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Original poster

Private Schools in London

90 replies

spook · 07/10/2004 18:17

Hi everyone. Am moving down to London soon I hope and have two DS's 7 & 5. They go to a tiny little private school at the moment don't have a problem with state school atall but I just think (esp DS1) would find it incredibly hard to adjust to bigger classes.
Can anyone recomend any good schools to us? I am hoping to move to Fulham but schooling is so important I am very open to suggestion. Hill House in up on my list-my God-Daughters went three and really rate it. Any ideas?? TIA

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Beetroot · 07/10/2004 18:19

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Beccarollover · 07/10/2004 18:27

On a purely trivial note I think the one where they wear knickerbockers!

Original poster
spook · 07/10/2004 18:34

Hi Beety-yes I did. Could she possibly e-mail me the details or point me in the right direction of which agent?? I could check out their web-site and then view it direct through her. Chances are if it's in that area in my budget then I'll have it on file anyway.

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Original poster
spook · 07/10/2004 18:34

Bet you can just see little Swinny in brown knickerbockers can't you. Sumo!!

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Beccarollover · 07/10/2004 18:54

I can SO see swinny in knickerbockers - infact if its that school they go to i need a photo of him to make me laugh on dull days.

foxinsocks · 08/10/2004 10:53

I have a few friends with children at Ravenscourt Park Prep School in Hammersmith. They absolutely love it (and it's boys and girls which is a big plus for some people).

foxinsocks · 08/10/2004 10:56

here's the website ravenscourt park

sponge · 08/10/2004 11:04

Yes, Hill House is the Knickerbocker one. It's quite a big school though so will be a different atmosphere to what they've been used to.
We also live in Fulham and dd has just started in reception at the Hampshire Schools. It's a really small cosy co-ed school in the Gloucester Road/ South Ken area. So far we're really pleased with it and dd is loving it.
As well as being very caring with the kids and having a good academic record they also do a lot with working parents in mind, so you can drop children off from 8am, they have stay and play until 6pm (inc some homework time for older ones), they have daily activities during half terms (swimming trips, visits to museums, Tower of London etc) and so on, which all makes it much easier to organise working and having school age kids.
If you're interested have a look here Hampshire Schools

sponge · 08/10/2004 11:07

There's also Fulham Prep which I believe is quiite good, also co-ed, and has recently opened a big new building so I think is more likely to have vacancies for older ones.
We didn't look at it as it was full for reception level so I can't give you much more info.

soapbox · 08/10/2004 11:11

Are you wedded to Fulham. I only ask because the best concentration of really good private schools is in the Dulwich area. You have JAPS, Allyns (sp?), dulwich college and more that I can't remember! Aloha will no doubt have much better info than me!

The school for gifted children is Newton Prep in Battersea.

Eltham College I think got the times best prep school in the south east award.

Original poster
spook · 08/10/2004 12:21

Thanks everyone. You are really really helping me. It's just like this huge cloud of the unknown ahead of me and any suggestions are so so welcome. I am going to order all their prospectuses. Soapbox-I'm not really wedded to Fulham. What's Dulwich like??

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soapbox · 08/10/2004 12:25

I like it (but only to visit - don't live there), very villagy feel to it, beautiful houses. If you choose the right part, you can get a fair bit for your money!

Aloha lives there I think - why don't you put out a message for her!

Did you see my post re fees on your other thread???

Original poster
spook · 08/10/2004 12:31

Yes I did honey and I replied. Thankyou so much. Hill House looks like one of the cheaper ones. Some of them are 3 grand a term which there is NO WAY DH will pay-considering that's one of his main arguements. Aswell as the fact that London "stinks" apparentley! I wonder why Hill House is cheap?? Mmm.

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Azure · 08/10/2004 13:20

Battersea / Clapham has quite a few private schools, e.g. St Thomas's, although no personal experience. What about Kew? Ravenscourt Park Prep (already mentioned - very good school) has just opened a sister school there called Kew Green Prep School, in lovely newly refurbished buildings. £3k a term, though. Alternatively, my sister's kids go to a really good state school in Kew, Queens C of E.

Original poster
spook · 08/10/2004 14:11

Thanks Azure. Have just ordered Ravenscourt prospectus but they're full. Said may be bit of room in Kew but is that not a bit of a trek from Fulham. I don't know! Good old Hill House said they could fit us in though! It's winning...knickerbockers,places,cheapest!! Shouldn't this be telling me something! If it's good enough for Prince Charles it's good enough for 2 young Geordie boys

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Azure · 08/10/2004 14:25

Yes, Kew would be too much of a trek from Fulham, but would be a nice place to live (apart from the noise of the aeroplanes). We've been trying to get DS into Ravenscourt Park Prep for September 05 entry, but without success. I've often seen Hill House kids in and around Hyde Park - I'm amazed it's cheaper than other options.

Davros · 08/10/2004 14:36

What about Putney High?

Original poster
spook · 08/10/2004 14:54

Hi Davros. Is that a junior school. They are only 5 & 7? But Putney is certainly near enough to Fulham (I think)

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anorak · 08/10/2004 15:47

Knickerbockers! You cannot be serious!

ScummyMummy · 08/10/2004 15:56

I have to admit to finding the Hill House uniform er.. how do I put this tactfully.. can't think! Will shut up now before I start annoying everyone.

There is a girls prep school in central London where the poor wee bairns have to wear long red nightcaps and blue cloak/poncho affairs. I always try not to laugh as I don't want to be responsible for crushing some poor child's self-esteem but it is very very difficult to stop my facial muscles twitching, I have to say.

Azure · 08/10/2004 16:20

Spook, have you looked at the Ofsted website and www.upmystreet.com to give you an idea of schools in the area you are looking? I think Putney High is for girls only.

Twinkie · 08/10/2004 16:22

Spook there are loads of good schools near us in SE London.

Original poster
spook · 08/10/2004 16:33

I originally wanted to be around SW6 because all my friends are in this area and my god-daughters/chief babysitters are in South Ken. But I guess it depends where the best,most affordable schools are with places. I'm scared of being in London on my own,miles away from a familiar face to be honest

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Beccarollover · 08/10/2004 16:45

I think knickerbockers are cool!

foxinsocks · 08/10/2004 16:57

Azure, keep going on at Ravenscourt. I have 2 friends who held out and held out (kept going back to the school to tell them they were holding on and that they were the one and only school they wanted) and hey presto, they both got places. Lots of people move around (especially as the term gets closer) and loads of people have to take other places up (worrying that they won't get anywhere at all!) so you may still be lucky.

(sorry for the diversion spook - p.s. if you can get places at Hill House and you like it, I would go with it. I can't imagine there will be very many private schools in London that would have the places for both your kids so I would grab the chance with both hands!)

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