Fulham prep vs St James please share your experience and advice

[Chitterchatter1]

Will be moving to west London.Ds has been offered places at these schools.
Any advice from parents with experience please share?

[zebra15]

Hi, I was facing a similar decision 1 year ago about where to send my DS, as we recently moved back to London. We chose Fulham Prep, and have been very impressed with the school. It is a very happy, well run, positive place. It is academically challenging without being pushy. The level of attention to each individual child is impressive. There is a good mix of the 3Rs plus sport, art, music, etc. There are regular trips & activities that tie in with the curriculum. Priorities for us were to have a co-ed school that went up to 11/13 for boys, to avoid the 7+ exam. The school has very good results about where it places children for secondary school. Most importantly, my DS is very happy and skips into school each day.

I know a limited amount about St. James. I think often people send their girls, as it feeds into the girls-only upper school. The boys-only upper school is way out in Ashford, so many boys leave following Yr 6.

I assume you are aware that St. James has a very unique philosophy, and was initially founded by the School of Economic Science.
www.schooleconomicscience.org/st-james-schools-in-london/
www.schooleconomicscience.org/about/issues-and-criticisms/
I can't fully comment on how this impacts the curriculum - maybe other mums can. It may be that the school is now run separately. I would definitely investigate this in detail if you are considering sending your DS.

[Hottoday]

Bloody hell CaringParent111 they are pretty strong words! Do you mean the same school - St James in Ashford, Surrey. Yes there is history but that is well in the past and all the same people categorically do not work there, far from it. My son goes there and it is certainly none of the things you refer too. My word, have you some personal vendetta against the place? Any first hand information that you'd like to share?

[MMmomKK]

If you think your child is academic, I'd choose Fulham Prep. I have friends with kids in both schools and it seems that St.James is not doing its best with the bright kids.

Also, for boys it's not ideal to have a school that finishes at 11. Many of the boys middle schools have entrance either at 7/8+ or at 13+. Those that do 13+ have a pre-test at 11 and Common Entrance exam at 13. School that finishes at 11 for boys limits your choices.