Surbiton boys prep or Claremont fancourt!!

[Niceeyes]

DS has been accepted into Year 3 at both but we are totally confused which offer to accept! Claremont seems more pastoral less academic but has amazing grounds and facilities. Surbiton boys seems more academic but no onsite grounds. Does anyone have DC who go to either? What are your thoughts? Help

It depends if you want your ds to move again at 11.
If you go for CFC he can stay until 18 without pressure. If you go for SHS boys prep from year 5 the focus and chat amongst parents will be where to go next ie CFC, Kingston Grammar, Hampton, St John's leatherhead, Reeds, Epsom etc or state options. The ds have constant practice papers, mock exams, real exams, interviews etc resulting in offers in Feb of year 6.
CFC is mega popular at the moment due to the new head so if you are happy with a mixed all through school then go for it. But if you want a more academic single sex or mixed sex challenge post age 11 for your ds go for SHS prep

As above really. Surbiton boys will be prepping for 11+ and pressure mounts from year 5 onwards. Saying that , they get good results to top day schools. Also bear in mind that as it’s more academic, they will ask children to leave the school if they aren’t cutting it academically. I know of a few that weren’t allowed to progress to year 3 after being in surbiton since reception. Saying that, the new boys head is fantastic and has lost of experience and passion. Having seen both , I preferred CFC and we are sitting for CFC for 11+ for our DS. As a parent currently going through the 11+ process, if I could dodge it all and get a through school, with hindsight, I would have done just that. Again, that’s my experience with a child that gets stressed and wound up easily and doesn’t cope well with pressure. What is your DS character like?

Thank you SO much. It’s Claremont all day long. My DS has just been through a divorce (me not him ) so I need less stress for him. He’s clever but I don’t want him to be pressured- he’s only 7. I want him to enjoy being little. Life is long ....thank you ladies/gents! Xx

Glad you have come to a decision and good luck. We will hopefully be there ourselves in 2021

My son left Surbiton boys a couple of years ago. Don't think it was a bad thing to have a range of schools to choose between for senior school and the staff at Surbiton really helped guide our decisions to choosing the right school - my DS wasn't hugely aware of any pressure for 11+ throughout. My three DCs are all very different and I can't imagine one school suiting them all.

Just as an FYI, I'm not sure you are guaranteed a place at CFC for Seniors any more just because you were in the juniors.