Boys schools from age 4-18

[lovinbeingmum]

I have a little 3 year boy and its amazing how we are already surrounded by parents talking about tutoring, doing papers, the 4+/7+/11+ assessments. It's hard work to not let the madness get into your head.

But it also got me thinking, are there any good boys schools in greater London that go all the way from age 4-18. Private, state, all included.

I seem to know only Haberdashers.

[threegoingonthirty]

Highgate
UCS
Grimsdell -> Belmont
Northbridge House
Habs as already said

Can't think of any more off the top of my head. Going through at 7, 11 and 16 is never guaranteed but is the norm.

[AnotherNewt]

Dulwich College

Which parts of London can you reach on the school run?

[lovinbeingmum]

Thanks three

Newt We are renting and could move if his school would get sorted. So school run not a big issue.

[ZeroFunDame]

Do you really think it's a good idea?

I remember the pride I felt as a child when I changed location and school - such an adventure. And it's been amazing to watch the next generation discovering new aspects of their personality at every new establishment.

Isn't an all through school rather a narrow experience if you really do stay all through?

[lovinbeingmum]

zero it's such a personality thing, isn't it.....I had to change school every 3-4 years and I hated it :) perhaps, I am/was quite introverted. No idea with the little one....can't read him yet.

Still it's a research stage...just collating names right now.....

[thankgoditsover]

Just a random example, but...
My son has hated playing in school football team in y6 as everything revolves around two players - autumn born, amazing in reception, but now nothing special. But everyone still defers to them as their reputation was forged when they were 5.

I'm so glad he's getting a chance to go to a new secondary where he'll have the chance to reinvent himself.

I think it's really important for children to have this opportunity as otherwise things can become so calcified.

[TalkinPeace]

stuck with the same kids you got sick of at age 5 for the next 13 years
sounds like my idea of hell

knowing that the batty maths teacher will be REALLY batty by the time you get to A level
no thankyou

[ZeroFunDame]

It wouldn't be my idea of fun - but I can understand the OP wanting to avoid putting her DC through what was an unpleasant experience for her.

[TalkinPeace]

I HATED my change of school
but blame that on what was going on with me, not on changing school

[threegoingonthirty]

The thing is, if your child is somewhere that goes to 18 then you have the security of knowing that they can stay. It doesn't mean they have to!

[TalkinPeace]

you have the security of knowing that they can stay
Unless the school decides their face or results no longer fit and you are pushed out as is the way with fee paying schools

[threegoingonthirty]

That does happen but it's pretty rare. 1-2% maybe.

[thankgoditsover]

One of the schools mentioned above has been known to get rid if 20% on entry to the junior school...

[Lemonsole]

In the 6th form college where I work we have a lot of students coming from private 3-18 schools, who had ended up resenting and not cherishing their school years, because they were so sick of the place and having been in the same small classes for so long.

[AnotherNewt]

Yes, all schools weed but ought to be transparent about when/how they do it. If the pre-prep is non-selective but the senior school is, then there will be some sort of alignment going on during the prep years.

Not all leavers are the result of weeding, some it's because the school that suited their 4yo isn't right later on, or because they always intended to head for boarding, or because they've had a girl and want to move to coed to have them in the same place, or because they've moved house and want a different school run, or they've moving to a feeder prep (that doesn't have a preprep) for a particular senior. So look at leavers' destinations and see if you can work out why those schools might be chosen instead of continuing, or if they all seem like fallbacks.

And don't worry about the maths teacher haunting a whole school career. Even though the private sector goes in for subject specialist teaching quite early, preprep staff are usually totally separate from the rest of the school, and there isn't much cross over between prep and senior either.

[TalkinPeace]

so, the pupils change, the staff change ....
sounds like effectively changing school to me