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Glendower / Falkner House / Francis Holland SS

35 replies

Insearchofadvice · 20/01/2023 13:19

Just wondering if anyone had any particular insight on Falkner House, Glendower and Francis Holland SS - in particular, the relative merits / demerits of these three schools? Currently in the middle of the 4+ process with my daughter, and would be grateful for any first hand experience of / insights into them. What kind of girl would thrive / not thrive in each of them, and what kind of families do they attract (we are a professional rather than super rich family)? Very many thanks in advance.

OP posts:
Londonmamma22 · 20/01/2023 22:00

Do you have offers from all three..?

Insearchofadvice · 21/01/2023 06:39

Very fortunately, yes.

OP posts:
SpaceMonitor · 21/01/2023 06:41

Following.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Londonmamma22 · 21/01/2023 07:26

Congratulations!
I am no expert but my understanding from other people is that G and Falkner are more selective and have slightly better academic results (if your aim is getting into St Paul’s at 11+ that is). Francis Holland is a bit bigger and certain people would argue 11+ predation is not as good as they want you to stay in their senior school (other people would disagree). It is renowned for excellent pastoral care and focus on girls mental health. They even have an emotional support dog I think.
Falkner has only one class in a year group, Glendower has two (of 18 girls), FH has two bigger classes (23-24 girls in each).
Falkner is a family owned school and you will need to like and trust the family - my understanding is that it’s probably the school where the parents can get on with their lives the most out of the three as there are less social events etc but it’s all relative. We have dual career family friends in both glendower and Francis Holland and they are doing just fine and the girls love their schools.
Congratulations again - we have offers from two out of three and are super happy.

Insearchofadvice · 24/01/2023 12:25

Thank you so much! Really helpful. Congratulations to your daughter on her offers!

OP posts:
Gclondon1 · 25/01/2023 16:40

Hi everyone, im curious if anyone has given up their places in the schools they got offers from but won’t be accepting? Or are you waiting until the deadline?

Anyone that’s been waitlisted for any of these schools, has there been any movement?

Londonmamma22 · 25/01/2023 19:43

Let us know what you decide - maybe our little ones will be in the same school :)

Londonmamma22 · 25/01/2023 19:44

I think for places like glendower and Falkner people will not give up until quite late. I imagine Frances holland and garden house lists would move faster.

SW7mum · 26/01/2023 14:01

Also trying to decide between two of those three! Any insights, especially from current Glendower parents, would be greatly appreciated!

alfieparent · 27/01/2023 14:29

I don’t know about Glendower. Francis H has one class of 20 or maybe 22 (not two classes, as someone above has said). It is a fantastic school, with great (for London) outdoor areas and a super library. They really care about their girls in a complete all round way. The teachers are fantastic. Falkner is almost 100% focused ‘on getting into St Paul’s’. They is almost all they care about. This suits some parents (and children) and does not suit others. The teaching will be great in both.

clearbluesky1 · 30/01/2023 00:00

@Insearchofadvice have you made a decision? There are a few past threads on these schools, like this one which has a few parents from Glendower and Falkner (I would take with a pinch of salt comments from non parents). www.mumsnet.com/talk/primary/4151955-Glendower-vs-Pembridge-vs-Ken-Prep-vs-Falkner?page=1

I have heard Glendower is about ~50% dual working parents (can be much higher or lower depending on the year), with a greater share of dual working parents at Falkner.

We are also going through the decision process right now too. I find it difficult to know for sure at this age where they will ‘thrive’ but it also seems as if these are all great schools and it’s tough to go wrong. Plus there is movement in the system and it is possible to move to a less ‘academic’ school if that is the better fit. Maybe more difficult to go the other way around? For what it’s worth we are leaning towards Falkner given smaller size which allows for more personalisation, and a general feel. I also prefer the facilities to G.

Insearchofadvice · 30/01/2023 13:53

We were determined to have made a decision by this point, given those on the waiting list. However, we are still undecided. However, it is probably between Falkner House and Glendower. Anybody else?

OP posts:
Londonmamma22 · 30/01/2023 14:00

What did your DD say after the assessment in both schools? Did she like both of them?

SW7mum · 30/01/2023 14:02

I think Falkner House is the best choice between those two. It's quite a traditional atmosphere but warmer and more caring than Glendower from what I have seen.

We will be declining Glendower shortly.

Insearchofadvice · 30/01/2023 15:24

Thank @SW7mum.

They are obviously both great schools. Sibling policy is also a big factor for us (FH has one, Glendower does not), but not sure how their respective approaches play out in practice...

