Reception choices : Fulham Pre-Prep / Sinclair House / Hampshire

[HKMartin]

Dear all,

I have spent sometime visiting the schools in west London area and these few schools are the ones I like so far, with enthusiastic teaching staff and good facilities to go with. For my boy who likes music quite a bit and have individual piano lessons, while also using English as a second language, could you comment on suitability / strength of each school? Thanks!

I don’t know Sinclair house. I personally would rank Fulham above Hampshire. More settled school population and my perception from others is that the teaching is a bit more thorough. But I know families happy at both

Thanks Michaelahpurple. I am impressed with the systemic approach / size of Fulham Pre Prep, just that I am hesitant a bit about the “Good” Ofsted report and that whether an international student will feel comfortable in the bigger / smaller schools (SInclair is smaller and they left me a good impression too). Any parents in the area could share some thoughts ? thanks!

Ofsted good is still "good"! It's not bad! The only valid criticism in the report I think was they did not stretch the most able girls (or those very able who were somehow not in the scholarship classes in year 7/8. I am not sure that is relevant for your child now, especially if they need to catch up on English. Would agree that Fulham prep is the best out of those three - you have asked about Merlin on the other thread and that would be the best hands down, it's an excellent school. It does mean they need to transfer at 8+ (and it may well be to fulham prep if at that stage they are not at the level to enter highly selective schools), but I'd say value for money in the early years is best at Merlin.