Fulham Prep School

[bottlebrunette]

Does any one know anything about this school? We are thinking of sending our DS but have heard of children who slip through the net if not clever enough. Have a friend in W4 who has had an awful time despite trying to highlight DS not achieving potential.

[Baobab2020]

We have been at Fulham Prep for 4 years now and have found it to be a kind, nurturing school with good academics. I see an above poster has had a bad experience, but I would say we've had the opposite experience. The school has really brought the nice, sweet side of my child out, and they now have a lot of lovely kind friends. I have found the school does cater to your child if they are more advanced or need more support (my child has been benefiting from this). They also do very well with providing a well rounded education - a lot of sport, music, etc and tons of social activities.

Since we have been here, the school has gone through teething problems with the change in ownership and loss of a head but the school seems to be moving on. Both Di Steven (who has been there for like 17 years) is well experienced with early years and Neill Lunnon is just wonderful all around. I would agree at times the school has been stretched (facilities being redone; new library; new sr school being built) but the changes have been good.

I do agree in the later years they do seem to have less girls. In our class, there are also boys who have sisters at Ken Prep.

Overall, we are really happy with the school. It also gets very good leaver destinations.

[Baobab2020]

We have been at Fulham Prep for 4 years now and have found it to be a kind, nurturing school with good academics. I see an above poster has had a bad experience, but I would say we've had the opposite experience. The school has really brought the nice, sweet side of my child out, and they now have a lot of lovely kind friends. I have found the school does cater to your child if they are more advanced or need more support (my child has been benefiting from this). They also do very well with providing a well rounded education - a lot of sport, music, etc and tons of social activities.

Since we have been here, the school has gone through teething problems with the change in ownership and loss of a head but the school seems to be moving on. Both Di Steven (who has been there for like 17 years) is well experienced with early years and Neill Lunnon is just wonderful all around. I would agree at times the school has been stretched (facilities being redone; new library; new sr school being built) but the changes have been good.

I do agree in the later years they do seem to have less girls. In our class, there are also boys who have sisters at Ken Prep.

Overall, we are really happy with the school. It also gets very good leaver destinations.

[anagomaki]

Terrible experience. DD was at Fulham Prep for 7 years from reception to year 6. The change of ownership was a disaster. So many changes, teachers over stressed but specially very poor pastoral care. Girls are a minority in most classes, therefore if they end in a class where for any reason they do not fit with the other girls things might end really badly. This happened to us. Our DD ended in the wrong class (very sporty and strong girls while my DD is more girly) with a very strong girl that acted as leader of the others. My child ended completely excluded and bullied. Im aware this things happen between children. The problem was the lack of response from the school. They called us several times to meet and talk about the issue but there was no concrete intervention, nothing. My child was severely afected on her mental health and we lived two years of a hell. We moved from that school and just after a few months the old happy girl we had came back. I would not recommend FP to anyone.

[habibihabibi]

Just want to revive this thread to ask where Fulham Senior School is relocating too. We are looking to return to the neighbourhood from abroad and have Y5 and Y6 children. I visited the Prep in Greyhound Road before the Senior School was added and wonder how they all fitted in.

[Zoumi]

Hi,
We're considering this school too for our children was wondering if they're following the IB programme and from what age group? Also it seems that they're hiring a lot of teachers for HS Sept 2020. Is this for the expansion plan or suddenly a lot of teachers decided to leave with the old head?
Any updates on the new head and whether he/she is any good? What do the the current parents think of this school and what are the challenges they faced? If you wish to PM please do. Many thanks

[Paribus]

@Biggsyt, sorry to bother- any rumours re new head or why the “old” one is leaving??? We asked our current prep but noone seems to know! TIA 🌺🌺

[Paribus]

Thank you very much @Biggsyt, this is really helpful! Good to know re bullying, very reassuring!

[Biggsyt]

Hi, I was happy to hear about IB as well and I have not heard from the school about any plans to change that. I haven’t heard about any bullying issues - asked DS this evening and he said the same. No news yet on a new head but Mr Lunnon is v visible and involved, maybe ask for a meeting for him to answer your questions?

[Paribus]

Thank you @Biggsyt, it was very helpful! Is your DS doing IB? We were very impressed by Le Flemming at the open day esp since we love IB but with him leaving will IB continue or will they switch to GSCEs/Alevels? We also liked the senior school’s kids, they seemed very nice and down to earth (no girls with heavy makeup like in PH for example)- how is bullying issue? Do you know who will be a new head? Thank you so much again for your help!!!

