Griffin House, Buckinghamshire

[winkywinkola]

I'm considering this school for my dcs. Does anyone have any experience of it please?

[Millymollymama]

My DD attended a while ago. We left. Early years is good. The problem we had is that the further you go up the school, there are just not enough children to have decent sports teams and all the extras that a good prep school provides. My DD went to Godstowe which is amazing by comparison. There were a few bright children but lots of angst when the others did not get the 11 plus because that is what parents thought they had paid for.

If you want a small school it is fine but it really has limited resources and buildings and, when we were there, under 10 children in some year groups. Most of the boys left for The Beacon or other boys' prep schools after year 2 and the few boys who stayed had very few children to play with. It cannot hold a candle to Godstowe and the school is even smaller now than when we were there. I would seriously look at what you want from an independent school. If you want a top senior school, then look elsewhere.

[winkywinkola]

Thank you. That's what I suspected tbh.

Godstowe could be a bit too far away for us.

Do you know anything about Gateway in Gt Missenden?

[Millymollymama]

Better the Griffin House. Gets lots through 11 plus but obviously lots of the children that go there are fairly bright and their parents like the 11 plus ethos. I think not getting the 11 plus there would be difficult to bear. They do not have much in the way of sports facilities on site and they are not a school for common entrance. I travelled 30 minutes to Godstowe so I guess I may not be too far away from you! Are you wanting boys, girls or co-ed?

[winkywinkola]

Co-ed.

I live in Weston Turville, just outside Aylesbury.

Dcs currently go to Westbrook Hay in Hemel.

[Millymollymama]

I know it well. We are fairly close! People travel from all over to Godstowe but boys transfer to boys preps in the South of Buckinghamshire after pre prep. Swanbourne might be worth a look, if you don't mind travelling around Aylesbury. I believe it is a traditional prep school but I don't know anyone who went there as it is too far from us. Friends from Wendover have liked Chesham Prep or the prep at Berkhamsted School. Girls I know have also gone to Pipers Corner prep but they don't guarantee a senior school place - Berkhamsted probably don't either. Lots left Griffin House to go there for year 3 because it became a lot more selective to get into year 7 a few years ago.