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Original poster

Private schools (Reception year) recommendations please - Beaconsfield, Gerrard's Cross, Hampstead, or Harrow

27 replies

aleigh1 · 23/06/2017 18:09

Hello!

My family is moving to the London area from the United States. Can anyone provide recommendations for private schools, Reception year? We will most likely live in Beaconsfield, Gerrard's Cross, Hampstead, or Harrow.

  • My child is a boy
  • I would prefer a co-ed school but this is not a must
  • We would consider an International school, but am mostly looking for a British prep

ANY help or advice from knowledgeable Mum's is greatly appreciated!!

Thank you!!

OP posts:
Zodlebud · 24/06/2017 07:38

A lot of the preps in the Home Counties area are single sex. The only co-ed I can really think of is Gayhurst.

If you look more to the West (in a town like Berkhamsted) you have a much greater choice - Berkhamsted School (goes through to 18), Chesham Prep, Westbrook Hay, Beechwood Park and York House. All have good reputations.

CruCru · 25/06/2017 19:33

Schools worth checking out in Hampstead are:

St Anthony's (the Head was really inspiring)
The Hall (considered one of the most academic schools in north London)
Hereward House
Devonshire House
Lyndhurst House

Only Devonshire House (out of those) is co ed.

When is your son meant to enter Reception? All these schools have an assessment process so it is worth getting in touch with them to see whether it is worth registering.

I don't know anything about the other areas on your list.

Zodlebud · 26/06/2017 18:20

Boys schools in the sort of areas in the Home Counties you are looking at would be:

Davenies
The Beacon
Caldicott
Thorpe House

Caldicott is the most well known.

ArabellaRockerfella · 26/06/2017 19:05

Orley Farm is a great co-ed prep school in Harrow with amazing grounds and facilities. Worth a look.

Edincro · 26/06/2017 20:22

Boarding or day schools?

CruCru · 26/06/2017 20:27

I'd assume that the OP is looking for day schools. I don't think there are any boarding schools that take children from Reception (I could be wrong).

CruCru · 26/06/2017 20:31

Actually one school you may want to look at is Habs. It's in Hertfordshire but takes boys from age 5 (so year one). Therefore your son would need to go into preschool for the Reception year.

CruCru · 26/06/2017 20:34

Are you firmly committed to those areas, OP, or would you consider others? I ask because quite a few people I know live in Harpenden which is meant to have terrific schools.

moonbells · 27/06/2017 12:47

Hi aleigh1

There's a school search on the Independent schools council website which is linked with maps and also the official inspection reports of the schools, how big they are, facilities, standards etc.

www.isc.co.uk/schools/

Find some that you like the look of, then come back and ask specific questions!

wheredoesallthetimego · 08/07/2017 22:00

Hampstead preps like the hall require you to put the child's name down before the age of 1. Don't know if they'd make an exception for those coming from abroad.

underneaththeash · 09/07/2017 20:55

Most schools around gerard's cross and Beaconsfield are single sex apart from Gayhurst and I'd be amazed if Gayhurst was still around in a few years time, their transition to being a mixed school hasn't gone that well and they've also lost their year 7 and 8.

My boys go to Davenies in Beaconsfield - which I personally think is fantastic, especially under the new head who took over a couple of years ago. I have several friends who have children at the Beacon which is worth considering too.

We also use to live in Hampstead and as a PP said, you're too late to register for any of the decent schools, your options would be limited to Abercorn (which has a international school feel) or Devonshire House (which is awful).

Harrow is very, very different to the other places you've mentioned living in. It wouldn't be somewhere I would consider moving to.

California24 · 13/08/2017 22:43

We've had/have 3 sons at Caldicott. I'd highly recommend it if you choose Gerards Cross or Beaconsfield. Do DM me if you would like more info.

Lowdoorinthewal1 · 14/08/2017 10:49

The OP is looking for a Reception place. Caldicott starts at Y3!

Becs12345 · 11/10/2019 00:15

May I ask (sorry I know this is an old thread) why Underneatheash thinks Gayhurst wouldn’t be there in a few years time? I am actually impressed and considering it. I think given the very good results at 11+phasing our Y7/8 is a sound choice? The co-Ed boy/girl ratio is still work in progress but that also seems normal to me. I saw some inspiring teaching there and happy enthusiastic children. Facilities great too. I am pretty new to the area and I’d be interested in hearing why the scepticism. Thanks in advance!

bagelsandlox · 11/10/2019 09:12

We were in a similar situation quite a few years ago. We ended up sending DS1 to an international school for the first few years then applying to prep schools at 7+, which is a point of entry at many schools.

