West London pre-prep and prep schools??

[Drewberry]

Does anyone know anything about the pre prep and prep schools in west London? There are so many, difficult to get a good picture?

Am thinking Notting Hill, Holland Park or South Ken? Perhaps even as far as Olympia or even Fulham?

Any hints or top tips greatly appreciated!!

There are loads. The Good Schools Guide which will giver you a good feel. Then look around as many as you can. It is a bit like buying a house. You may not know what you want when you start, but you start to realise what is important to you. Other parents questions also help identity things that are important.

Things that might count.

1. Mixed or single sex. If you have a boy and a girl you might want mixed. Also a switch from single sex at primary to mixed at secondary can be a leap, particularly for girls.

1. Journey from home and public transport. You may intend to drive them when they are young but it is really useful when they get older that an au pair can pick them up or for them to be able to come home alone. Walking is best, and increases the probability that they have local friends.

1. Destination schools. If your are looking at boarding at 8 then a pre-prep will be fine. If you are considering boarding at 13 you want a school which has a significant group doing Common Entrance. Some schools do very well in getting boys into Colet Court or Westminster Under at 7/8, but this can be tough for the more marginal student, both in the run up to the tests, and once they have a place. Some girls only schools have a tremendous record for sucessfully preparing girls for West London 11+ exams, but no scope for staying on till 13.

1. Size of school and culture. Small and nuturing, or big and bustling. Lots of games, music and drama, or no outdoor space. Subject teachers at 8 or single classes all the way through. Some are very trad. You hand over your child and henceforth do not cross the threshold. Others welcome parental involvement. Some have a number of ex-pat children who only plan to stay 2 to 3 years. Others may rely on antipodean staff who again move on regularly, or even, it is rumoured, staff who do not have formal teaching qualifications. Who are the other kids? Again stories of some very competitive birthday parties. (And do you mind as long as your child gets invited!)

This may sound a bit negative. It is not meant to be. Most of these schools produce happy rounded children who have studied well beyond the National Curriculum and go on to the secondary school of their choice. In the end a lot depends on the child and which school and approach suits them best.

NMS - thank you for the advice -I am thinking somewhere smaller rather than larger which probably goes to 11?

Some schools seem to be rather too small though with very few in the classrooms, is this the trend locally or are they all thriving?

My boys go to Cameron House in Chelsea. Runs to 11, mixed sex. Small ( circa 120). Very nuturing, good results, v community based, friendly parents. Excellent teaching. Downside is that the building is on the small side (a house on The Vale), with small playground - this is the case for all Chelsea schools - you need to head out to Fulham or Battersea if big, trad buildings are key.
Tell me more about age of children and your reactions to the v good range of questions by needsmore and I can give you lots more commentary - having spent far too much time thinking about this lately.

Big issue is whether you have a boy or a girl or want them to go to a mixed school, plus what ages they are. If you post that info I might be able to help more. I live out in Chiswick and the main academic boys school their is St Pauls and the girls school is also St Pauls! (begins at 11). My kids are at Chiswick and Bedford Park.

Boys tend to move at 7 and sit for schools like St Pauls in year 2 for entry in year 3 -my son is doing that at the moment - but there are lots of other entry points and it does depend on how academic your kids are.

Judy