Schools advice

[nat73]

DC are curgently at state primary which we are not 100% happy with. Considering secondary schooling we hope to go private. We have 1 boy and 1 girl. There are 3 options:

• independent girls school from 11+ which takes boys to 13+ and girls to 18.
  
• Co ed public school 13 to 18.
  
• Co ed independent 13 to 18.
  The latter would be our first choice as it's the most academic and cheapest ;-). The Co ed public school we probably couldn't afford to pay for 2 children. We are considering day schools only.
  The state primary school finishes at 11. We have a prep school up the road which goes to 13.
  
  So the question is how do we navigate from here to secondary school of choice? Should we and at what age should we move to the prep school? 7+? 9+? 11? As far as I can tell prep school is non selective. I am happy to do some home tutoring. The children are reasonably bright and sociable so I don't anticipate issues of getting into the prep school. Or is it better to go to the independent secondary school from 11+ when everyone is new and then if we get into the academic 13+ it's a bonus?

[Essexmum69]

General advice as obviously no knowlege of the schools. If a 13+ school is your 1st choice then get them into whichever option will best prepare them for the 13+ exam. I personally would not want to move my DC at 11 and 13, too disruptive to education and friendships.
A good prep from age 7 or 9 should be able to advise on the best schools for each DC at 11/13.

If you go for the Girls Indi secondary at 11 what is the plan for your son if he doesnt get into the academic 13 + school and is it important for you to have them both in the same school or are you going for the best school for each DC as an individual?

[nat73]

It's a good point. If neither get into the academic school at 13+ we would have to send our daughter to the 11+ girls school but the thing is everyone else would have been there for 2 years. And we would have to get our son into the Co ed public school. It would be hassle for them to go to different schools but I rather they go to the best school for them.
I went to the same school from 7 to 17 so can't imagine this moving business!

[Essexmum69]

Given the local prep goes to 13, and the girls school loses its boys at 13, I would expect a reasonable girls intake at 13 to the girls Indi, I doubt your DD would be alone. I would talk to the prep, ask their leavers destinations (if they wont tell you run away fast!) Also see if the girl's indi will tell you the typical size of their year 13 intake.

[Lowdoorinthewal1]

I would just move to the prep now, given that you are not happy with current school, and then let them advise you about what will suit each DC best for senior as that is part of their remit.

[nat73]

So the advice would be to move to the prep at age 7 or 9 rather than 11. 11 only allows 2 years before the 13+ so this would be too 'short'?

Has anyone else moved from primary to prep? If so at what stage and any hot tips? If we go visit a prep what should we ask?