Prep schools in and around Sevenoaks

[Nadalsballs]

We're moving to Sevenoaks. Any recommendations?

[Bowlersarm]

Boys or girls?

Sevenoaks Prep solid reputation.

New Beacon seems food for boys. Tends to lean towards the academic side, and likes to think of itself as a feeder for Tonbridge School.

[Nadalsballs]

We have boy and girls so both! We were told that Sevenoaks prep isn't very academic but that new beacon, although academic, is very sporty and if you're not good at sport you're a bit of an outsider?

Is hilden grange any good? What about st michael's?

[Bowlersarm]

Yes, have heard good reports of both Hilden Grange and St Michaels. Have friends who are very happy with HG. Know less about St Michaels-a few years ago there seemed to be a bit of a mass exodus end of year 6 but that may have changed or not bother you if your DC would be leaving then.

Have you found a house? Think you need to be Tonbridge side of Sevenoaks if you are considering Tonbridge schools, ideally.

New Beacon does have a good sports reputation. The only thing I would say that if you have a non sporty DS but who likes to play, because they are purely a boys school they do have enough boys to field a number of teams, so he should still get a chance to play.

[Nadalsballs]

Thanks.

We will be living in the middle of town so should be ok getting out to Tonbridge.

Does sevenoaks prep have a decent reputation?

[Bowlersarm]

I think it has an ok reputation. It is quite a small school, so puts some people off. There's Walthamstow Hall for girls, as well.

Just a word of warning if you consider Tonbridge prep schools and you live in the middle of Sevenoaks - most of your DC's new friends will be living the other side of Tonbridge towards Paddock Wood/Horsmonden. Or Tunbridge Wells, so play dates or after school teas could be an awfully long way away! Most people living in sevenoaks and surrounding villages stick to the sevenoaks schools, so your DC's friends would be more local if you did that.

You need to look at all the schools really to get the feel of if they are what you are looking for. Have to looked round any yet?

[Nadalsballs]

We've seen Sevenoaks prep, it was nice but I got the sense that it wasn't very academic. I didn't come away wowed by it.

We're seeing new beacon and and michael's when we're next visiting in a couple of weeks. We're also arranging to see hilden grange and the Granville. I thought walthamstow hall was seniors?

We have decided that Russell house and solefields are too small. Have I missed any?

I hadn't thought about play dates but that's a very good point. We liked hilden grange too as it looked academic and sporty, musical etc

[Bowlersarm]

OP-am just off out but I'll send you a PM later. I have a little more to say, but I like the anonymity of mumsnet so don't want to give myself away with too many personal details for all to see!

[Nadalsballs]

Oh, thanks! Let me know where I'll find the message. I haven't used MN much.

[talkingnonsense]

Traffic from 7oaks to Tonbridge not fun at school run time. Check the drive before you commit, especially if you have to got on or back for work.

[Bowlersarm]

OP-I have pm'd you-you need to click the little envelope at the top of the page where it says 'MY Mumsnet'

[Adikia]

DS has some friends at Hilden Grange and they are very happy there and their parents say the school is fantastic. Sevenoaks prep has a good reputation, I don't know St Michaels or New Beacon.

There's also Schools at Sommerhill, if you are looking at Tonbridge schools, which is worth looking round but as Nadalsballs said, the traffic at school run time is not fun and Fosse Bank in Hildenborough.

[Nadalsballs]

Thanks so much for the info all.
Bowlers - I keep meaning to reply to your pm but have been really busy. I will get around to it soon, it was really helpful though, thank you!

[Adikia]

oops, sorry about muddling up names there, DDs first day at school and my brains a bit muddled

[hatsybatsy]

friend is very happy with 2 kids at St Michaels. Her kids are sporty and bright and doing well there. Her kids (and most of their friends) will leave at 11.

[applebread]

Walthamstow Hall has very nice juniors - it's on a separate site to the senior school. New Beacon is also good.

[eatyourveg]

I was going to say Yardley Court/Derwent Lodge but I see Adikia mentioned Sommerhill. Coombe Bank has a prep dept but don't know if its good or bad or somewhere in the middle.

[mamushka78]

Hi all

Does anyone have any feedback on Hilden Grange in Tonbridge? Am considering putting my DD there next year.

[VasuSai]

We are thinking about moving to Sevenoaks later this year and have been reading some really useful discussions on mumset. So thank you all.

With Regards to primary schooling for my 3 year old, we are looking at St. Michael's, New Beacon and Hilden Grange - the schools discussed here.

@Nadalsballs..if possible, can you please let me know which school you chose? :-) and any views everyone on the schools in our list?

Thanks

[VasuSai]

My DS will be 4 this Sep.

[Fabianna]

We are moving with our 2 boys in SevenOaks and we are looking for private schools. My older son is 5 years old and we would like a small "boutique" school, academic, mixed and with sports (not extremely sporty) and drama activities. After an extensive research, I have ended up in Russel House, Sevenoaks Prep, Hilden Oaks, Hilden Grange and Rose Hill. I would really appreciate if you could provide any constructive feedback. Thank you so much in advance:)

[justswanning]

Sevenoaks prep is lovely but not known for being academic and has a waiting list.

Russell house is apparently nurturing and good academically but is very small so there are downsides when it comes to sports teams etc. It also finishes at 11 so you don't have the option of staying on (unlike the prep where you can go to year 8).

St Michaels prep might be an option?

Can't really comment on the rest.