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Original poster

Private prep(?) schools in central London?City? Anyone with direct experience?

85 replies

Uli · 15/03/2006 17:04

Can anyone suggest a good primary private school in the city/central of london? I have looked at the independent school council site, but has anyone in here any direct experience?

I am that stage where I need to start my research about the best option for my little girl (3 years old). I am struggling to understand the whole thing as I am not British. But I have come to the conclusion that i need to look at the longer term and, as I feel that I have a poor choice of secondary non -religious school in my area (southwark - please correct me if I am wrong in my perception), I am now considering sending dd to private school from primary so she gets the best start in education and if she turns out academic, the best chance to go to a good secondary (private or else).

One thing I cant change is the area I live and I do not want to become religious since I am not. There are no private schools in my area so I need to look at the city or central London.

OP posts:
TheBlonde · 15/03/2006 17:53

No experience sorry but I bought this book

\link{http://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk\good schools guide}

Original poster
Uli · 15/03/2006 18:17

Thank you. I know about it. Do you find it useful?

OP posts:
ks · 15/03/2006 18:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

controlfreaky · 15/03/2006 18:26

check out dallington school, dallington street ec?, can personally highly reccommend it but not everyone's cup of tea (bit boho / no uniform / all first name terms / anti competitive / forceful head). also charterhouse school in charterhouse sq (too gradgrinds academy for me). also lyceum (nr liverpool st and many friends happy there). hope this is of use. good luck. you really have to visit a good few with first child to get a proper feel for whats out there. this will help you decide what your priorities are and what will suit....

batters · 15/03/2006 18:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Uli · 15/03/2006 18:28

I have used the \link{http://www.isc.co.uk/index.php/55\Independent school council}to find schools, so I can identify them. I have started looking at websites and prospects.

However, It seems that those ones I have seen so far do not offer afterschool facilities, which is essential for me. the fees I can just about afford, with sacrifices, but I will need childcare after that. I am bringing her up by myself and working full time.

I am thinking that maybe it is not feasable after all

OP posts:
Original poster
Uli · 15/03/2006 18:32

thank you controlfreaky, I will check those schools out.

and I am not writing off state schools, i dont mind the one school close to me, it is I am worried about the secondary education chances.
the colsest state grammar is church of england with only 18 non-religious places allocated on academic merits

OP posts:
batters · 15/03/2006 18:40

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TheBlonde · 15/03/2006 18:52

I thought the book was very good. Pricey but compared to the cost of fees it's cheap!

Original poster
Uli · 15/03/2006 18:55

batters, thank you for your effort. unfortunately, They are quite out of the way from where I live and my journey to work. I dont drive either.
I would be better somewhere in zone 1 really. I am in borough/bankside end of southwark.

but it is really useful to know about those just in case.

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Original poster
Uli · 15/03/2006 18:59

I quite like that dallington school, right location and philosophy for me. I have asked for prospectus but maybe they dont do afterschool

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singersgirl · 15/03/2006 19:18

I know someone who took their son out of Charterhouse Square after a couple of years because it was extremely pushy. Don't know any more about it, or the other options, I'm afraid.

NotQuiteCockney · 15/03/2006 19:19

St Paul's is in the City, but doesn't do after school.

You may be able to manage after school care via swapsies, whichever school you choose. My DS1 is starting at St Pauls in September, and I'll be looking for local mums or dads who can take him in, in the morning, possibly in exchange for me taking their kids back home with me, and possibly doing some after school care.

One other minefield: holiday coverage. Although I think the City of London does some of this.

NotQuiteCockney · 15/03/2006 19:20

Charterhouse is a sausage factory, from what I know (e.g. will do their best to get your kid into City of London Boys/Girls, whether or not that's the right school for you). The admissions "procedure" alone puts me off Charterhouse.

I know kids who are happy at St Paul's and at Lyceum. Dallington sounds good.

beatie · 15/03/2006 19:58

Uli - you should find that book and other books like it in the refernce section of a large public library...... if you don't want to buy it.

Original poster
Uli · 15/03/2006 20:02

I dont think that charterhouse is what I am looking for, from what I have seen in their website.actually very confusing website. probably out of my league financially anyway

I will check this s pauls...

what if cant find people to do swap with? It is a long term committment with other poeple, I cant take that risk

OP posts:
NotQuiteCockney · 15/03/2006 20:05

St Paul's may be a problem, as the selection procedure is against you. They select when the kids are 3, but from their waiting list. Which fills up, when the kids are 1 or 1.5, I think.

It's worth seeing etc, but probably not ideal.

And yeah, school-run after-school cover is going to be more consistent than a swapsies arrangement, you're right.

Original poster
Uli · 15/03/2006 20:07

I wish they invented private schools which are structered like the private nurseries

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Original poster
Uli · 15/03/2006 20:12

thinking aloud here

my local state primaries have the after school and holiday clubs, so in that sense it is more suitable for me, maybe I will have to use these and then hope that dd will not lose in her education

OP posts:
NotQuiteCockney · 15/03/2006 20:15

If City private schools would be a financial stretch, it sounds pretty reasonable to consider the local schools. Your DD will have more local friends that way, too.

frogs · 15/03/2006 20:18

Uli, if you need serious childcare cover, you might consider \link{http://www.rosemaryworks.com/\Rosemary Works}. It's slightly the wrong side of the city for you, but only a few minutes from Finsbury Square.

it's essentially a childcare nursery who realised a few years ago that there was a demand for primary-age schooling with built-in childcare. The school part used to go only up to 7, but I think are now adding classes to go all the way up to 11, and you can mix and match the extra childcare hours (holiday care too!) to suit your own requirements. I only know one person whose child went to the school but they were very happy with it.

it doesn't have that full-on trad prep school vibe like St Paul's, but you may consider that a plus. I wouldn't worry too much about secondary entrance -- I know plenty of untutored kids from state schools who get into City et al, and a good few kids from pushy North London preps who didn't.

You could also consider Prior Weston (state) primary school in the Barbican, which has a v. good reputation. We have two sets of friends with kids there, and all are v. happy with it. The school has recently moved into temporary accommodation while waiting for their flashy new building to be completed. I don't know if they offer childcare as well, but they might well have an after-school club. The Barbican and city area has a v. mobile population, so I would imagine places do come up.

Spatz · 15/03/2006 20:18

My DD at St Paul's - she applied late, but was seen because people put their names down so early that by the time the testing comes round lots have moved away and the waiting list disappears. It is, however, a church school although no requirement for parents and not all children christian they are expected to take part in religious ceremonies etc. I don't know where you are from, Uli, but lots of non-british parents at stPs.

Through the grapevine charterhouse is very pushy and there are quite a few ex-pupils who are much happier at stPs. People seem to like Dallington very much.

StPs is very big on music - DD often brings home songs to learn instead of homework - I love this.

Spatz · 15/03/2006 20:20

NQC - I will be looking out for you in September!

MrsBadger · 15/03/2006 20:23

If you go for a state primary to start with, there's nothing to stop you switching into the private system at 7, or even at 11 when holidays and afterschool care become less of an issue.

To be fair I haven't tried this as a parent, but it was how my own education turned out, and I don't think I was particularly disadvangted by not having gone to a private pre-prep.
If your dd does turn out academic, the London day schools will be interested in her whatever primary she comes from!

NotQuiteCockney · 15/03/2006 20:24

Oooh, Spatz, how old is your DD? And what part of London are you in?

(I'm in Mile End. DS1 will be in reception in September.)