Eaton House Belgravia or Eaton Square School?

[msunitednations]

Hello, we are new to London and would greatly appreciate any advice or information regarding the differences between Eaton House Belgravia and Eaton Square School apart from the former being boys only and finishing at 8 years while the latter is co-ed and finishes at 13 years. Our son is quite academic and able at school but also bolshi. I have heard that EHB is academic, but arent all school "academic"? Where we come from in Auckand the whole point of school was to learn academics. What does it mean when Brits call a school "academic?" All views appreciated before we have to hand over a big fat cheque.

How old is your DC? I would always opt for a school that goes up to 13 so you are not faced with the pressures of a 7+/8+ move when he may not be ready for it. I also think the curriculum those children study suffers because they have exams looming so quickly (ie. very focussed on exam subjects with less time to be kids or have a broad curriculum). Do not underestimate the pressure in Chelsea of the 7+/8+ exams and the massive amount of tutoring that goes on. I'm sure someone will be along who has been through it and can give you a different point of view.

Welcome to London and good luck!

Thank you milkshake 3 for your warm welcome. DS is 3.5 years and is a bright but loud boy with an independent mind. I know the latter is not welco,e at all schools :)

I may be out of date, but this group of schools had a reputation for being very traditional. If you go to the 8+ one, it should be straightforward to transfer to the 13+ options, but all boys have to pass an exam to move up.

Are you considering any other schools?

Try speaking to Gabbitas. They advise on school places, and help you find the one best for you. They charge about £85. He's only little and they can all be a bit bolshy at that age!

Depending where you are, there is also Hill House, St Nicholas, Thomas', and Hampstead schools in that area-ish. Try not to have a huge commute, as it really tires the little 'uns out!

Thank you for all your help.

Eaton House boys go on to the school in Clapham if they dont get a place at Westminster Under or similar. By the time a boy is 8 the open space of Clapham Common is a real advantage.

By reputation EHB is more of a hot house in part because it needs to have boys ready for tough 7+ and 8+ exams. Eaton Square was seen as the expats school, and certainly when we looked round a decade ago, of 6 groups of parents, 4 were accompanied by relocation agents. It is also reputed to be more willing to take pupils with low level special needs, more willing to take children who came from countries which started education later or who were not fluent etc. Eaton Square is mixed.

It probably depends on how long you plan to stay here. If only a few years then you might be better off in the gentler environment at Eaton Square. If you want to enter the London School thing with gusto and your child is reasonably bright and robust, then EHB.

Newish Head of Eaton Square school is ex head of Eaton House the Manor Prep ( sister school to Eaton House Belgravia) ! Both schools will take mainly boys who live close so both very international. Eaton House the Manor, south of the River less international by the fact of its location. Nearly all London prep schools are academic as it is becomes harder to get children into top London Day schools. I do not know Eaton Square well but Eaton House is traditional (which i quite like, but not everyone is comfortable with ) eg very competitive sports from early on, ties and blazers from age 4, shorts all year round etc. What works logistically for you, London traffic not great at school time should also have a bearing. Academic alpha A types do well at EH Belgravia, lots to challenge them.

EHB is like a crammer for the 7/8+ focus on getting boys through the exams as opposed to a broad curriculum. Suits compliant children. Children receive heavy tutoring outside school.

I think you need to really decide if you want to do the sprint to 7/8+ (pros - option to go to Westminster Under/Colet Court if they are that sort, cons - suspicious that early curriculum is entirely focussed on this very narrow and old fashioned exam and at schools which end at 8+ (like EHB) things can get very fraught - also you can do 8+ yourself from a non-8+ school if change your mind) or a longer path to 13+.

Good point on acadamic question, esp as both are non-assessed entry (and who can really assess for academics at 4+ anyway), but it means whether the main focus of the school is on pushing the core trad academics, especially towards and imminent external exam, or more on the whole curriculum.
If he is 3.5 will he be starting reception in Sept 2012 or 2013 (ie is he 4 by end of August?) If the latter you have time to look a slightly wider choice of schools in the area too, to get more of a feel.

As a parent myself with experience at this school, I have to say that ESS IS as academically focused as any other school in central London - the children who leave there at 13+ benefit enormously from staying on at the one school all the way through, and go on to a wide range of outstanding schools ie. some of the TOP schools in the country. The advantage of doing 13+ common entrance is that the children are more mature and able to cope better with the rigures of CE examinations. Yes it has a broad international community, but these are familes that stay on for the entire education, not ones who come and go and it adds to tolerance of the children and richness to their education to have friends from around the world. I am sure EHB is an excellent school too, but for me the biggest disadvantage is the fact it only goes to 8, then the move to EH Clapham is quite a long way if they don't get into a local school.
It's definitely worth taking a tour of any school you are thinking of sending your son to anyway, nothing beats getting a feeling for a school that way!
Good luck!

Hi flatcat4, would you be able to help shed some light on what you know or have heard about Eaton Square School? My DS1 is going for a visit/tour there for Reception class this September (long story as to why we have ended up having to look at places so late....we had a confirmed place at another school which we very recently found out was inexplicably released due to administrative error!!). How well does it do academically, standard of teaching, extracurricular performance (eg music, sport)? We were looking for a fairly traditional academic school. Any feedback would be very welcome! Thanks!

Mummy Dorrit did you end up choosing Eaton Square School? We inspected the school today. It seems lovely and sweet place but we are opting for a more trafitional EHB.

Yes, boys receive heavy tutoring from outside. This school is such a hot house. If you want a happy child Do Not Send him to this place.

Hi All - I just registered our DS on the Eaton House website. He is 10 weeks old. Do you think we are too late? What are the chances of getting in? Also, I was surprised to find that they did not ask for a registration fee on the website when I registered. I hope I did not miss any steps :s

@SherryM
You wont get any replies bumping numerous old zombie threads.
Start your own thread

@bruffin
thanks.