Does anyone have experience of Cumnor House (Sussex), Great Walstead, Handcross Park, or Cottesmore Schools?

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Hi,

Looking for advice from any parents who have their children at or looked at Cumnor House (Sussex), Great Walstead, Handcross Park, Cottesmore schools?

We're based in Haywards Heath and looking for a prep school to send our son to in the next year or so, can anyone advise on these schools? We're after a prep that keeps children children, teaches kindness, social side for parents to get involved if they wish etc.

Thanks!

Yes, would be great to get other opinions on this. I have visited both schools and like them just as much, so really hard to make a decision!

Handcross were just awarded prep school of the year by independent schools magazine.

Cumnor is fab non selective school. Excellent pastoral care and special needs department. Great art and drama too x

I have children at Great Walstead and wouldn't recommend it. There is a huge focus on the outdoors (woods and farm) but at the expense of academics. A high number of children all the way through the school are in learning support (additional cost) and a large volume of children are not getting into their 1st choice secondary school, counter to what the school suggests. In the past 24months, countless good teachers have left as have multiple students. Some parents have eaten the 1 term fee and moved their child. Spend your hard-earnt money elsewhere

We have visited Great Walsted, Cumnor, Handcross, Hurst and Ardingly.

Great Walsted: Good relaxed atmosphere but Ofsted reports were not great. When we asked about reading with pur child, one response was around 2 to 3 times a week.

Cumnor: Great friendly feel, head knows what he wants, good all round and especially good with exersise and wellbeing. But nursery is one big room split into two and head is leaving this summer.

Hurst: kids seemed happy. Teachers could have been happier. School numbers have grown quickly. Not sure if that's a great thing.

Ardingly: Really liked this school. Everyone seemed happy and teachers we saw in pre-prep were very knowledgable and kind.

Handcross: Really good outside space for pre-prep and nursery. Free flow when the kids want in the younger years.

We shortlisted Handcross and Ardingly.

Handcross is somewhere I would completely avoid. My kids have played marches against them and they are some of the rudest, most entitled kids in the circuit. The school doesn’t seem to encourage kindness at all.

I don’t know much about the other schools but, having sent both of my kids to Cottesmore, I wouldn’t hesitate to do so again. Why? Because the HM genuinely cares about and knows all of the kids. It feels like a big, happy family and my daughter - who has since gone to Wellington - says she misses it every day. There is an unusual level of interest in genuinely finding a child’s passion in line with the Ken Robinson approach to schooling. I have found that many schools say they’ll find your child’s unique qualities then go on to reward only the things that show up on league tables.
It cans cope with kids who are highly academic, really inspiring them to achieve, but also deal with those who are quirky and unusual. Furthermore, the kids have a childhood. Neither of my kids are addicted to social media or phones, they have both learned the value of doing things with others rather than endlessly posting about them.
I feel so grateful that the school exists and that my children have had this start on life. If only more were like this.
Gushing over💕👏🏻⭐️

Agree with above about Cottesmore

I agree with comment about Handcross above, we had our son in the Preprep there for one week and moved him swiftly, not for him or us. I know of the headmaster at Cottesmore through a friend and it's a great school :) Our son is at Great Walstead and we are very happy with it so far. You really need to visit them all and get a vibe.

Sorry, you moved your son out of Handcross after one week because of rudeness?

cumnor House Sussex is not a good school. Very superficial. The headmaster is very good at recruiting new families but as soon as there is an issue he steps back and doesn’t want to be involved. He would always take the side of his staff. Pastoral care is below acceptable with the new deputy head. They all seem frustrated young people who endedeup working in a school because they did not succeed in something else. The sports hall is full of mould and has no heating system. They invest in what catches the eye of new potential clients and not on what really matters.

I didnt move because of rudeness, I moved because it was not the right school for my child. Period. I dont want a hothouse and thats what Handcross Park has become, its even renamed itself 'Brighton College Prep School'.

I just wanted to say that Cumnor House Sussex is an amazing school. We have two children there and could not be happier. The headteacher is fantastic and the pastoral care is second to none. The teachers all have such a keen interest in helping your children. They encourage good manners and always aim high! The parents are lovely, well most of them! We couldn't wish for a better school for our children. I totally disagree with all of the comments the person above has written so please don't be put off! Clearly they are not happy but its certainly not the view.of the rest of the parents. Such a happy school!

@Happyoutdoorkidz I have to wholeheartedly agree with you. I have three children at Cumnor House Sussex and we’ve been really happy at every stage of their journey there. My youngest is in the Nursery, which is second to none. My middle one is in Pre-Prep at the moment, the staff are so nurturing and supportive, they genuinely go above and beyond. The new playground is the best I’ve ever seen, the kids are incredibly lucky! My eldest is in Prep and is thriving with all the personal care, facilities and opportunities.

From my experience, the leadership is strong and very supportive. It’s a real open-door-policy type of school. All three of mine are thriving there, and I’d say the pastoral care is one of the school’s greatest strengths.