Notre Dame is an amazing school just go and see it can't say how wonderful it is. All those I know who have children there talks so highly of it, I have nieces at the school, as well as neighbors daughters (4 sets). They tend to pick up the pieces of unhappy parents who thought other school were better, only to realise that more expensive isn't better. They have a great nursery school, I think they take from 2 years old and they take boys as well in the nursery. Very nurturing, kind and loving but also some way they manage to do all that and get good results. The head is Mr Plummer and he is very much loved by the girls and parents. They also manage to have a very high standard of teaching and keeping teachers. Had a bad reputation from ten years ago but that has all changed. The seniors had 100% pass rate at GCSE last year.

Thank you very much daisysue2. That was very useful. We are going on an open day to Milbourne Lodge Junior (I think it is called Shrewsbury Lodge now since it joined with Shrewsbury House).They seem very very keen for us to join our little boy, which is a bit worrying (i mean it is good to know that a school is welcoming but am worried that the reason they are so keen is because they are not such a popular school). I think boys (and some girls) from Milbourne Lodge Junior don't automatically go into Milbourne Lodge Senior like it used to be since they feed into Shrewsbury House in Surbiton now.

Also I have a daughter (5 months old now). May put her in Milbourne Lodge as well if my older son is going there. Will have to decide which school she goes after that since Shrewsbury House is predominantly boys.

Any reviews on Notre Dame School for girls???

Feltonfleet has a terrible infants department run by a head who can't keep teachers. The academic standard is very low and it's hard to actually find out how low it is as obviously they say they are excellent. If you are looking for academics the local state school has a higher standard. When I was looking to take my boys out I looked round other schools and was surprised at the overall academic achievements of the other schools. Not a nurturing school eg the nursery children get dropped off at the door in full uniform from 3 years old. Other schools the norm is to walk them in and stay with them until they are settled. Also they expect you to do most of the teaching to keep your child up todate. I was told my 3 year old August child was below average in the class. Oh the list could go on. Only realised when moved my DSs out how awful the school was compared to others in the area. Also it's about £4,000 more (at Prep 3) than other similar schools due to it being a boarding school, it is one of the most expensive prep school in the area and you don't get £4,000 extra worth of teaching, you actually have longer holidays, the head likes to break up early so he can get to his house in France and remember you are paying for this. Swimming pool doesn't work and they probably have the worst swimming team of any prep school due to the lack of facilities and quality swimming coaching. Not very good on warp around care as in the infants they expect you to have the children off the premises ASAP no being allowed to pick them up 10 mins late. Also they only let you drop them off at breakfast club if you work or they have a sibling in prep. Also terrible on SEN. They expect a lot of independence from the children at too early an age. Also they don't have a clear policy on behavior so confusing for some which leads to bullying. The infants is so small it's too small to provide adequate stimulation for the children socially, only three classes in main playground so can be isolating for some children, no member of staff on playground to support children or prevent bullying as is the norm in other infant schools. They find academically bright children difficult to deal with. If you want your child to take 11 plus they don't prep for this so you will need to employ a tutor. Oh my list could go on

Won't say which school I think is the best as all schools are different and where one child thrives another sinks but here is a list of the rest.

My sister and brother went to Danes Hill as did the two children nextdoor. It's a big academic prep with good support for children who are academic and those who struggle. Well established and good at what they do but as others have said it is very big.

Parkside is great if you want boys only, nurturing and caring with good sports.

Millborn Lodge is going through a transition period so not sure how good it is at the moment. But very much the kind of school that sees itself as a feeder to Eaton and Harrow. My nephew went there and went on to Eaton.

Cranmore is very sporty and has a good academic record but I don't know much about it.

St Georges tests at 3 then again at end of year 1 and if you don't meet the grade you are asked to leave. They got rid of all of their SEN facilities.

Claremont is good for those not academically very bright and the fees are cheap compared to some of the other school. Went to visit it and it felt a bit messy.

Ripley Court in Ripley quite a nice school small mixed prep seemed to be nice teachers. Don't know much more than that.

Do find out if they are prepared to support your child through it's time at the school or if they will could be asked to leave if they don't prove to be as academic as you may hope. Most good nurturing preps will keep support children until 11.

We are moving to Cobham in September and are thinking of putting our 3 year old son in Milbourne Lodge Junior School. Any reviews about this school (both good and bad) would be greatly appreciated. Also any other independent pre prep schools in the area which feed into academic prep schools?

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Aaah, I grew up in Cobham. Am getting a bit misty for it now, although it looks nothing like it used to. FWIW, I know a lot of ex-Danes Hill and Feltonfleet boys who are mostly extremely nice and well-rounded men and a number of my closest friends went to Claremont and are delightful, if not overly burdened by academic qualifications. I can tell you which of the senior schools produced the best kissers, too, if that helps...

Have you tried www.find-a-school.co.uk to look for schools? They will arrange prospectuses to be sent to you (free service)

My cousin went to Parkside and was extremely happy there.

All I can say about the junior school is sports sports and sports plus not all but a few crappy teachers that the weak head knows about but cannot get rid of and so the circle carrys on .

I really rate The Good Schools Guide, which gives insider-type info on most of the above-mentioned schools. You can get online access immediately via PayPal.