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Original poster

Should we aim for a through train or prep school

29 replies

WCC1985 · 03/10/2021 10:29

We will be moving to UK and settle in London shortly. We've got 2 boys aged 9 and 5. Have looked at a lot of info online and asked around and so know a bit (but certainly not enough) about schooling in London. Done some online tests and my best guess is that for the elder boy, his innate ability is somewhere around the top 10% of those in the same age. So based on info I got, for 11+, he wouldn't make it to grammar schools or those top independent schools. But at that level, what kind of mid range independent secondary schools can he aim for? We are flexible to as where we live.

Also, we called a number of independent schools that are through to 18 (year 13 ) or 13 (year 8), because if he got into these, we would have more breathing space and be relieved of the 11+ exam pressure, or at least for some years. But then of course, only those "easier to get in” or whose student body is very transient have spaces or have very short waiting lists.

Now, if my son got into these, particularly those through to 18, how much would they go to discourage my son to try the 11+ exam and aim for the higher ranked schools?

And in general, in my situation, would you suggest us to settle in a less academic through train school, or to go into a prep that ends at year 6 and have a tough go at the 11+ exam?

OP posts:
HonorHiding · 03/10/2021 15:23

I didn’t know Abercorn went beyond 13(?).

North Bridge - well, yes - you can take it all the way through but then you’d have to be satisfied with paying those full-sized fees for a school which has virtually no outside space. To be fair, though, North Bridge would not be expected to stand in the way of an 11+ move because that is really their forte - as a prep school.

Twickenham I know absolutely nothing about. But if a school is selling itself to you on the basis that your DS will stay to 13, do make sure you understand what 13+ destinations are available and when the selection process happens. As I said upthread, if it is secondary day schools you are aiming for (as opposed to boarding), the 13+ is of rapidly diminishing relevance.

LIZS · 03/10/2021 15:09

Through schools rarely prepare for external 11+ or even 13+ entrance exams. Many 13+ entry schools pretest in year 6 or 7 and make deferred offers.

Original poster
WCC1985 · 03/10/2021 15:03

E.g, Twickenham prep in SW (go up to 13) and Northbridge and Abercorn in north london (through to 18) have spaces now or likely in coming months, subject to interview test etc. But these, as I understand, are not selective and so my should be able to get through. I am not that worried about inadequate support vs other prep that ends at 11 (not expecting much), but rather would they go on length to discourage you? It seems all independents require a confidential report from current school for the 11+ admission, and in such case, would the through train schools be unhappy or even reluctant to provide it?

We will have loads of issue in settling in and, to add to to it to pressure of preparing the 11+ in such a short time frame in an unfamiliar system, not sure we can cope with. That's why we consider the through train options. Good comprehensive is of course another choice, but seems catchment is so small, not sure we can buy/rent a place in the desired catchment.

My husband will work in central london, so anywhere that can get him to work in about 1 hour (or even 1.5 hours) would be fine. I suppose that cover most of London and that's why we are flexible.

OP posts:
HonorHiding · 03/10/2021 14:14

First of all I would caution against aiming to move at 13+. The 13+ entry options are shrinking year on year as more boys’ day schools focus on 11+ entry. Even those who do take at 13+ increasingly offer those places (conditionally or unconditionally) on the basis of tests taken in Y6.

All-through schools which take boys are not all that common in London. I think we’d have to know which you had in mind before offering useful advice. Generally speaking though I thinking it would be limiting for you and your sons to settle for that option rather than considering the full range of 11+ options available to them. You would almost certainly not be assisted by such a school in going for 11+ elsewhere.

Have you considered finding an area that suits the family in terms of commutes etc, putting the boys into a local state primary and then prepping at home for DS1’s 11+ for a sensible range of secondary options (some more and some less competitive)?. At 9 he is presumably in the equivalent of Y5, so has a good year to get familiar with the formats.