Wetherby Prep (Marylebone) - any first hand experience / helpful comments?

[RaspberryCake]

We are considering sending our DS to Wetherby Prep (Marylebone) in Year 3, from Sept 2019. Does anyone have first hand experience or helpful comments that they can share on this forum? At the risk of sounding pedantic, comments about the pre-prep (Notting Hill or Kensington) won't be that helpful in making a decision and we are looking for information on the Prep (7 - 13 yrs) only / specifically. Many thanks!

Hi,
I was curious if you made a decision on Wetherby Prep for your son. Do you mind sharing why did you make a yes or no decision. We are moving to London from Chicago in July 2019 and recently got our son assessed and have an offer from them for Year 3. Trying to clear my mind on if would should accept or not! Thanks

Xbbg

Whether to take the place depends on your son and what other options you have.

We live near Wetherby and are thinking about it too. Current parents say that it’s a good London prep academically and sports wise but very much a “bankers” school - good if you like hanging out at social occasions with rich international banker-ish parents. Last year the head decided to run a campaign on politeness because pupils were speaking rudely to their nannies and drivers. It’s the sort of school where kids have drivers... (this is not the norm in the UK....)

I’m personally not sure if our family would fit in there but we live nearby and it also depends what our other options are come the time.

We decided to take the place for our DS. I think it is a strong school, although certainly more mixed ability than a top tier academic school like St Paul's. I really find that we have few options in central London. I heard of some amazing schools in North London but I live nowhere near them so not an option. Much depends also on where you live.

Hi,

We accepted the offer too! Seems like our sons will be in the same class since there will be only one year 3 classroom. We also have a 3 year old girl so now figuring out schooling options for her an logistic like housing, using the school transportation or not. Do you mind if I ask where do you live?

I will PM you.

Hi. My son is at WB prep as well. Can either of you pm me on your experience so far with WB?

We ended up deferring for one year so DS will only start in autumn 2020 (year 4).

I have a family member with 2 boys there. They have just been told that they don’t feel the older of the 2 is “Wetherby material” and have told them not to bother applying for the senior school.
He is a well behaved quiet boy but not very academic, he’s heartbroken not to be going up to the next stage with his friends.
Maybe this is standard for London Private schools ?

What year is the boy in? If he's in year 6, how much time does he have to apply to other schools?

He did get enough notice, but it still seems cruel to me

It's more cruel to put him into a senior school that can't cater for him where he'd be the bottom in everything. It's hard to hear but it's the right call.

Well you might be right but someone has to be bottom.
My dc are at Private school and it’s not something their school would ever do.
I suppose it’s how it is in ultra competitive schools who need to show excellent results, although my dcs school is non selective and achieves GCSE results similar to the closest State Grammar so it is possible without only selecting the children who you think will do what you need them to to boost your stats

Yes but a non selective school is set to teach to and to cater to a range of abilities. If it's a selective school and he's well outside their range it really won't be a nice experience because the work will be well ahead of him. There's bottom but still being catered for and in a like group and then there's outlier. If they don't think he would succeed I wouldn't push them. It's just the nature of selective schools. They are teaching a tightly grouped band.

All very well but Wetherby Senior isn’t what I’d call a very selective school. Kids in central London who are superbright don’t go to Wetherby, they are day pupils at Westminster, City of London, St Paul’s, or boarders at Eton or Winchester. It’s also a new school without a track record of strong academic results: I’m not even sure if they’ve had a full of year 11s who’ve sat GCSEs yet.

It’s my first time writing here as we really wanna know more above Wetherby senior & it’s prep School. It would be grateful if exist parents could share more. We have a morning visit in Wetherby senior this week, we live nearby the school, we will be sitting assessment next month but we are doubt whether we should take it after the visit as we found the school students are polite & open- minded but there are only very few Chinese in the school and the prep school students also have their visits. It seems it’s a very competitive school even the prep school students are not getting guaranteed places.

Bump

Hi there, may I know if you take the offer in the end? How is your DS’s experience at the school? I’m also planning to send my DS there.

Hi all! We are considering Wetherby Prep for DS. We are not looking for the most pushy school but still care about academic rigour i.e. not have to solely rely on tutoring. Any colour will be very helpful. Thanks

Sent you a PM