St Mary’s school Hampstead versus Sarum Hall

[Wondergirls]

I wonder if I could get some good advise from you lovely parents. My older DD is currently at St Mary’s prep school in Hampstead and will be sitting the 11+ this year. I’m not too happy with the school as I feel that I have had to do most of the prep work with her myself of course with the help of a tutor. This may be the case in most non-selective prep schools, I’m not really sure as she’s my eldest. My younger DD is currently starting in year 4 and is at a state school but I want to move her to an independent prep school this January. She has been offered a place at Sarum Hall and also has a place at St Mary’s. Obviously the school run would be easier if they were both at the same school but I don’t mind doing 2 school runs if it’s worth it. Please can someone tell me if Sarum Hall has an academic advantage or edge over St Mary’s? I’ve looked at their leavers destination but there are no figures/statistics, only which schools they go to. My ideal destination schools are NLCS and Godolphin.

I would really appreciate some advise on which school would prepare my younger daughter better for the 11+ and which is a better feeder into the top schools in North London.

Thank you so much 🙏🏼

Which school to choose, St Mary’s or Sarum Hall?

I wonder if I could get some good advise from you lovely parents. My older DD is currently at St Mary’s prep school in Hampstead and will be sitting the 11+ this year. I’m not too happy with the school as I feel that I have had to do most of the prep work with her myself of course with the help of a tutor. This may be the case in most non-selective prep schools, I’m not really sure as she’s my eldest. My younger DD is currently starting in year 4 and is at a state school but I want to move her to an independent prep school this January. She has been offered a place at Sarum Hall and also has a place at St Mary’s. Obviously the school run would be easier if they were both at the same school but I don’t mind doing 2 school runs if it’s worth it. Please can someone tell me if Sarum Hall has an academic advantage or edge over St Mary’s? I’ve looked at their leavers destination but there are no figures/statistics, only which schools they go to. My ideal destination schools are NLCS and Godolphin.

I would really appreciate some advise on which school would prepare my younger daughter better for the 11+ and which is a better feeder into the top schools in North London.

Thank you so much 🙏🏼

Are you going to move? Godolphin and NLCS are at two different ends of London. I don't know about Sarum Hall but I have tutored girls from St Mary's before. I've found most kids in N London preps have tutors beginning end of Y4 till Jan of Y6, regardless of school.

Thank you Malmontar. I live very close to the Jubilee line so actually it’s only 5/6 stops to Stanmore. Similarly, overground nearby would take her close to Godolphin.

Yes I know whichever prep school the girl goes to she is likely to require a tutor but taking that equation out, I’m asking how Sarum H compares with St M?

Ah ok I thought you were thinking along the lines of which will require no tutor. I don't know much about Sarum but hopefully someone does.

I have had 3 children go through Sarum Hall. I can't compare to st Marys as I have not had personal experience. All I can say is what a wonderful school SH is. It has definitely become more modern in their outlook and approach since my first started. The facilities are superb for a Hampstead prep. It is non-selective however, all girls go on to great schools, and the school will always be there to guide you to the future school that best meets your daughter. There is a new head this year who I don't know. However, it definitely has been great for my 3 girls in experience.

Thank you so much afewtoomanychoices for your reassurance of my decision. I have indeed already decided on Sarum Hall and your feedback has served to reassure me further. The new head by the way is young, dynamic and wonderful lady who I have had the pleasure of meeting and talking to. I took the decision after meeting her. Thank you once again. Really appreciate you taking the time to reply to my post. Please may I ask which Secondary schools your daughters ended up going to? 🙏🏼

My eldest went on to NLCS, second to FHS and youngest at Highgate where my son is too. They were excellent in helping with schools. Good luck!

From my experience there is tutoring in every single private school, including all through schools like NLCS and Channing. I wouldn’t change a school just on the basis as it’d be the same everywhere, unfortunately. There is no stopping the parents from getting an advantage over the peers and exams are more competitive every year, it’s a vicious circle and not enough time in school. Kids that I know in a “crammed for grammers” go for extra tuition on Sat and spend 10 hours a week on average of homework prep. No school is going to have enough time for that.

I'm not sure I really recognise your description of St Mary's. I've found their 11+ preparation to be excellent. Not only in terms of exam practice but also with their individual help preparing the girls for interview. I agree that they manage to do it with limited stress and pressure that you sometimes hear about in other more selective prep schools, but I think the results every year speak for themselves. I wanted to take the opportunity to share our very happy and successful experience there, although it sounds like you've already made your decision. I'm sure that Sarum Hall is also a lovely school and wish your daughter well in her exams.

Hi I want to go on the route of looking for private school for my child,to do the 4 plus but I have to apply bursary.How can I start to perpare my child and advices please.Any recommendation.We live nearly sarum hall,st mary school,south hampstead

@Sunshinearaya There are very very few bursaries available at prep schools for children that age simply due to the fact that prep schools tend not to have large reserves for that purpose. Any bursary pot that does exist is usually used to support existing families in the event of an emergency (death of a parent, terminal illness etc) or at later entry points. They are unlikely to award a bursary to a child assessed at the age of three as they are then committing to seven years of fee support for a child whose true potential cannot possibly be identified at that stage.

Often, but not always, a bursary is granted alongside a scholarship - again why it’s rare to be awarded a bursary before 7+. The schools want to attract the very best and be sure that they proceed into the sort of schools at 11 that the school sells itself on.

I’m not saying it won’t happen but it would be exceptionally rare.

I would therefore first contact the bursar at each school to find out whether there is even a chance of a bursary at 4+ before preparing your daughter in any way.

Thank you so much very helpful

@WDPP you sound like you work for them 😜
I looked at both but decided I liked the feel of Sarum better. Know facilities etc might be better at Stmarya but got a good vibe at Sarum.

@WDPP I am looking at St Mary's as well and there results are impressive. Would you say that most of the girls were tutored or what the school did was enough?