Beaudesert Park, Westonbirt Prep thoughts pls!

[catanddog]

Hello,
We may be moving to a new house near Chippenham, and I was looking potentially at these 2 schools for DD 4. Also thinking about Royal School in Bath. Any suggestions or thoughts would be v gratefully received. Long long term we'd like to get her into St Mary's Calne or Marlborough and are also considering Hanford in a few years time.......

Beaudesert is fabulous the fees are similar but the facilities at Bdp are superior in my opinion, Westonbirt Prep has a very chequered history due to an amalgamation of several prep schools, although some parents seem happy enough with it. There is no comparison between the two It is a completely different ethos, go and have a look around see what you think. Several girls every year go to St Mary's Calne from Bdp although google the threads on here re St Mary's Calne . The head at Bdp is a very well connected man will tell you at Bdp Marlborough is difficult to get into due to the Middleton factor and also will give you great advice of suitable schools for your dd. A lot of girls go to the schools in Bath from Westonbirt not so much from Bdp probably due to remaining at Bdp until year 8.

Thanks Parsley - agree with all the above....just worried it's a pain of a school run, however she could take the school bus at least part of the way.....

I won't lie it is a long way but Westonbirt is no easier in my opinion go and look pm me if you want x good luck

Beaudesert definitely Westonbirt prep only goes to yr 6 for a start, Marlborough starts in year 9.
There's always rumours flying around that Westonbirt both senior and junior will close, the prep is tiny.

Hello - I'm not local but my line of work means I've a fair few local independant educational contacts and word on the (very rarified and leafy!) street is that Westonbirt is the better bet if you are looking for something a bit more forward thinking and dynamic (no scoop on closure rumours - run of the mill for all small preps it seems) but if it's grades all the way then Beaudesert has a pretty solid rep on that front. Hope this helps.