Perse Prep, Cambridge

[cambridgeminx]

Am considering the Perse Prep for my DS, to start this Sept in Yr 3. If you currently have DCs there, would really appreciate any thoughts on the school, please. Although it seems a brilliant school - and one in which we thought our DS would thrive - have heard mixed reports about the recent changes there, and am concerned. You can PM me if you prefer anonymity.

Many thanks.

[yawningdad]

Well for example St Johns College School and Kings College School. Both do seem to have a spread in ability (which is healthy) but more streaming and so are more geared up to do stuff with bright kids. eg Kings CS were county chess champions in 8 of the last 11 years, and the school calendar on their website lists the Intermediate Maths Challenge which as far as I can tell the Perse virtually never lets children take until year 9. The head of Perse prep said at the open day we went to "we don't need extension maths or English because we are selective intake". So he thinks when you remove the lower tail of a distribution the upper tail magically disappears too? Hmm. When you go around both K and J stress assessing the children and customizing the approach. The Perse is more "improve yourself somewhere else sonny in case you show our other kids up".

[eminemmerdale]

Thanks. I was interested as dd passed the prep entrance exam this year. I didn't actually see the paper of course, but I did research the old papers and they seemed reasonably tricky compared to what she has been learning at state school. I think the Perse has such a huge reputation, they do need to keep the academic side high on the 'agenda' as it were.

[Tansie]

Gosh! 25th! I'm actually rather surprised- I thought it was top 10. Didn't it used to be 'better' academically?

[Tansie]

I also thought- again erroneously, that the Perse Prep (and Higher or upper or whatever the 13+ school calls itself?) prided itself on having a firm handle on boys education, but I see a DD passed the Prep tests.

Why did they go co-ed? I can't imagine it's to boost their exam results, is it? Weren't they stellar? Why would you change if what you were doing was tested and top-notch? But, tbf, maybe I've answered my own question with my surprise that The Perse is in 25th position in the academic league tables!

[eminemmerdale]

The prep went co-ed in 2010 I think, maybe 2009. When my nephew went late 80's it was very much the boys school.

[burwellmum]

Upper is near the end of a massive expansion and to stop the academic standards falling too far went mixed (or so the cynic in me believes). The academic standards will almost certainly start to drop - I think year 11 will be the first of the larger mixed years but the current year 8 is much bigger still.

[Ronaldo]

Why did they go co-ed?

In common with many schools, viability.

[yawningdad]

Anyone got any views on the new Perse Prep head? From a distance he looks better?

[chakku]

Dear cambridgeminx,

Not sure if your daughter has started at Stephen Perse already. I would appreciate your comments as mine will be joining in Sept. I am going through very mixed feelings.

I would appreciate your thoughts and experiences of the S Perse.

Ta