Prep schools in Tunbridge Wells - The Mead & Rose Hill?

[UnBaiserAvecLaLangue]

I am a first time poster although long time lurker. We are relocating back to the UK from a long spell in France and looking to have our two DS in either The Mead or Rose Hill in Tunbridge Wells. They would be entering Year 2 and Year 3.

They are both bright boys but we don't want an extremely pushy school. Rather one that stimulates them academically but also makes them feel good about themselves and helps with their confidence. I was wondering if any mumsnetters with first hand experience on either school might be kind enough to offer feedback on them.

I specifically would like to know:

• How are they regarded from an academic point of view?
  
• Do they prepare for Grammar or a different path? If aimed towards the grammars, is the education well rounded or is it very channelled into just passing the exams
  
• Are they good value for money? From what I have seen, the fees are largely similar?
  
• Are they happy nurturing schools?
  
• I understand they're not selective, but do they stream?
  
• Do they follow the National Curriculum?
  

Any other comments, postive or otherwise would be greatly appreciated. Obviously we will visit both schools, I just wanted some 'unofficial' information before we do so.

Also, if you have any other recommendations with preps in TW area, I would welcome views.

Thanks ever so!

[UnBaiserAvecLaLangue]

I wonder did I not post this in the right place?

[Inti]

I've just replied to your other post and saw this one too. So I have 3 children at Somerhill -There are 3 schools under 1 roof and 1 overall headmaster.

• How are they regarded from an academic point of view? Very good - all boys in yr 8 got into their first choice common entrance
  
• Do they prepare for Grammar or a different path? If aimed towards the grammars, is the education well rounded or is it very channelled into just passing the exams - they do prepare for grammar too - I don't know about the tuition as I'm not there yet (eldest son is in Y3)
  
• Are they good value for money? From what I have seen, the fees are largely similar? It is expensive - but not more than anyone else and less than HH for example.
  
• Are they happy nurturing schools? Yes - definitely
  
• I understand they're not selective, but do they stream? in Maths and English from yr 4
  
• Do they follow the National Curriculum? yes
  

It is definitely worth looking at Yardley Court for boys. It is a happy school that does a lot of sport, music, art and does well academically. the headmaster is fantastic - his words to us when we entered Y3 were that his priority was for our sons to be happy.

I x

[Inti]

PS - the Mead is in Frant and has very little land and there is very little sport as I understand it. As a result I think it is cheaper than some of the other prep schools around. A boy who had "issues" left our school to go there last term.
Rose Hill - I only know someone with a girl there and they seem happy enough but I can't comment further. They originally went there as they couldn't get their daughter into Derwent Lodge (the girls' school at Somerhill) but as she has been happy there they kept her there.
There are a lot of people from TW who come into Somerhill.

[UnBaiserAvecLaLangue]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply so extensively. Really appreciate it.

[Inti]

if you are going to live around Tonbridge (ie in the countryside around - not in!) rather than the south of TW also consider Hilden Grange - a smaller school with less land but also a very good one and mixed until 11.

[UnBaiserAvecLaLangue]

Definitely within Tunbridge Wells!

[UnBaiserAvecLaLangue]

Unashamedly bumping here!

[ShellingPeas]

I know only people with girls at Rose Hill and tbh you don't hear so much about it as Holmewood House (which does have a rep as a hothouse with pushy parent syndrome). But the parents are happy with Rose Hill and it does have fantastic facilities - much more land than the Mead, which is on Frant Road in Tunbridge Wells (not in the village of Frant) but is pretty central.

A child (boy) from my DD's old school transferred to the Mead as he had some bullying issues both at my DD's state school and also the previous private school he'd attended. From chatting to acquaintances he is now happy there.

No idea about what they do regards prep for 11+. My DS is at one of the 'super-selective' grammars and it's got around 35% of children from the private sector in his year group but I know an awful lot of people opt for tutors outside of school, even with children at private schools.

[clam]

Slightly off-topic, but The Mead is a couple of houses along from my parents! And I read somewhere (the 11+ Forum?) that children from that part of TW didn't get in to TWGGS last year from there (on the distance rule, not through having failed the 11+!). Shock to me as, decades ago we all automatically got in from there and much further out.
Anyway, can't add much more so will back away.

[JEM1968]

Just to clear a couple of comments made:
The Mead School is on Frant Road in Tunbridge Wells, Kent but not in Frant which is in East Sussex.
Children who live near to the school and pass 11+ generally get in to local grammar schools but it does depend on the catchment area. This can change from year to year as it does for the local state primary schools too.