Relaxed London private junior or straight through school for boys (7+)

[white77]

Hello - we are considering private schools for our DS to start Y3 (7+ entry in 2021). He is in Y1 right now and is above average on Maths and meeting / slightly above on Literacy/English. He is really hard working and is focused, well behaved but on the quieter side (not your typical extrovert 5.5 year old esp. in a new environment). He plays cricket very well and also has a strong musical bend and is learning to play the piano.

We are in NW London but most schools around us seem very very academic and I am worried it might end up losing his interest in music and sports.

Most top tier schools also seem quite hard to get into and I don't want to pressurize him too much for the 7+ although he seems to cruising through his Bond books so far (but him being quiet I am not sure how he will do in the interviews etc). Hoping we can find a school that runs all the way through and is a bit more relaxed and nurturing rather than somewhere very selective and academic, but I wouldn't want it to be limiting if he did turn out to be academic later!

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[white77]

Thank you tigermom79 - we are considering UCS but have heard that they mainly prefer students from their own pre-prep/and other feeder schools such as Mulberry / HH - not sure how true that is...

Any thoughts on Highgate, Dulwich, Habs?

[BubblesBuddy]

So he’s already being prepped for exams but you want his next school to be relaxed? Seems a fantasy to me. You are already in the competitive system. You won’t jump ship unless you move out of London. You are also concerned a certain type of school might not be academic enough - be honest, you want academic! Just go through the system like everyone else or move. Or board from 13.

[white77]

Thanks BubblesBuddy - Perhaps you have misunderstood - we are using the Bond books not as a prep but more because we feel he isn't challenged enough in some areas where he is curious (such as Maths especially in his current state school).

Since neither of us (his parents) have gone through the British education system we are worried that we mostly know about schools that are most popular and primarily in the top tier. I am not sure if there is something else out there that we just haven't heard / exposed to because we just haven't been in the country long enough and which might possibly be more suitable for our child considering his personality.

[newmummycwharf1]

Belmont School in Mill Hill - Fan sports and can exit at 13 if want more academic. Highgate has also expanded their junior school and will have the breadth you seek.

[JoJoSM2]

I don’t know that side of London but to find every single independent school in existence, you can look at the website below and filter by independent.

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/compare-schools?for=primary

[Mumof31978]

Belmont fits your description v well!

[7plusquestionz]

UCS gives about a third of its 7+ places to the pre-prep boys, though that's likely to rise next year. The rest of the places should be evenly up for grabs with no preference for certain feeder schools, just looking for bright interesting boys who haven't been crammed by parents/tutors.

North Bridge is meant to be very good, with extremely happy children and great onward schools at 11/13+, especially considering that they are non selective.

Highgate v hard to get into but may be all smoke and mirrors - have heard mixed things about the quality of the teaching.

Hope that helps a bit?!

[Cosmicjourney]

Hello there, I’m new posting here so hope I’m posting in the correct area.
I’m hoping to reach current parents at Falcons boys Prep school in Richmond london. We are considering this school for our son to join in year 3 this September. Our son is August born and is currently repeating year 2 due to falling behind at his current academic private primary school. He’s basically working at the expected level now but is maybe lacking in confidence. I’d basically like to know if Falcons Prep is a nurturing school and if the pastoral care is up to standard? I realise that if you’re in the private sector in SW London then you’ll be striving to work towards a certain high standard but I believe and hope this can be achieved without jeopardising my sons mental health and happiness( speaking from experience having already had a child go through the 11+).
Also lastly what are your thoughts on the facilities at Falcons? It’s quite an unusual layout but that aside after meeting with the head teacher I really like her ethos and ideas for the school and it’s given me hope that this could be the solution for our son. Is this the reality?
Thanks in advance.

[KGmom]

Did you choose any of the north London school ?

[Joy93]

hi

Hi @White77
Heathside is worth a look.
Relaxed, happy, academic, strength based, nurturing, coed and all through.
What a find!! .....different to the pushy other NW London schools. Amazing 11+ results if you're into that too!
Couldn't recommend it enough!