kindness and support which my colleagues showed me, to the archivist’s willingness to find my grandfather’s school records.

When it comes to the education on offer, Hampton offers pupils freedom: freedom to be themselves, and to unlock parts of themselves which they didn’t know were there. This is down to not only the wealth of academic and co-curricular opportunities available, but also to the community in which these opportunities are seized: it is a community which fosters love of learning, ambition, responsibility and respect.

Teaching here is full on and lots of fun and I am impressed daily by the palpable love of learning among the boys
– a sea of raised hands is the norm at Hampton.

I love getting to know my pupils and seeing them progress over the years and I am privileged to work alongside such intelligent, ambitious and hardworking colleagues. I can see myself working here for a long, long time – just as many colleagues have before me!

Our son, Josh, is now in the Fourth Year at Hampton. At the age of 11, he was in the fortunate position of having various offers from different schools for secondary education. There were numerous things that made Hampton stand out, however. The first was the ethos of the School, which marries high academic standards with numerous co-curricular activities, giving an excellent rounded education. This was extremely important to Josh, who is a keen footballer, but also interested in a range of sports. The second was the approach of the headmaster, Kevin Knibbs, who always gave the impression that he was interested in the welfare of every child in the School. His personal approach with prospective parents and children spoke volumes.

We have always found that the success of a school mirrors the character of the headmaster, and that is certainly true of Hampton. Finally, during visits and the examination and interview process we felt that the School had a very caring and nurturing approach, coupled with a clear philosophy of supporting children from all backgrounds. We can honestly say that we would recommend Hampton to anyone. We felt that the School had a very caring and nurturing approach, coupled with a clear philosophy of supporting children from all backgrounds.

we felt that the School had a very caring and nurturing approach, coupled with a clear philosophy of supporting children from all backgrounds. We can honestly say that we would recommend Hampton to anyone.

Patrick Aryee is a renowned wildlife TV Presenter hosting popular nature shows on the BBC, Sky and most recently in the USA. After leaving Hampton with three A Levels, Patrick studied at Bristol University for a degree in Cancer Biology followed by a Master’s in Science Communication before deciding on a career in wildlife film-making.

What many people don’t realise is what the beginning of my journey looked like. My brother, sister and I were all raised by mum and single-parent finances were understandably tight to say the least. With this in mind, the only way I was able to attend Hampton was through a bursary programme. I still had to pay the attendance fee but thankfully the total cost was reduced by just enough.”

Without that bursary, without that charitable donation, I wouldn’t be standing here as the person I am today.

Today, that person is someone who has gone free-diving with sperm whales, sat eye-to-eye with huge ferocious lions, walked a six-tonne bull elephant, and more comically, been sprayed in the face by a skunk!

I want to thank Hampton School for providing me with the opportunity to be the best version of myself.

Hampton was undoubtedly instrumental in seeing me through my formative years and it’s where I met some of my lifelong friends. What makes Hampton School special is that it supports you whatever your interests may be – for me this was not only my interest in science but also my love for drama and sport. The teachers are passionate about the subjects they teach, and they inspired me – I still keep in touch with a few of them.

It’s so much fun making wildlife and science documentaries. It can get stressful at times, but we get to witness so many amazing sights and ground-breaking research first hand. Sharing that with people at home is such a privilege and it’s exciting to think that my job goes on to inspire others.