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.

Fulhammother, this is very different from what I hear, even all the EH parents I know say it is not very academic. It is very interesting that in one day several EH parents show up on mumsnet giving glowing reviews of the school, seemingly independent of each other. I know even children who switched from average state primaries to EH and they were far ahead when they joined. Don't get me wrong, I know people I know with kids there were quite happy with the school, but it is not very academic compared to the others and the exit results tell you all you need to know.

Exit results are not the be all and end all. They are not indicative of how academic a school is. This view is flawed and damaging to a child's education

JJ - in what way is knowing exit results damaging to a child's education? They are surely an important part of the jigsaw puzzle when analysing whether a school is right for a DC? For me, being in a school that regularly send a number of DC to the top selective schools gives me reassurance about the quality of teaching. How else do you judge it from a walk around on an open morning where the PR is in full force? Therefore I do believe they are indicative of how academic a school is.

I also believe that the rest of a child's education is better served in a larger school where there are more clubs, more choirs, more sports teams, more orchestras, more resources, more friendship groups...etc etc....but that's just me. Each to their own.

FWIW, I agree with Sanam2010, based on feedback from ex-EH parents who moved their DC to our school - they too said it wasn't academic enough.

Eridge House is a lovely school with a strong focus on academics. My children have been there for several years. I know 3 families who left EH to go to Thomas' and all have said that Thomas' is not as academic as EH. (One of these parents is an educator and child psychologist.) The reason these 3 left was due to sports. EH isn't quite big enough to have more than one team per year group, so if your child is a rising football/rugby star, they may have better sporting opportunities at other schools. (though EH has plenty of sports available and makes every child feel welcome and proud of their contribution) But please don't believe the old rumours that EH isn't academic. This is totally unfounded.

Hi everyone,

We have shortlisted Fulham Prep and were wondering how it compares to Broomwood Hall, Eaton House the Manor, Newton Prep, Thomas's Battersea and Knightsbridge. (Possibly the Harrodian)

Any advice, comment would be most welcome.

We are looking for a school with very good academic standards. Having said that our three kids have different abilities, so, academic achievement will not be the only criteria of selection.

Thank you!

Emilie

Emilie,

go visit. Different schools will have different feels. By the time you have seen a few and have listened to other people's questions you will have a better idea of what is imporant to you. Some are quite trad, some very academic etc. We are now towards the end of the process, and looking back are convinced that "happy children learn" and that especially at a young age a broader intake is better than a very selective one. (Because honestly you don't know what your child will be like in four or five years time, so better he/she can find their own level than struggle and start feeling they are not good enough.)

Hi,

Could someone give me more information about this change in management at Fulham Prep. Is it still an issue? Have standards really fallen? Their 2015 destinations list seemed to be very good but I would welcome your views.

I have visited it recently and I tend to agree with Needmoresleep but would like to be really sure that standards have not fallen.

Many thanks

E

My child started y6 at FulhamPrep last year. I think it is a well run school and my child is happy there, and has made friends. I get the impression that every child matters. I would recommend that you visit them and ask your questions direct.

The change of leadership is recent and if there is any change is teaching/results it will take a while to work through the system.

I have a number of friends with happy kids at FP, but also at Thomas' and Harrodian. These schools are quite different, so I agree with the above poster that you need pick the school that feels right and that is convenient to get to.

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)

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

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

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?

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

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.

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!

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!

@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!

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

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

I understand he has not been there long.

I have sent you a pm @sallyseptember :)

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!