Lambrook Prep

[StillLooking1]

I am considering Lambrook for my two DSs for Lambrook to start in Yrs 2 and 3. We had been looking at single sex for prep level, by Lambrook looks really great so I've added it to the list. Would be interested in the views of any current / recent parents out there - particularly parents of boys? I've heard nothing negative so far. Thanks.

Hopeful bump

Also interested and haven't had a reply from admissions to my enquiry yet.....

I’m also interested to hear current views on the school. Can anyone shed any light?

Caveat that I am neither a parent or teacher but I know a lot of parents of kids and also teachers there and they all rate it highly. They seem a very sporty school, lovely grounds and pitches, the teachers seem happy and well treated, not quite as academic as some preps in the area though well prepared to stretch an able kid if needed. I've met the head and he is lovely as well. I can't speak to the girls but the boys all seem to come out as well mannered all-rounders.

We only decided against it for our DSs because we wanted somewhere all boys and a bit smaller (it has 550 pupils, not quite as big as the Dragon and yes that is bumped up by the little ones under 7 but still pretty big, most of the other schools we were looking at were less than 200) and wanted destination schools of Eton/Harrow/Winchester whereas Lambrook leavers skewed more towards schools like Wellington (44 in the last 2 years)/Bradfield (33 in the last 2 years)/Marlborough. Which are also excellent schools of course, but it just shows which schools they maintain good links with.

And again they do send kids to Eton and Harrow and have good links with them too of course, just not nearly so many as go to Wellington and Bradfield.

@Xiaoxiong that's really helpful, thanks. I've contacted them to try and visit. I would actually prefer all boys too but DH thinks we should explore co-ed so this is the one. I'm looking at Woodcote House and Sunningdale soon too. Papplewick potentially. I'm less concerned about aiming for Eton / Harrow really. just want them to have the best possible fit for now. Did you choose another school in the area?

Yes we did Jelly, the last one you mentioned and I cannot wax more lyrical about it. Best decision we could have made for DS1 and we hope DS2 will too when he's old enough. At his old school which was mixed he was coming home with all sorts of sexist stuff, girls do music boys do football, girls do English boys do maths, girls are arty and ride horses, boys like football football football, an absolute tide of nonsense which I don't think was coming from the teachers but who knows. Since moving to a single sex school all that has gone, because at a boys school all the art and the music and the drama and riding and stuff previously dubbed "girly" is being done all by boys. His maths and reading have exploded, mainly because with a class size of 12 every boy is being given the help and attention they need and allowed to work at their own pace, even if that is completely out of step with where they "should" be (his old school was all about where they should be, book bands and age appropriate levels). He has snakes and bearded dragons, playing two instruments, he knows loads of older boys because the school is so small and they all do play together, which has massively helped his confidence to have year 6s cheering his name on the touchline of the rugby pitch. When we had a nascent possible bullying problem they came down on it like a tonne of bricks and it seems to have worked (though still keeping an eye) - anyway, any school that says there is no bullying is deluding themselves, it's about how the school deals with it. Cannot recommend highly enough.

Oh that's really, really interesting and confirms some of my worries. One of my boys is already saying all that girl/ boy stuff at 4.5. Thanks so much again. Will definitely visit.

Yes do come and look round!! Compared to Lambrook it isn't a beautiful school - some parts seem to be held together with mud and duct tape - but it's all perfectly functional for a pack of madly active boys and you can see where the money is spent: on the lovely new boarding facilities, the academic resources, and I assume the teachers' salaries who all seem to be extremely pleased to be teaching there. I think they've had no turnover of teachers (apart from the gappies) for a couple of years now, some of the teachers have been there for decades and it's the kind of experience and institutional wisdom that we were looking for to show that the teachers feel happy and supported. Also don't be put off by the mandatory weekly boarding in Y7 and 8 - long before they get to Y7 they seem to be begging to board with their friends, and a few do leave at the end of Y6 to continue on as day boys elsewhere.

Hello,xiaoxiong are you talking about Papplewick ?

Hello dragon, yep many great schools out there, this one just happens to suit our DS down to the ground (so far!!)

Thank you xiaoxiong! Do you know what's the ratio between day and borders for younger kids? My son is 6 and I don't think he would like the boarding option as he is our only child and can be very clingy. Many thanks

Hi dragon I'm not sure of the exact ratio but my impression is that until Y7 and 8, few boys are doing a full week boarding (if at all) but many do one or two nights or every so often. Then it turns into weekly, coming home every weekend. I think the good schools guide or the Tatler guide might have the exact boarding/day ratios for each year but I know there is one house for Y8, one for Y7 and one for all other years which implies a small boarding number relative to day for years 2-6.

DS1 is your son's age and definitely wouldn't cope with boarding now, we still find him in our bed with his teddies. However he's got 4.5 more years to think about it and do a few taster days/residential trips to see how he feels before we have to make any decisions one way or another. I also know boys who have left at the end of Y6 to start at day secondary schools like Hampton, so it's certainly not the case that sending your son there would put them on a treadmill to boarding kicking and screaming against their will or isolate them socially - there are plenty who are day or flexi all the way up until they have to start weekly at the end of Y6.

My thinking is - you don't choose a school once, you re-select it every year because things change, teachers change, activities change...your clingy 6 year old may turn into a 10 year old desperate to board - or your seemingly independent 8 year old desperate to board with all his buddies may decide it isn't for them once one or two of them leave. It's a rare school that fits for everyone all the way through anyway!

Ok we have a date in the diary to visit Papplewick @Xiaoxiong
Quick question - I am wondering why it's a fair bit more expensive than all the other comparative preps. Will the reason for this become clear when I look around?! Otherwise I'll have to just come straight out and ask them! Tia.

My thinking is - you don't choose a school once, you re-select it every year because things change, teachers change, activities change...your clingy 6 year old may turn into a 10 year old desperate to board - or your seemingly independent 8 year old desperate to board with all his buddies may decide it isn't for them once one or two of them leave. It's a rare school that fits for everyone all the way through anyway!

This really should be pinned to the top of every boarding thread. It's so, so true.

(Lovely to hear such well judged satisfaction with a school. We really liked the sound of that one but were scared of the reptiles!)

Completely agree @GeorgeTheBleeder

Jelly I don't know but if I had to speculate I would guess it's because the class sizes are smaller, but overheads the same as other schools. DS1's previous prep school had a class of 20, now he is in a class of 12 but with the same number of teachers, TAs, more activities etc. Also the teachers are experienced, so I presume more expensive salaries and Ts & Cs. Happy well treated teachers are definitely a good thing though!

Thanks @Xiaoxiong I thought it might be something like that.

George so were we, DH gamely held a snake with a very scared DS on the tour and showed me afterwards he had sweat stains from fear!!! I promise that as a parent you never see the reptiles again if you don't want to

@Xiaoxiong do you mind if I PM you please?

Sure jelly, thanks for the heads up - I guess I will have to log in on my computer since the mumsnet app still seems to not have any way to access messages!

Thanks @Xiaoxiong I read messages on my app. I only ever use the app.

I think it's settings and then policies and support?

Hmm seems to have disappeared. Don't worry I won't pm you yet. Let's wait til they sort out whatever's going on with that!

@Xiaoxiong we are registered for our son to start at Papplewick in year 2 on September of this year. Do you mind if I PM you a couple of questions? Thanks!