Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Education

Join the discussion on our Education forum.

Original poster

private schools northwood prep, st martins, st johns

22 replies

dee134d · 11/03/2013 13:42

We are looking to move towards Rickmansworth in the next 12 months or so and are considering the above schools for our son. We would be starting year 1 in sept 2014. Could anyone tell me anything about these schools, any info would be appreciated.

Also does anyone know if places open up for year1/year2 and if so how often. What is the level of competition for intake at 7+.

We also have a daughter and so any advice on private schools in the same area would be great.

OP posts:
Djay007 · 18/04/2013 18:17

Dear dee134d, I have just been through the battle of the schools. The schools you have listed are excellent schools but highly competitive even at nursery. They search for a certain type of child at 2.5 / 3 years who are very sociable. They look for children who are not just academic and bright but must be able to play with new kids and take instructions from the assessors teachers. They usually have about 70 applicants and must pick only 15. St John's also reserve the right to reassess the child before they move unto reception. Some schools which are excellent is Goodwyns school but must register really early and reddiford school which is highly academic . I have a girl whom I intend to put through St. Helens , habs girls and nlcs assessment but for now I have safely registered her in Goodwyns and Reddiford which are excellent schools. It's a devastating experience to take a 3 year through an assessment and all they have is 45 mins. Their full potential is never seen in that short time. Good luck

moonbells · 19/04/2013 08:02

dee where did you eventually decide to move to? I notice you were asking about Harpenden and St Albans as well as Ricky/Northwood.

When my DS was at nursery in Northwood, a lot of boys went and assessed for the nursery schools of the schools mentioned in this post (and girls to St Helens, Northwood College and the Royal Masonic). I would make the observation that the only people having a 'devastating experience' were the anxious parents! The kids just went along to play for a bit and weren't fazed in the slightest.

People seem to try for all three schools and then see which offers they get. tbh at 13, the proportion of places won at surrounding senior schools is pretty much identical, mostly MTS with a few Habs, Aldenham, John Lyon and the odd Eton/Harrow.

Of the trio above, St Martin's has a guaranteed transfer from Nursery to Reception, the other two don't. I remember hearing that St John's was the hardest to get in, as there were a lot of siblings, and there they interview the parents as well as having the play assessment. NP has the play assessment and there's a lot of teachers watching very carefully.

Getting in at nursery school level is the best way if you look at the odds: 30-40 places at Nursery compared with 4-5 at YR and sporadically from then on. I heard that at YR there were 45 boys chasing 5 places at one of the schools. Yes it is rather insane! 7+ I think is only for any vacancies into Y2 - don't think they add a whole class.

So for Y1, you have to take your chance at there being a vacancy at the right time.

Xenia · 19/04/2013 15:24

Not hard to get into surely? Not as hard as places like NLCS and Habs by any means. Possibly get him into somewhere which feeds a lot of boys into Haberdashers boys at 7+ and move him there then. That is one option.

Girls - I suspect the pecking order goes something like - NLCS, Habs, St Helen's, not sure where you'd placae the others Northwood College, St Margaret's?, Heathfield, Rickmansworth masonic

moonbells · 23/04/2013 09:06

I was just commenting on admissions procedures I'd heard about the trio of schools in the title, from parents in DS's old nursery, so that would mostly be at 3+.

I do expect NLCS and Habs (both) to be harder to get in. Know very little about girls schools, apart from reputation and what I've read on the 3+5+7+ etc threads.

RPR4568 · 24/04/2014 08:42

This might help with the decision process, depending on what one is looking for in a school ...

www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/10906191.Northwood_prep_schools_make_top_ten_list/?ref=rss

RPR4568 · 24/04/2014 08:52

Btw, this year St. Johns had 18 spaces (for 4+) and nearly 60 applications.
St. martins had 7 spaces and same number of applications!!! Tough competition, so well done to those who got offers.

Arghhelp · 11/12/2015 21:23

WOuld someone be able to shed any light on what happens at the assessments for St Johns and St Martins please? Asking for a friend

Magzz24 · 26/07/2016 23:43

I would be really interested in mums who's kids are starting their new journey this September...I have seen do many independent schools and still confused...Orley, reddiford Buckingham alpha st Christopher's Radlett quainton...not sure whato to do...mixed reviews on all

Magzz24 · 26/07/2016 23:45

I am looking for most recent reviews from parents...what has been the factor in their decision...I want my son to be happy

user1485442225 · 26/01/2017 15:26

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

holepunchkid · 26/01/2017 19:36

user are you going to spam all the old private school threads with your rant?

Anjnee · 26/01/2019 12:01

Hello all,

Sorry about reawakening this thread.

I have recently moved to the area and my DS has recently been accepted to both St Martins and St Johns in northwood for the 4+. We’re really struggling to choose between the two and would really appreciate any advice based on your experiences. Both seem equilly weighted and good feeder to MT. Thanks in advance.

Mumoftwoboys2021 · 02/02/2021 15:20

Hi anjnee did you manage to get more info on the two school. My son has also got accepted to both St. John’s and st martins. Which did you choose in the end and why?

Grasspass · 04/02/2021 09:28

Does anybody have any views on St Martins vs St Johns? Is there any difference in culture, academics, sports, types of boys ?? reputation etc.. Any information or opinion would be greatly appreciated - don't hold back!

WTF499 · 04/02/2021 10:08

I am watching too as my DS has been offered at the above...eager to find out about the schools please can someone shed some light!

Cheesecastle · 07/06/2022 21:28

+1 on last few questions

Cheesecastle · 07/06/2022 21:39

Going through old threads about these schools as I am in a similar boat as you were few years ago! Any experience or insights someone can share please?

Rattles1 · 05/01/2023 10:35

hello, me too

Xenia · 05/01/2023 13:35

I see I am on this from 2013! I still get the weekly newsletter of one of those boys' prep schools where 2 of my sons went. (Our girls were at Habs and NLCS not St Helen's).

ConfusedDad7 · 05/01/2023 19:49

DS done his 7+ assessment lately and he's been offered both at St Johns and St Martins, TBH both are really great schools, but St Martins stands out (Spoke with few parents and tutors) academically and Sports, especially swimming. Happy to have a chat, PM me if you still need more info.

Confusedmum58 · 25/03/2023 22:37

Mh son has been offered a place at St. John’s however he is not sporty and all majorly of kids play football during break time . I am not sure whether my son who is academic would be happy and make friends.

Xenia · 27/03/2023 22:15

My son wasn't sporty and did fine, lots of music, choir, orchestra, all sorts of things other than sport. It was not a problem.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread