Prep schools

[palanga]

Hi everyone. We are looking for a good school for our 6 year old son to start Sep 2014.We have been to St Martins, Northwood Prep, and St Helens college in Uxbridge. St Martins and Northwood Prep look great with the fantastic academic results, but also most of the boys are asian. We do not want him to feel like odd one in... Have you had similar experience, what do you think about these schools? Any advice would be great.
Thank you

"Northwood Prep look great with the fantastic academic results, but also most of the boys are asian..... Have you had similar experience"

OP - You do realise that MN isn't an exclusive meeting for white mothers and that there are Asian members that will read this post? I suggest that you put on a crash helmet... fast :o

If you need to ask the question then you definitely don't want your DS to go to that school.

My DS goes to a selective school that is one third Asian. To me, its not a bad thing for my son to be educated next to a bunch of studious kids that have a respect for tradition, family and adult authority, characteristics which appear to be lacking in today's wider society.

These Asian boys don't slaughter animals on the front lawn. Neither are they likely to corrrupt your nice Christian son so whats your problem?

To be fair to the OP she hasn't phased the question very well but she makes a valid observation. The schools she mentions are now mostly Asian which is a reflection of the area. My DD's prep school, not too far from the schools the OP mentions is around 25% Asian, 25% jewish, 10% black and 40% everything else. I find this a perfect mix and a true reflection of the area in which we live. It ensures that children find a mix of friends, that cliquiness is minimised and the children find friends across the board.

However, where a particular group dominates, be that Asian, Chinese, black, Jewish, to the extent that they do in the OP's post other people may find this restrictive as families do encourage their children to socialise together, and often socialise together out of school and like to stick together and where there is only one child of a different culture they may be left out. I think that this is far less likely at primary but at secondary, this can be a real issue for socialising out of school and at that point I would look for something more mixed, the mix of your DS's school being perfect, a true cultural reflection of the area.

In answer to OP's question, I think that St John's in Pinner may be slightly more mixed but if she has a real problem with a multi cultural school then she needs to look further out towards Herts and Bucks because the schools reflect the families who live in the area.

"However, where a particular group dominates, be that Asian, Chinese, black, Jewish, to the extent that they do in the OP's post other people may find this restrictive"

So I guess by 'other people' you mean white people. So the rest of us type of people are not ok as majority groups or what? I don't really get this. Is it that white people can deal with being a minority group?

My son is the only black boy in his class. He is cool with it. Not because the white people in his class/school are saintly but because we try not to discuss peoples ethnic, racial background with him. We just talk about people as people period. Thankfully his not messed up like most of us are about the colour of our skin. But I fear its just a matter of time.

I meant white people can't deal with being a minority group?

"So I guess by 'other people' you mean white people". No, "other people" would mean other than the group that dominates whatever that is.

If he's bright enough try him for Haberdashers boys which is much more academic than those mentioned. They might do a 7+ entry. habsboys.org.uk/admissions/keydates1213.php
He would also then probably improve his chances of staying at that school at 11+ too.

Where does OP say she is either white or Christian?

I agree it's badly worded, but there is nothing wrong in seeking a school with a diverse population.

She's "palanga" so one assumes she's not white British. We have known a good few Asian parents not wanting children at 75% Indian private schools because they want an English education. Fascinating issue. Certainly where we live I have always regarded it as a massive advantage that my chidlren go to school with children of Tiger Parents. (a) it makes me seem like the most liberal parent on the planet even though I insist on homework and music practice being done and (b) the children on the whole work very very hard at school which is great for the rest of the class. Obviously you cannot generalise too much though.

Xenia - Habs is about 50% Asian so the OP is going to have the same dilemma.

I don't think that's so. My daughter was one of 2 in her class with 4 English born grandparents. The others were from all over Israel, Poland, China all over. I would be surprised if it were 50% asian when you take in all those girls from rural Herts and all the jews.

Xenia - When did your DD go to Habs Gilrls? I suspect that it wasn't recently.

Have you thought about Orley Farm?

Colleger - a great suggestion. In my view Orley Farm is the best choice of school in the area. Co-ed , fab results, lots of scholorships to the top schools but also does really well by the less academic children. A traditional prep school.

@Palanga: I have been looking for prep schools near the areas you mentioned. Been to St. Martin's and echo your comments. I don't mind my kids to be in a diverse class, but not with 95% of students from one single nationality, that's doesn't reflect the population profile locally.

The right school really depends on what educational outcomes you are looking for. If you prefer a more traditional English prep school who still practices some traditions and protocols (e.g. standing up when headmasters come into the room), speaks a good English accent, then you can explore Beacons School in Amersham or further up Westbrook Hay.

Beacons is a good choice as it goes up to 13. At 11, they have a large no of students going into Dr Chanoller's Boys every year, and at 13+ some to Merchant Talyors, and Berkamsted. The head Mr. Brewster is a real educator, inspiring, knowledgable. He gave us balanced and board view on education when we asked him for advice. They are one of the few schools I encountered so far with a more international outlook whilst having a primarily white British students population (maybe about 10% Asians). They are developing a international study as a subject by giving exposure on food, language etc. Beacons is also having a building plan on their site. There is also a Chesham Prep (co-ed), but I personally prefer Beacons. Westbrook Hay, the children are very well-mannered, rated outstanding ISC inspection (from memory). Good forest/grounds to run around but location a bit isolated.

Good luck!

Orley Farm is fine if you don't mind a bit of bullying. They do absolutely nothing about it.
There's a lot of Indian/Asian unpleasantness between some parents too.