On another note, your housing budget would be completely different in Hampstead compared to the other places you are considering...

swanriver30 · 11/10/2019 11:58

I think Becs12345 that the state schools are so good around south Bucks and housing costs so high that fewer people may be attracted to prep schools?

BubblesBuddy · 12/10/2019 13:44

The reason they have no 11-13 cohort is that those who want this go to Caldicott or The Beacon for boys, or Godstowe for girls. Gayhurst isn’t needed in this age range and is there for 11 plus reasons. Boarding parents choose other schools because they prep more effectively for boarding at 13 at a senior school.

underneaththeash · 14/10/2019 20:16

It's because the co-ed thing hasn't really worked at Gayhurst and many of the girls leave for other schools as they get further up. I don't see how a school that's no-where near full can survive going forward.

Becs12345 · 14/10/2019 21:57

Gosh I am a bit concerned about this. And yet, I do think I should go with my own instinct. I saw two full reception classes there same as at all the other schools (visited all!). Also lots more girls in lower years and they make no secret of it that they struggle to get more girls in and no wonder with so many good girls schools around. The school is over 100 years old and I doubt they are struggling to fill up places more than others such as Thorpe H or even nationwide. I actually believe Co-Ed is the way forward (just a personal preference) but that may be because I am not English. Although obviously if I am the only fan in the village that’s not going to work😂. Gayhurst focus on 11+ which is when everyone moves on both girls and boys. An impressive amount gaining selective school places too. Lots of food for thought though and really appreciate your note underneath!

I wish some current parents would share their experiences. Suppose they aren’t trawling the internet for info anymore. Too busy fretting over 11+🙈

Prepmumm · 15/10/2019 13:38

Current parent of a girl at Gayhurst here, and these comments are completely untrue. Our daughter loved the school from the outset, and has been very happy there for 5 years. As have all the girls in her year.
The only movement has been ex-pat related and job moves back to US etc, and one girl who left for a prep-board experience, which naturally is not on the menu here. Yes, there are more boys than girls, but it is still very much a co-Ed school, with a co-Ed feel. And we love that our daughter enjoys friendships and camaraderie with both boys and girls in her year. I’ve known a couple of people with axes to grind when schools haven’t panned out quite the way they’ve wanted, (usually because there have been differences of opinions or they are not getting their own way), and I am always quick to defend where criticism is unfounded, and will always rely on my own opinions and experiences. I recommend whoever thinks they might be interested, to visit and see for themselves.

Becs12345 · 15/10/2019 16:40

So true. Thanks for that!

underneaththeash · 16/10/2019 19:54

That's not true at all about any of the years my friends have been in - so old year 6, current year 4 and current year 3. Lots of people have left for other preps in the area. Prepmum are you in a lower year?

BubblesBuddy · 17/10/2019 18:37

Probably an employee!

Co Ed is ok but boys are not guaranteed as friends as the DC get older. They have different interests and sport etc. They drift apart. In this area, many parents who pay prefer single sex preps. That’s because co Ed offers no obvious advantages from y3 to y6. Single sex concentrates on the needs of each sex with facilities to match. That’s what most parents seem to want! Rightly or wrongly!

Prepmumm · 17/10/2019 19:49

No we are in seniors, and no I’m not an employee either! A lot of the children in my daughter’s year, have siblings in other years, and they are generally happy, so I really can’t comment on the people you know in other years. Yes there is always a few exit in year 4 and 5, once they know that 11plus is not for them, and want a prep such as Beacon that goes upto year 8, but the people I know who have done that, were not unhappy. As I said, there is always someone who has had a bad experience somewhere, and feels they have an axe to grind, which is really never helpful in my opinion. Every school I have been with, has people like this, and if I’d listened to the axe grinders instead of judging how I and my child felt about the school ourselves, we’d have missed out on the positive experiences they have had.
Even the one school I did have a negative experience with once, I have never criticised openly, because it was a personal experience and a rather unique one at that. As I’m sure anyone can agree, you have to base your decision on how you feel about a place. If it feels right, it usually is. Good luck with your choice.

Prepmumm · 17/10/2019 20:08

And I do agree Bubbles, the friendships are different as they get older, but they are friendships none the less. It’s always lovely to see them work together on projects or in mixed team competitions they’ve been chosen for, or mixed cricket matches in the summer; the respect and support for one another has been lovely to see. There may not be obvious advantages to either choice, but I do find there is perhaps less cattiness in a co-Ed, kind of softens things a little!
A lot of families enjoy having their children at one school, which is an obvious draw, but with us, it just came down to how we felt when we looked around. For senior, we will probably go all girls, but for this stage of our daughter’s school journey, she has very much enjoyed being at the school, and has progressed extremely well. We can’t really ask for more than that.