Best prep to get into Eton/Harrow/Radley

[Bearbear8888]

Hello there, wonderful moms and dads!

Could anyone please advise the best preps to get into Eton/Harrow/Radley?

Thanks y'all!

Able children get into these schools from many prep schools. Less able children might need more preparation so I’d look for the competitive prep schools around London esp ones that full board. Ludgrove is one that springs to mind but there will be masses that purport to feed to the big name boys boarding senior schools. Have a look through their destination pages (where leavers head to) and look for ones that feed the big names. Some prep schools trade off this destination list and that’s probably the sort of prep school that will appeal to you.
Don’t forget to assess your own child and make sure you pick the best school for them too! These schools are pretty alpha so you need an appropriate type of child to thrive there.

Which area of the country? There are a fair few.

Traditionally Ludgrove

Ludgrove, Caldicot, Summerfields, Dragon, Cothill are a few.

OP assuming you've already thoroughly examined all the information on the senior school websites, you'd probably be best advised to email said schools and actually ask which schools in your area have sent boys to them recently.

There has been talk, for some years, about public schools broadening their intake - and, certainly, now that it's easier to get in from state schools, there's absolutely no guarantee that attending any particular prep will magically transport a child to a sought after public school.

Basically a school that suits your dc and will get the best out of him, whilst creating a happy, well rounded child.

If you are in London, Westminster Under and Sussex House, for day options.

Eton takes from 96 schools around the country. It is probably one of the schools with the widest intake reach.
Depends where you are.
Schools mentioned above all good. Other good London day preps (eg: St Thomas’s, Wetherby etc send a few). Good advice above to check out your local schools. If you do send your DS to a “big” feeder prep, remember that he will need to be in the “top cohort” to be really in the running - there is always going to be a limit to how many boys from any one school Eton will take and the Prep Head’s reference reports are important. Eton likes interesting boys, and so, as above, any good school that provides a well-rounded education, which encourages your son and which he enjoys is as likely to help him achieve a place as any other.

Entrance to Eton is not only based on pure academic achievement (whilst most boys are highly academic they are looking for something else too) and they will tell you that a % of the highest academically performing boys each year are turned down. It’s a big school, very competitive and not for every boy. I think they do try to select boys they think will thrive and take advantage of all the school offers. Hope that’s helpful.

Papplewick School in Ascot sends loads of boys to Eton including a significant number of King's Scholars over the years. The Headmaster is still the same today as when my DS was there many moons ago.