Milbourne Lodge or Shrewsbury House Pre-prep

SWisbest · 2018-06-20T16:58:57+00:00

Our son has been offered a place at both Milbourne Lodge and Shrewsbury House Pre-prep (which means he'll go onto the prep too). We're struggling to decide on which place to accept. They appear to be on a par academically and we're keen that our son uses up excess energy which is why Milbourne appeals but at the same time we are a little worried at how small it is. Does anyone know how much sport is done at Shrewsbury pre-prep for example? I know the prep seems to have a far greater range of activities (and possibly better facilities all round?). Any advice gratefully received!

ContributorMimir · 05/09/2018 12:20

Milborne stronger academically by a long way. SHS is a lot of show and flashy facilities.

ContributorMimir · 05/09/2018 12:21

PS - lots of sport at SHS but major focus is with A team boys

Kkkkkkk1 · 30/10/2018 13:53

What did you decide in the end? We have the same decision to make for 2019 entry. My little boy appears to be quite sporty.
Thanks

Original poster

SWisbest · 27/12/2018 18:05

Sorry for the radio silence...
We went for Shrewsbury. We felt Milbourne was too small and that on balance both our son, and ourselves, would fit in better in a (slightly) larger school environment. We definitely felt more "comfortable" at Shrewsbury.

OP posts:

MS2321 · 29/05/2019 17:34

Hi I have the same situation to choose between SHPP and ML. Could you please advice how you managed the timelines.

SHPP is for Pre school and ML for Reception.So we have offer from SHPP while assessment is due in ML. If I wait for ML I may have to loose SHPP which is not what I want to.

Else I need to let my LO do his pre school in SHPP then shift to ML which will be too much of change for the LO. What is the best way to deal with this ?

trinity0097 · 02/06/2019 21:26

Almost all the children coming to Milbourne will have done nursery schooling elsewhere and all cope very well with the change in environment when they start.

Original poster

SWisbest · 08/06/2019 17:04

I agree with trinity0097 I don't think that moving from shpp nursery to ML reception would be too unsettling if that's what you were thinking of doing.
Our son has been at the same full-time nursery since 11 months old so a slightly different scenario.
All of the pre-preps will be used to supporting the children through the changes be it starting nursery or reception.
Good luck!

OP posts:

NearlyNearlySummer · 23/03/2022 20:12

Hello, does anyone have any up to date info? We were considering both, but have rapidly discounted Milbourne Lodge following hearing a few unrelated stories of bullying and children being ‘managed out’ if the parents complain. So we are focussing on Shrewsbury, but don’t have as much info. Thanks

Ayaboo · 11/04/2026 16:22

Nearly nearly summer
we saw you everywhere in different posts about milbourn lodge . But all smoke and mirror rather than saying exactly what’s going on and being transparent.
did your kid get managed out ?

NearlyNearlySummer · 11/04/2026 21:51

Ayaboo, I just had a email notification about your post and am really confused...you do realize this was a post from 2022? And no, my child wasn't 'managed out' (what an odd thing to say) and is now in a highly selective secondary school even though we chose a nurturing school in the end.

You seem to be desperate for an interesting back story. We did a trial, my child witnessed quite extreme bullying that was ignored even in that short time period so we quickly got out of there! He was warned by a child he met on the day not to join as it was so awful.

We've since heard many heartbreaking stories first hand from quite distraught parents about what their children went though at the school, with no help from the head. l've felt a responsibility to answer the threads to help parents make informed choices.

As an aside I've since met one of the very positive mums from a previous post, their child got badly bullied and the head ignored it. They have since left. We both think the glowing posts that followed were written by the school.

Ayaboo · 12/04/2026 06:38

NearlyNearlySummer · 11/04/2026 21:51

Ayaboo, I just had a email notification about your post and am really confused...you do realize this was a post from 2022? And no, my child wasn't 'managed out' (what an odd thing to say) and is now in a highly selective secondary school even though we chose a nurturing school in the end.

You seem to be desperate for an interesting back story. We did a trial, my child witnessed quite extreme bullying that was ignored even in that short time period so we quickly got out of there! He was warned by a child he met on the day not to join as it was so awful.

We've since heard many heartbreaking stories first hand from quite distraught parents about what their children went though at the school, with no help from the head. l've felt a responsibility to answer the threads to help parents make informed choices.

As an aside I've since met one of the very positive mums from a previous post, their child got badly bullied and the head ignored it. They have since left. We both think the glowing posts that followed were written by the school.

I am sorry to hear this . I tried to delete my post but system won’t allow me to.
I have PM ed you

NearlyNearlySummer · 12/04/2026 14:26

Ayaboo · 12/04/2026 06:38

I am sorry to hear this . I tried to delete my post but system won’t allow me to.
I have PM ed you

Show quote history

It sounds like you’re trying to make sure that you make the right decision for your child following your experience there - with as much knowledge from others as possible. This is always a good thing.

I’ve PM’d you back, hopefully that helps.

Itsfunseason · 15/04/2026 15:25

Appreciate this post was resurrected from the grave. I’ve got two at Milbourne. I can’t obviously speak on others experience but my kids haven’t experienced any issues like bullying and are very happy there. I wanted to add that just because people have given glowing reviews of the school on here, it doesn’t mean that the school itself is posting this. Most of the parents we speak to (daily!) rarely have a negative thing to say. The headteacher is no frills - say it like it is which I personally find refreshing. My kids will be staying put and I hope others get to visit the school and make up their own minds about whether the school is right for their children.

Ayaboo · 15/04/2026 17:49

Itsfunseason · 15/04/2026 15:25

Appreciate this post was resurrected from the grave. I’ve got two at Milbourne. I can’t obviously speak on others experience but my kids haven’t experienced any issues like bullying and are very happy there. I wanted to add that just because people have given glowing reviews of the school on here, it doesn’t mean that the school itself is posting this. Most of the parents we speak to (daily!) rarely have a negative thing to say. The headteacher is no frills - say it like it is which I personally find refreshing. My kids will be staying put and I hope others get to visit the school and make up their own minds about whether the school is right for their children.

Thanks so much