OP posts:
Londonmamma22 · 30/01/2023 17:49

@SW7mum may I ask you why you think Glendower is less warm / caring? I heard the opposite- that G has little more focus on pastoral care and girls mental health while Falkner is little stronger academically

alfieparent · 30/01/2023 20:59

They are both great schools. In fact all three are fantastic schools. But Falkner would be the LEAST caring about pastoral care. They only care about getting into St P’s.

lovevegs · 30/01/2023 21:13

Hi everyone! DD was offered places at Falkner House, KP, NLCS, and PH for 4+ entrance this year. After weighing the options, we have decided on Falkner House and I'm eager to meet all prospective parents.If you would like to connect, please don't hesitate to send me a direct message. Looking forward to meeting you all!

12streethill · 30/01/2023 21:32

All of these schools are great first of all, congrats!

Francis Holland is great if you want to avoid the 11+ and go on to the senior school. Typically you’ll see a few girls from Glendower and Faulkner house choosing this school for a senior choice anyways so something to consider. The senior school has more of a reputation for being a bit glossy as it’s in central London, but not so much for the prep school.

Faulkner House school is known for their academics mainly. They send many girls to st.Paul’s Girls but they’re also selective (and if you’re daughter has been accepted to both FH and Glendower then I’m sure she’ll do great anywhere as a side note). They are smaller though but if you want a good shot at St.Paul’s then I’d go with FH.

Dont know too much about Glendower honestly, but another well-known academic school. This school attracts a bit of a wider range of families in my opinion, still a bit glossy in the chelsea area, but they want a focus on academics.

Walvis01 · 30/01/2023 22:16

FH mum here. I can categorically say that the school is exceptionally caring, the girls are having lots of fun and it’s a warm and supportive atmosphere. The small size and family feel are a further bonus.

My daughter is by no means top of the class, yet she skips in and out of class each day, is well supported and on a high learning curve that is both stretching and appropriate.

Strong values, kids being taught resilience and resourcefulness, not a lot of hysteria here: mothers not freaking out about school run attire and make-up; parents or nannies dropping off and picking up, not a chauffeur in sight; dual careers the norm; birthday parties pretty normal, no designer gift bags and ostentatious celebrations; and thankfully no PTA terrorising us about seven-tier cakes to be baked at every turn. They do the big tickets supremely well: carol services, the jubilee party last year, all-school events during the school year. And the rest is very unfussy and straight forward.

Yes, results matter and many parents are keen on St Paul’s, but I’d say that this is driven by parents much more than the school and no different to any other West London prep.

I don’t know the other two schools from personal experience but I’m sure they are strong too and have advantages which come with a bigger scale or an all-the-way-through model. Your daughter is clearly super smart to have received all those impressive offers and she will likely thrive wherever she goes. My best advice would be to pick the school which gives you the strongest gut feeling in terms of cultural fit - seven years is a long time and you’ll want to be singing all those hymns from the same value sheet.

Please feel free to DM me.

matildeye · 31/01/2023 11:06

Londonmamma22 · 30/01/2023 17:49

@SW7mum may I ask you why you think Glendower is less warm / caring? I heard the opposite- that G has little more focus on pastoral care and girls mental health while Falkner is little stronger academically

That is not the impression I got from Glendower at all. The head is so warm and the girls we know that attend are all happy and confident. We will be accepting our place there today. Good luck to you all. I don’t think you can go wrong these are all such wonderful schools.

Shantastic · 31/01/2023 11:29

Are people actually on waitlist for garden house? We have a place but I’m unsure of how “selective” it is… I kind of assumed everyone got in

Londonmamma22 · 31/01/2023 13:08

I know one person who didn't get in last year... I do think they used to be impossible to get into a few years ago and it became easier recently (as long as you live in certain postcode and the child goes to a certain pre-school though it seems)

Qdx99 · 31/01/2023 13:44

Shantastic · 31/01/2023 11:29

Are people actually on waitlist for garden house? We have a place but I’m unsure of how “selective” it is… I kind of assumed everyone got in

Yes, it does waitlist, we went to the assessment, and myDD is on the waiting list.

Qdx99 · 31/01/2023 13:52

A question about recommandation for nursery? If target on Falkner House and Glendower, which nursery would have better chance to get in? I'm expecting my second baby daughter soon. My older sister is at Strawberry fields. I've heard that Glendower's had their own nursery, so does Falkner House. Do their own nursery have more advantages to get in the main school?