is feeding School still very important for entering top boys schools when Pre-test have been used by most top Independent schools

[boystiredmum]

Pre-test is very hard this days and it will exclude a lot of students from traditional prep schools. in this case, is it still very important to send kids to Feeding Schools for those top private boys schools? How many % kids go to top boys private schools are from feeding schools? what is exactly the meaning of "feeding school" if the selection is down to the Academic pre-test?

You don't need to go to a feeder school if you have a bright and engaged child. Just find a good tutor via word of mouth and some mock 11+ tests.

My local hot house prep isn't a feeder for anywhere but the boys do secure places in a number of different top schools.

Feeders are not important for passing the prep test, but, as they are familiar with the expectations of the senior school, help to prepare for interview, Common Entrance and most importantly for Scholarships. And then there is of course the head's reference. Also, most preps drill kids in prep test style CAT tests from year 2 or 3, so there should be some preparation for the actual prep test at a good feeder school. But it's certainly not essential to have gone to a certain prep to win a place at any senior school.

Trad "feeder"schools, tied to one or two schools are I think out of date. You want somewhere that prepares for the pretests (which is the same as prepping for 11+ but beyond that the top schools are about attainment really

Where are you targeting?

we are thinking of top boys schools.

I thought feeding school has some "special" relationships with top schools?

They might have relationship with the children visiting the senior school for events for example. However, it’s largely about marketing for the senior school to attract large numbers of quality candidates. The prep schools sending large numbers of pupils to, say, Eton, will benefit as that’s what attracts certain parents to that particular threads.
However, if your child is highly academic with a lot more to offer (eg sport, music etc) then top senior schools will be happy to have them regardless of prep or even state school attended.

*what attracts parents to the particular preps.

I think if you see that a good number of DC have gone to a particular senior school, then the Head will be known to that school. It will also mean DC and their parents are encouraged to apply to realistic schools. Also look at scholarships to see where DC go. This is more important when you move from prep to senior.

Plenty of prep schools near me wouldn’t ever send a DS to Harrow or Eton. Or DDs to Wycombe Abbey or CLC. Others I know of do. However parents want different outcomes so always go to a prep that clearly preps for your final senior school of choice. However it’s wise to be flexible as DCs get older and not fix on one school without considering others.

The Tatler Guide is actually a good start!

The best top boys schools don’t have feeders. For example we have just had 4 boys go to Eton, from a small Prep with a year group of under 30 - even Eton have told us this is unheard of for a school of our size!

The right child will get in to the best schools, and will usually get multiple offers too.

Yes it’s “unheard of” so not typical. That was my point. From others it’s the norm. There are preps which send larger numbers to top boys schools. Year after year. Not “unheard of” once in a lifetime schools.

Not necessarily a feeder school but a prep that has experience in sending pupils to a reasonable range of senior schools. Then they can advise you as to the best fit schools for a DC based on experience rather hearsay or purely from parental desire.
There is another reason to select prep schools with experience sending pupils to full boarding schools such as Eton. Entrance to such schools is based not only on ability but also suitability to full boarding and being able to make the most of opportunities from full boarding. The prep school can give an indication of this in their reference based on their experience.

I have to agree with you OP, send and Bubble.

Been to two boarding preps that are regular feeders, and found the Heads of top schools seemingly hanging around with the Head of that prep and talking to prospective parents at the same time. Also have a look at your target prep school's newsletters, usually there are telltale signs of close relationships, where the Prep will have some visits to the top seniors - what is named a Heads meeting, but you find the yr8s tagging along.

All that being said, these schools will take a clever boy who passes the exams, but I assume you ask because you want a bit of an edge.

Hence my question about which schools are you targeting - "top schools" just isn't specific enough. If you say where you are interested in, the MN hive mind may have more to say about suitable paths.

Selection can also confuse things. For instance, DS2's prep school cohort secured over 20 Eton places (although took about 8-9) of them only but is highly selective too, so is it a "feeder" or does it just have a lot of academic boys who are well prepped for exams?

One person's "too school" may not be what another considers to be one!