Girls vs co-ed west london preps

[kcmyrtle]

Hi, I have two seemingly bright girls - 5 and 7yrs, both doing well at CofE school but moving to SW London and into private sector - does anyone have an opinion as to whether The Study Prep, Rowan, The Old Vicarage, Ibstock Place or Sutton High would be best choice? We have registered at them all - the eldest did not pass the assessment into Putney High and neither are 'girlie-girls'. I like the co-ed aspect of Ibstock and would take assessments like a shot if I could at Prospect House, but they are over subscribed. Seems girls preps are great for offering all options at 11yrs and achieving high academically - move to co-ed perhaps for secondary, but the London preps seem to be small, with little facilities and I like the space at Ibstock. Also the latter offers opportunity for both girls to stay together. But if taking the latter, then would I be sacrificing the best prep school education? No places offered as yet, but would be interested to hear some opinions or people's experiences.

I don't know much about the schools you've mentioned but am struggling with this myself. I too have girls and always thought I would choose single sex but am coming round to the idea of co-ed. The girls' schools we looked at have impressive exits but I don't think I want them to grow up being overly girly anconceal tried about bullying at some of the schools.

And am concerned about...darn spell checker

I would go co-ed.
You get so much more at boys preps, they have to prepare for common entrance at 13+ so there's a lot more languages etc and also they tend to have better sports facilities. All girls schools just seem a bit bland, they usually only follow national curriculum and add a few bolt-ons. Girls schools also have a lot of only girl families, or only child and I worry that some of the girls at DDs school may never encounter a boy before Uni. A co-ed should offer more than an all girls school.
I have visited Ibstock for rugby and football matches, they are incredibly good at sport, they have amazing facilities and people I know with DCs there are very happy with it. We are going to look at Ibstock for secondary, DD is at Surbiton so has guaranteed 11+place, but I am going to look at some co-eds as an alternative.
I assume you mean Rowan in Claygate? thats miles away from the other schools on your list.

Thanks for the feedback! Annelongditton, can I ask, why did you send your DD to Surbiton? For no reason but simply to ask why - and would you agree that there is no question she was better taught (and therefore will achieve higher) at the Surbiton prep than she would have been at Ibstock. And if you could do it again, what would you have done on the prep front for her? Key question, that one! What other 2ndary co-eds are you looking at? Sorry, a good few questions for you - your friends whos DCs are happy with Ibstock, do they know anyone with DDs there that you/I could possibly contact? Id really like to speak to parents. I see all your thoughts about co-ed and I'm there all the way but for some reason I cannot get out of my head the fact that in going for Ibstock (prep does not seem to have the best reputation), and not accepting great girls prep places, I am limiting the quality of learning I could be giving them as a real start in life. Or do you think this is just the wrong way to think? Thoughts I had today were, how about I accept a place at The Study or Old Vicarage (I do feel claustrophobic in the latter but great teaching) and then move them across to IPS at 11? My concern there is that most if not all of their friends made at the prep would not transfer over with them and 11 for girls is not the best time to change a whole lot of stuff. What are your views on your DD, is she happy to simply leave all friends and change school? I'm struggling to get my eldest to accept leaving her friends at the CofE school, in which she wants to stay. Quantitative, are you looking SW london too? How old are your children?

DS is at The Mall in Twickenham, my only feasible choices for DD were Surbiton or Newland House (co-ed prep). DD is very happy at SHS and has really come on since she joined in year 3, academically I think she will do extremely well in the basics by the end of year 6. All girls schools seem to concentrate on the basics, probably because these are tested for 11+ exams, even Lady Eleanor Holles which is as academic as you get - their Y6 french is DSs Y4. But I do think the school lacks a bit of oomph, as do most girls schools. There isn't that competitive edge for sports, e.g. Newland will always beat us at matches despite only having half the number of girls, and I think some of this comes from being around boys. DD is very happy and wants to stay, but I want her to look at some co-ed schools for 11+ just for comparison, I wouldn't bother moving her if she wants to stay in an all girl environment.
I'll mention this post to Ibstock parents and see if I can persuade one of them to post.
Other co-eds I am going to look at are a long way out, ST georges Weybridge, City of London Freemasons. Latymer seems to be the only big London Co-ed, and its not commutable, although it is a fantastic school.
The preps you are looking at should have leavers lists on their websites, have a look and see where the girls are going onto.

What made you decide Surbiton over Newland I wonder? And if you did it over, would you make the same choice? Would be wonderful to have Ibstock parents on this thread - thank you so much! The preps I am looking at are all girls as the limited co-ed preps in the area are all way too oversubscribed - apart from potentially Putney Park which looks a little too closeted, albeit nurturing. All exit to top all-girls secondaries, so Putney High, Wimbledon High, etc with scolarships abounding. My girls are arty, chatty, humorous but not overly confident - I wonder if they will sink or swim in the all-girls environment. I think ideal for me potentially would be Prospect House until 11 and then Ibstock for the senior school - at least there is a natural exit to Ibstock from Prospect, meaning some friendship groups could stay intact - my concern is that an all girls prep to Ibstock in secondary carries over no friends at all which my DD1 particularly would find difficult to go through again (after doing it this year from state to independent). So I'm left thinking Ibstock right through. Interestingly, they start art in Year 1 which is a bonus - and my mother lives a 10 min walk around the corner, another major bonus! I spoke with two 6th formers, both really lovely - the girl said she had been there since she was 4 and loved it, said the schools strengths were having amazing teachers who everyone likes and who know their subjects and teach really well. She said she is getting great help for uni applications and the boy said likewise, applying to Oxford. Lovely, relaxed, people. I would be a little concerned that staying right through 4-18 will institutionalise a person and that a change is good at some point, but perhaps Ibstock suits my situation in that the girls stay together rather than being 2 years apart when DS1 reaches 11 and moves on and they stay on in the same environment with the same friends through the tricky early teens stage to achieve their GCSEs at which point we can then look at their needs and wants should each wish to go their separate ways for A levels. Thoughts on my thoughts? Sorry this is all about me but appreciate your insight and input!

We chose Surbiton over Newland because a lot of Newland girls go onto Surbiton but have to sit the 11+ exam, but if you're at the juniors you have a gauranteed senior school place. I would do the same again, I just think Newland is stronger for languages and sport.
I think generally DCs do scatter after prep school, mostly because senior school places are so competitive and everyone has to get in where they can, although it may not be their first choice. Consequently, straight through schools are becoming more popular, Surbiton is completely full, and a Mother waiting for a sibling Y1 place has told me there is a 2 year waiting list!!!
I don't know how good Ibstocks prep is, but they do have access to some fantastic facilities, it's going to be hard to match them. I am actually a bit surprised they can fit in both girls.
It has all gone a bit mad with prep school places, it may be a question of who has places, as opposed to chosing the school. That is a problem throughout SW London, and it only gets worse for senior schools.

Probably a good idea to opt for a co-ed prep if you want co-ed at secondary, especially at 11. Girls tend to be more mature at that age, and the switch from all-girls to a co-ed, where half the class is made up of "annoying" boys, is an extra thing to deal with.

Also depends a little on what your DDs strengths are. Boys do tend to be better at maths and slower to develop in English. (Lots of exceptions though!) They can dominate teacher attention, with the quieter girls holding back. However boys don't have those friendship dramas which can make Yr5 and Yr 6 so painful and can help maintain calm.

Any Ibstock School parents available to comments on their experiences at the school - pros/cons, any information helpful!