The Mall School: Think twice before putting your child in

[Cisne]

The headmaster changed two years ago since then the school has gone down hill.

Thats not THE reason to think about Mall twice. Mall is prep school, it goes up to 13. All secondary schools take the majority of the children at the age of 11. You don't have the option of leaving mall at 11. School does not prepare your child to leave at 11, far fewer places are available at 13 and school life between year 5-8 isn't great. Kids are under constant pressure due to entrance exams and then common entrance in year 8. The focus is exams from year 6 onwards and not on any real learning.

I have seen kids who have left Mall at the age of 11 do much better in other schools and happier. If passing exams is the goal for you child, go for Mall is the best. If you want you are looking for a happy child and quality education think again.

Interesting I knew that Mall 35 years ago it used to feed only into 13+ day school e.g. SPS or boarding schools that started at 13+ they never in those days claimed prepared children for the 11+. It was a bit of a hot house even in those days a I think.

It was the competition for Milbourne Lodge in my day. Maybe it still is.

"You don't have the option of leaving mall at 11"

Don't they tell you this before you enrol?

"School does not prepare your child to leave at 11"

Most 13+ schools do not prepare children to leave at 11 as this is not what they are geared up for.

I know nothing about the school, i'm just wondering wether this has all come about as a result of a new HM, if not i'm surprised you've just found out.

To be fair practically all London schools pre-test at Y6 and the preparation is pretty much the same as for 11+ entrance. Very few Mall boys go onto boarding, most are going to Westminster,St Pauls, Kings and Hampton which all pre-test so they are geared up for the pre-test season.

You can leave at 11 and some boys do every year, obviously, otherwise you couldn't have seen other boys go on to other senior schools at 11.

I actually think that it is far more competitive locally at 11+ than it is at 13+. Richmond is known to send huge amounts of pupils to private secondary schools and although some people seem to think that going to private school adds 30 points to your IQ, there are actually lots of very bright DCs in the local state schools competing for 11+ places. Added to this the huge tutoring industry in the area 11+ is actually a lot harder than you think.But the grass always looks greener...

I do agree though that Y8 at prep school is very hard work.

What has the new head changed?