Claremont High School Claremont Avenue, Harrow HA3 0UH

"As of writing this review, I'm a Year 12 student who's been in the school for almost six years, and I'm taking A-Levels in Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Computer Science and French. Thus, I feel I'm more experienced than most other reviewers to talk about the school. Firstly, let me say that this is no grammar or private school. Not everyone's parents have hundreds of thousands of pounds to send their children, and not everyone finds irrational joy in studying eight hours a day every day after school. Most people are just your average person, but for me, that's perfect. You'll get to know most of the people in your year, and perhaps in the years above and below you, too. Friendship groups form quickly and easily, and many are happy to accept other students. In the older years (Year 10 onwards), people start to socialise with others outside their friendship group, and I enjoy the social scene here. In my case, being able to talk to extremely talented people is an opportunity I wouldn't exchange for anything: I've grown attached to my friends as though they were family. And, while not everyone here is a four A*-type student, we certainly get those types: every year, we have students who get all A*s and go off to Oxford or Cambridge. If you aspire to be one of those students, don't write off Claremont just because you think you'll do better by going to another school! The teachers are also incredibly polite, for the most part. (Of course, there are teachers who the younger students would consider strict, but as you grow older, you'll see that it's just the different teaching personalities they adopt, and in reality, they aren't really that strict after all—your class were just really annoying!) They devote plenty of time and effort into ensuring every student succeeds academically and as a person. Their lessons are usually very well-planned, but their devotion to their students truly shines when one of them asks for help or discusses a topic with a teacher that they're both passionate about. This is especially helpful in the Sixth Form, where you'll often find yourself wanting to stimulate your own interest in the subject! Every week, we also hold competitions and clubs for all lower years, from sports to chess; we also have a few more unorthodox ones such as a cybersecurity/hacking club. The extracurricular scene is a bit lacking for the Sixth Form, though, but since you're allowed to leave when you don't have lessons, you probably won't need it. We have an active student body which includes a Prefect Team and a Student Voice, both of which allow students to suggest changes to improve the school. And while Claremont is by no means perfect, I thoroughly enjoy my time here, and I could not imagine having a better experience at any other school."

"I think the people that say that this school is like hell exagerate a bit much for my liking, and the people that can't get enough of this school... ditto. This school isn't bad, it's probably better than a lot of schools in the area, and is probably worse than some too, and that's just how it is, if you want your child to get a special education then they better be a genius or as a parent your pockets must have a waterfall's equivilant of cash. In one word this school is mediocre, you'll get a decent education, decent grades, probably a decent first job, if your child really wants to excel then they will have to take initative on their own. Do i think this school is bad? No, else i wouldn't go to it, it's probably one of the better ones in the area, but people need to stop hating it as much as they do, and the others that just can't get enough of it need to calm down too. 3/5"

"Both of my boys have been attending Claremont and if you consider the support given it is really not a bad school. My elder son did well with both GCSE and A' levels and has gone on to study Chemical engineering in Nottingham. Some of his peer Group have got even better grades. We have seen how much they've involved the parents for year 11 GCSE'S which is a good thing in my opinion."

"It's not really a one star it really is a zero star. It is the worst school possible teachers are very rubbish and know one cares about anyone the children are very rough ends your child to come being beaten up everyone there is says that it's a good school so they wouldn't be embarrassed by the people they know. The school is more like a prison because no one is allowed to do anything. The school only cares about its reputation and doesn't care about anyone else doesn't care about the Childs well-being or education. If you live around Kingsbury then I suggest you go to Kingsbury high because it's one of the best schools. I transferred from Claremont to Kingsbury because of Kingsbury is very high standards of teaching and I loved it there. Claremont is a rubbish school and do not send your child there unless you want them to die especially for fat people"

"The worst school possible to send any of your children to because the school only cares about its reputation and not the child's well-being or education. If ever you are sending your children to this school DO NOT SEND THEM HERE, your child will regret going there and will regret the level of education they will receive and WILL feel like they are in a prison."