Danes Hill or Cranleigh Prep - Would love to hear your experience of these schools?

[Loveabathtub]

I am looking for a new school for my two children ( a boy and a girl who want to stay together). They are of average ability. The girl is very anxious and shy. The boy has dyslexia and dyspraxia but is super confident. They both love drama and singing. They enjoy sport but neither excel at it. I am struggling to decide which school is right for them. I would love to hear anyones experience in these schools.

OP, you should probably add that (I'm guessing) you mean Daneshill prep school in Hampshire and not Danes Hill School on Oxshott Surrey which wouldn't be suitable.

@Singingrain1223

OP, you should probably add that (I'm guessing) you mean Daneshill prep school in Hampshire and not Danes Hill School on Oxshott Surrey which wouldn't be suitable.

Actually I was referring to Danes Hill in Oxshott, Surrey. I would prefer a days school for the children but there are very few co-eds in the area with a decent amount of girls in. I suspect you are referring to it not being suitable because it is so big or is there any other knowledge you can share? I would be very grateful.

I'm not a parent but local and yes it's a big school, not great for a shy anxious dd, have they offered you both places? Have you looked at Feltonfleet and would you consider Rowan Prep in Claygate for your dd?

Also what ages are your dc? I can understand the problem as there are so many single sex schools locally that go all through for girls and attract dc from age 5 - ie Notre Dame, Surbiton High etc.
Claremont Fan doesn't sound right for your ds. If Danes Hill have offered to him he will probably love it.

I would look at Ripley Court, Downsend and Greenfield. Neither Cranleigh or Danes Hill are known for its Sen support. Both are very sporty schools. I would reconsider putting both in the same school as your daughter may find it easier in one of the many girls schools in the area, many of which are feeder schools to decent senior schools.

Thanks for your advice. They are twins and inseparable, hence the dilemma. Single sex schools are not in the equation sadly. My daughter used to be super confident until she lost her friendship circle at school. This has had a devastating effect on her both emotionally and academically. They are both currently at quite an academic school which isn't working due to lack of girls.

Gosh what a dilemma. I would go with your gut feeling but ask as many questions as possible to the Registrar, Head of Year and current parents - hence your post. Danes Hill is a lovely school with lots of facilities as you probably know. Perhaps have a eye on a secondary school for your dd and check they send a good cohort there so she can move with a friendship group at 11 or 13.

(It's not academic but 1 other option is Ewell Castle, it has an excellent new head and is all through).

Thanks, hadn’t heard of Ewell Castle. Will take a look at that now.

If you're looking at Cranleigh it may also be worth looking at Pennthorpe or Duke of Kent (though this one may be too small)

Hi OP. I’ve got two at Cranleigh Prep. We are really happy with the school. Solid academics, strong music and art, and a big focus on sport. No direct experience of SEN support but I know lots of friends that have, and general feeling is that the school are quick to intervene when needed and a good level of support is provided. It is a very busy, vibrant and fast moving school - and I think best suited to a fairly robust child that likes to get involved with whatever is going on. They don’t really care if you are the best at things, but they do expect you to have a go. The new head is very impressive and we like him a lot.
If you are looking for a more nurturing, gentle type of school in this area, I would suggest Longacre (only goes to 11 though) or Duke of Kent - I know lots of parents at both and all are super happy.
Good luck with it all, and hope you find the right fit for your twins.

Thanks @boythenboy it is so good to hear from a parent who currently has their children at Cranleigh. I really loved Cranleigh when I went around it. I felt it suited both children as far as academia and music and the arts were concerned and I genuinely just felt at home there. If it were a day school I would not have this dilemma. The one area that is holding me back ( and this is where you might be able to help me, although I don't know your situation ) is the emphasis on boarding. Do the children feel they are missing out if they don't board? Likewise, do they feel pressure to move onto Cranleigh senior school just because all their peers have moved there?

Hi OP. Happy to help! My two are mid-way up the school and there are very few children that board. I don’t know any that board full time and a handful that do one or two nights a week. I think it increases further up the school but it is still a minority. One of mine is desperate to board one night a week as he thinks it looks brilliant fun, I’ve said he can when he gets to 11. One night only though!
The senior school is a different matter and boarding is pushed quite heavily. There are a chunk of day places though (maybe 25/30%) and I think pupils from cran prep get priority for the day places (not sure if this is official policy, but that seems to be how it works in practice). It means, that if you move up from the prep as a day pupil, lots of your peers will be doing the same.
As for the pressure to move up to the senior, I think this probably is a thing. We are not at that point yet but the vast majority of pupils move up to the senior. A few will leave at 11+ to go to day schools, and a few will leave at 13+ to go to other ‘public’ schools, but they are in the minority. We certainly intend to look at other options though, not sure what we will do yet.

Hi my daughter has loved Longacre and the online schooling provision was exceptional. She has had no ‘girl drama’ there, unlike at her previous school and has such a wide range of senior schools to look at. She is very bright and has been really stretched by the gifted and talented scheme. The SEN provision and pastoral care is highly thought of but not at the expense of academics. Parents are glorious and create the best PTA and atmosphere. DD did not want to go to Cranleigh Prep because she told me she saw a boy being bullied by girls while on the Open Day. Can’t persuade her. The boarding looked lowkey for younger children and then fuller in Year 8.