Academically challenging but arty independent schools in London

[MumOfTheMoos]

We are about to start the 4+ assessment process for my son. He's doing very well on his EYFS at preschool and as much as it's possible to assess aged 3.5 years, if he's anything like his Dad or me will thrive in an academically challenging school. However, his drawing skills are very good, well beyond expected for his age, so I want to ensure when considering schools for him, we find one that will value and build on any talents he may turn out to have in that direction.

We live in SE London and will be registering him for assessment with Dulwich Prep, Alleyn's plus (as those two are uber competitive) Royal Russell and St Dunstans.

We also put him on the list for DUCKS years ago and whilst we won't know if we have a place there until one becomes free, we have been told we are well placed for Sept 2016 entry.

So, my question is this - what views do you gave on the schools we have chosen and are there any more it should consider?

Obviously, we may not get in to them and may not get a choice but I'm keen to understand if there are any schools that do academic and arty!

If you want academic and arty then it's Alleyn's- not really anywhere else which fits your criteria

Dulwich prep is academic and sporty and RR and St D are nowhere near as selective- good schools for children who need a gentler pace but not for academic high fliers

Yes, thanks that was my thinking too - but with an intake of only 16 each year at Alleyns, we need a fall back to a less selective school as well, hence RR - which is a lovely school but I suspect a bit too relaxed as they get older! That's great - I just wanted to make sure I hadn't missed anything!

My current thinking is if he doesn't get into Alleyns this time we'll just keep trying at each entry point until he does or we decide that he's more arty than academic and it's not the school for him.

RR is definitely not in the same league academically. What about other standalone preps like Cumnor House. Where do you live as your options cover a wide geographical area and there is much to be said for staying local for primary age.

Depending on where you live, go and have a look at Newton Prep too - amazing art and very academic high flying.

Sorry but this op made me

He's 3!

I'm sure he'll be fine wherever he goes - even Bash St comp down the road.

Most academic schools will have art, but won't be "arty" in a way you expect. So, if I were you - I'd select the best school for his abilities/temperament. And I'd find a good art class or private teacher.

We live in Anerley and are equidistant between the Dulwich Schools and RR; my thinking was Cumnor House is a bit far away to enable us to drop him off and then get on a train into town.

I hadn't really thought of Newton Prep although it's on a route into London.

I will go and have a look!

Might be worth looking at oakfield prep as a fall back option if you are aiming for the dulwich schools later down the line. Not sure what their art provision is like but hear it is less selective than DPL/alleyns but with a good record for getting them into those schools later down the line.

Re the art - I wouldn't worry too much yet as until he's older all the schools will be doing broadly the same in terms of art so you could send him to any of them and then aim to move at 7+ to somewhere with more of an arty bent. Alleyns has the same size intake at 7 as it does at 4 although with DPL I suspect it gets harder to get in the older they are.

Cumnor has changed recently into an 11+ factory : worth checking up to date information