Pros and cons of Woodford Green Prep and Eastcourt Independent School

[Janeale]

My DD recently wrote the 7+ exams and have been offered places at both WGP and Eastcourt. They are both very academic, yet different. Grateful for any feedback on both schools as I need to make a decision soon. Thanks!

[Janeale]

Hello, can anyone give me advise please? See post above. I'm new to Mumsnet, so unsure if my message has been read. Thanks.

[Apples11]

I know a parent that has children at WGP and are he's happy with the school. Have you visited both school? Will you need to take into account travelling time during the school run etc? What are your options for senior schools.

WGP appears to have a better ISI report and appears to prepare the children for both independent and grammar schools whereas Eastcourt seems to gear towards grammar schools. To be fair, I don't know anything about Eastcourt, just browed their website.

[Janeale]

Thanks for providing feedback, really helpful.. I've visited both schools. However at WGP, didn't get to speak to the teachers. Good point about the school run, glad that WGP offers wrap around childcare. Eastcourt only offers after school care which is on a different site. I think the main issue is that one is walking distance from my house while the other would involve a bit of negotiation on the Central line. In terms of senior schools, would prefer if DD went to an independent school in Central London. Grammar schools are okay, but they appear to be more competitive.

[Apples11]

if you are looking at indies for senior entry, I would go for WGP. The school do very well in getting their children into the local independents.

We turned down 7+ entry into Bancroft's Prep due to the issue of the school run location and my getting into work on time!

[Janeale]

Yes, like the location of WGP, walking distance to Central Line!

[Aary]

Hello Janeale. I stumbled across this thread whilst doing a search for Eastcourt school and was wondering which school you decided to go with in the end. We were considering Eastcourt for my son however the school has recently had a bad ofstead report and although they have appealed we are unsure of what we want to do now. Any feedback would be grateful. Thanks

[AriaF]

Hi Aary did you decide what you were going to do? TBH we were in the same dilemma. My son was offered an outstanding "local" school, which is a bit far for us to travel to and had he also passed the Eastcourt screening (not that this was difficult). I went to the parents evening about the ofsted report where they refuted a lot of the claims. I think it is a good school academically but I don't think they do much in terms of extra-curricular activities as they don't have the space. That said, I am concerned the state school, which has expanded over the last couple of years, may not be able to provide the individual attention a 4/5 year old needs - 120 kids/year group is huge! We have decided to go with Eastcourt, although I am not 100% happy. Hoping it pans out ok.

[Aary]

Hi AriaF,

We still haven’t decided but we have a year as our son is due to start reception in 2019. We have a few months I guess before we have to apply to state schools and the time between now and next year to see how Eastcourt does. It’s going to be a waiting game to see if anything changes with the school. We’re also not too happy that the school doesn’t offer extra curricular activities but it’s in a convenient location to us. Hoping that they improve and consider offering activities outisde of school. We will have to see how it goes as need to see if our son gets in first lol

[AriaF]

Hi Aary - aww you are so lucky that you have the luxury of a little bit more time...I am envious lol!! It is a waiting game and there are always going to be pros and cons for different schools. Eastcourt is also more local to us but with breakfast and after school facilities being at a different site to the school we are having to rely on grandparents to help. Nothing is perfect....we are going to see how it pans out. I am sure your son will get in...we did not prepare our son for the screening.....I am not sure what exactly you can look for in a 3 year old. Good luck... :)

[Aary]

Hi AriaF

Yeah we have that extra time although the deadlines for the other schools are in a few months and although we can consider other schools, they’re not ideal in terms of distance.. it’s a shame coz Eastcourt is convenient for us so just want it to work out. You could consider other sporting activities outside of Eastcourt, after school. Not sure if there’s many around. Thank you and I hope it all works out for you too.

[AriaF]

Hi Aary,

Yes there are sporting activities locally but I also have an older child. She gets A LOT of homework from her school and I'm aware that Eastcourt also give a lot of homework. So we decided quite early on after trying to juggle work/pick up/drop-off/homework/extra curricular activities/dinner etc with my daughter that we would only do extra-curricular activities on the weekends. Best of luck to you too.

[Aary]

Hi AriaF

Oh that sounds hectic 😲 I can imagine it would probably be too much during the weekday. did you not consider sending your son to the same school as your daughter?

[AriaF]

Hi Aary - we did think about that but my daughters school was also found inadequate by Ofsted. ....so a proper catch 22!

[Aary]

Hi AriaF - oh no! That just complicates things further!!!

[Aary]

Hi AriaF, which school does your daughter go to? Is it also private or state school?

[AriaF]

Hi Aary sorry for the delay. My daughter's school is a state school. Hope you come to a decision soon for your son.

[Jess59]

Hi Aary,
Our DS was at Eastcourt and we moved him to another local independent school. I am afraid Eastcourt used to be a excellent school with some dedicated and excellent teachers who have either retired or left. This is why l think a lot of the parents who are there had older kids that went there or relations that went there and did well. The Head is caring and wonderful however l don't think the school has kept up to the pace of change or made adaptation. The recent OFSTED report l think picked up on these failings. I think you are better off sending your DD to WGP or Daiglen for a well rounded independent education that prepares them for either senior independent sch or grammar.

[Aary]

Hi Jess69,

Thank you for your response and advice. Can I ask when you moved your son and to which school and how old was he when you moved him? The school seems to have generally done well in exams so it’s just baffling how they got a poor ofsted report and also the things you’ve said I’ve heard from other people as well so just really surprised as to why it’s doing poor when grades have been good. It’s too late for us to apply to WGP and would need to be on waiting list and that is quite long too I’ve been told. Where is Daiglen? Haven’t heard of that one before. I did hear that there has been a high turnover of staff. Is this true? Thanks

[Janeale]

Apologies to responding to an old thread. Decided to send DD to WGPS but the school run was a logistical nightmare. Hired a part time nanny and in the end decided to move to the area where we simply walk to school. Glad we've moved as there are very good state secondary schools, grammar school and independent schools nearby so lots of choice.

[Confused4313]

@Janeale sorry to post on an old thread. I’m wondering how did your child get along at WGPS? I’m in similar position now regarding debating which school to send child too. Moving DD from a state primary to independent. She’s in year 2 state currently a d will ho independent in year 3.

[Confused4313]

WGPS I was told has 24/25 kids in her would be class! That sounds like a lot.

[Janeale]

Although the class size is large, there are two assigned teachers, plus an assistant, with different teachers for specialist subjects such as art, music and PE. My DD had a really fun time at WGPS, she was academically pushed but was also in choir, orchestra and played netball and hockey for the school. There are breakfast and after school clubs which you are charged for separately but you also do have three free after school clubs which caters to a wide variety of interests. My DD did get offers to local independent school but chose to go to Trinity High School. She loves it there, she is in the top set in her class, plays netball and is part of the choir both at school and Redbridge Music School. WGPS gave her a good foundation to build on when she started secondary school.

[Confused4313]

@Janeale thank you so much! You have no idea how much your advise has helped. I feel I’m going crazy thinking about all the options . Have a lovely day.