[Biggsyt]

Hi again. Yes, Mr Le Fleming is leaving at the end of the academic year. We haven't had as much contact with him over recent months, Neil Lunnon has been the more visible head and enthusiastically takes part in all the school activities e.g. Saturday matches, school fairs etc, we think he's great. DS is still happy - he's got a solid group of friends, some of whom are going off to schools like Marlborough, Benenden, Stowe etc - but many of whom are staying on for senior school now FS has secured the new building. Teaching seems to be of a good standard and I was at a parents' evening recently where I met a dozen of his subject teachers (with DS) who had good insights into DS's progress (and challenges!). Pastoral care - kindness is the school's number 1 value and I do think they encourage this though obviously there'll be exceptions. The parents of children in DS's year are a broad mix of nationalities like a lot of London schools but seem mostly quite down to earth (and social!!). Obviously there are schools with bigger campuses and better facilities like Latymer and St Paul's - and we don't now yet what the exam results will look like - but DS seems to be getting on well and is particularly enjoying all the opportunities to play sport. Hope that helps!

[Paribus]

I have sent you a pm @sallyseptember :)

[sallyseptember]

I understand he has not been there long.

[Paribus]

Le Flemming is leaving????? Bloody hell.

[sallyseptember]

The overall Headmaster is leaving and going to a school in Reading.

[Paribus]

@Biggsyt, what is your opinion of the school now please? Is your DS happy? Do you think teaching is good? How is pastoral care? General insider’s feel ;)? Please share- there are hardly any threads on FP here so your opinion will be soooo valuable!

[Biggsyt]

Hello
I can give you a perspective of a new Fulham Prep parent. My DS started in year 7 in September this year. We chose Fulham Prep (in the knowledge we wanted him to be at a co-ed London day school from 11 through to 6th form) over two other London secondary schools he got into. We liked the 'feel' of the school (very objective, I know), the ethos and the fact that it seemed to balance academics with music and sport (DS is fairly bright but also quite sporty). The leadership team is new so in that respect it felt as though we could be taking a chance but a few months in, we have been impressed by Mr Lunnon, the new Prep School head, and the overall school head, Mr Le Fleming, who has joined from St Pauls Girls as well as the teaching staff we have met. And, most importantly, our DS is happy, doing well academically and has made a heap of nice friends (and there are some really lovely parents!). Hope that helps!

[HKMartin]

Hi all,
I have recently visited the school for proposed admission to reception 2018. The school and the kids are very impressive , but I have the same concerns on the Ofsted rating issue. Grateful if I could get some views / experience from FP parents too . Thanks!

[lea8lan]

simona,

I am also checking this school, we have got an offer at FP, but also realised that the rating has gone down a lot. There were change of the ownership, change of the head(s) and setting up a senior school, a lot of thing makes it different from 5 years ago. If you get any more research info, please let me know. PM. Thanks.

[simona28]

Hi all, we have just moved to SW6 and have two daughters, the eldest of whom will start reception in 2019. I visited Fulham Prep last year when we were evaluating our move along with other schools. I was educated internationally and not in UK and I admit I am a bit rubbish at judging schools or 'getting a feel' from a 2 hour visit. I really benefit from listening to parents perspectives and this thread has been very helpful.

Had a quick question though: just checked that Fulham Prep's latest OFSTED ratings have downgraded it to 'Good' from 'Outstanding' in most areas and also overall. Are parents concerned about this, is the school doing anything to correct this at all? I noticed that I cannot even find a link to the OFSTED reports anymore on the school website. Will be good to get your views on this please

[6thformnext]

They are completely different in so many ways - their location, mixed versus boys only, all the way through to 6th form versus Prep.

Would need to know why are you changing schools and what are you looking for to advise?

[sairajacob]

Hi ...We are looking for a indeoendent school for our son in Year 5 in the Fulham area. We are trying to decide between St James School and Fulham Prep. Could anyone suggest which would be a better choice?

Thanks
Prem

[harvestmoon32]

I just came across this article online regarding Fulham Prep. Seems they are opening a senior school from Sept 2017, and the Prep school pupils gain automatic entry (although they will still prepare for 11+ and 13+ for other senior schools). Seems like good news given the lack of coed secondary school places in SW London.

www.kensingtonmums.co.uk/kmblog/index.php/archives/15148

[February7]

My child recently left FP, one still there - the issue re. Head was swiftly resolved ages ago and the lovely former Head and founder of the school returned. The school now has huge playing fields nearby having secured a lease. Only have good things to say about it really. There are some fabulous teachers and they produce very good results from all ability streams, a down to earth school (relatively)