Question about which independent school is best

[Gus1]

Hi

Do any of you know how good the independent schools are in Redbridge? I am considering them at the preparatory stage. However, it is hard to figure which one is better value for money. I am thinking about Normanhurst, Avon House, Forest, and Snaresbrook. This is all very new to me and quite a minefield.

Any advice or websites you think would help me make an informed comparison (and hopefully a wise choice)? By the way I have visited them.

You'll get more replies if you post again with the area or schools in the title.

Hello Gus1. I hesitated to comment on your post because, although I live in the area, my children don't go to prep-school. So I can only offer gossip and hearsay. But, in the absence of anything better , I'll go ahead and pass on my second hand information!

This is what I have heard:
If you go with Forest, there is a natural expectation that you will stay with Forest for senior school. (Bancrofts and Chigwell also offer prep schools from age 7.)
If you go with St Aubyn's, they go up to age 13 and want your child to stay there until 13 rather than leaving at 11.
I have heard that both Avon House and Normanhurst are inclusive and work well with children with dyslexia, if that is a concern for you.
I know that half the class of year 6 girls went onto local, state senior schools at Oaklands.
Loyola Prep, a private, catholic, boys' prep is the most academic in the area.
I also hear good things about Daiglen and Woodford Prep which are both coed.
Braeside, girls prep, gets mixed reviews. Nurturing due to small class sizes, but maybe not as academically thrusting as many private school parents want.
That's all I "know." Good luck!

Thanks All. Really helpful. Greenfizzy, I will follow your advice. Toomanyhouse, thanks for the info. Had not heard of Loyola so will give than one a look too.

If I had a boy and the money, Loyola would be my first port of call. You definitely don't need to be catholic.

I forgot to add, I have a neighbour whose children both went to Snaresbrook. The elder got a good scholarship at Forest.

Loyola looks like a good school. I will give it a shot. Thanks for flagging that one. The name is so weird I would have not been drawn to it otherwise.

"Loyola" refers to St Ignatius of Loyola. He founded the order of Catholic priests called the "Jesuits." The Jesuits are often associated with catholic boys schools. That said, I don't think there are actually any Jesuit brothers at Loyola at all .