St Davids Prep information and other Bromley Preps

[lottiep88]

We are in a bit of a conundrum on where to send dd. Our ds currently goes to Bickley Park which we are extremely happy with and he is very settled, however since they are all boys we have to look for a different school for dd.

We have applied to Bromley High but the cost is just extortionate compared to Bickley Park plus since they have a senior school we will most likely have to handle the 11+ on our own. I have asked breaside but we are so unlikely to get a place there, they had no places available when I asked in the summer for 2022. We have applied to babbington and are on the waiting list but again it is the same issue with BH.

Since we will be moving next year anyway, as long as it isn’t too far to get to BP then we will be fine.

I saw St Davids Prep has amazing results and inspection reports (and price lol) but they have very few places from the looks of it. Does anyone have any experience with applying from Reception? Or any experience with the school?

I briefly looked at Bishop Challoner’s school but we are atheists and I can’t agree with dd having a faith pushed at her. St. christopher hall school also looks pretty poor given the inspection reports and reviews. I don’t think we could hack the travel through Chislehurst for other schools that way given the traffic.

So now I feel we are totally stuck and somehow completely late with this even though we are a full year away from her starting.

I’d be fine with her going to a primary but given that her brother attends a prep school I think it might create some resentment further down the line.

Any advice, thoughts, or suggestions for schools welcome!

We know someone who had a child in St David's and were happy with it except that some of their classes are too small and so friendships can become problematic. No advice regarding other schools though. Could it be an option to try a primary school for a year or two until a place becomes available at BH or Breaside?

I only know of one family whose girls attended St David’s, and they stayed for a term and then moved to a different school. They said it wasn’t academically challenging enough. This was about five years ago, if that makes a difference.

I would have suggested Merton Court in Sidcup, but you’ve said that the traffic through Chislehurst is a no no.

Have you considered Ashgrove on Widmore Road?

Thanks @WellTidy, I did briefly look at ash grove as it is actually next to our house but was put off by the awful inspection reports, which is a shame.

I have heard a lot of good things about Merton but yes it would be too much as I have work as well.

@Moresleepandwine the only issue I’d have with putting her in a primary is that she would have to sit assessments. It is something to consider though!

@lottiep88, run a mile from Ashgrove. I have heard awful things about it.
Assessments at the younger ages are actually less stressful. If she can get into Bromley High with a chance vacancy at 4+, 5+ or even 7+ it's better than having to prep for the 11+ which she will have to do at Breaside.

I think I’m right I’m saying that lots of families send their boys to BP and their girls to BH, to the extent that both schools coordinate term dates and the like, and you’d also have the same sets of parents

I also think there’s a lot to be said for a through school so if you can get your daughter into BH, even if not right at the start of reception, and I’d you were happy with it, you wouldn’t have to think about 11+ or other schools for her ever again. The 11+ is something I am glad never to have to go through again!

Fair enough re the Ashgrove inspection reports - I’d not read the latest. What are your experiences @Moresleepandwine?

I looked at Bishop Challenor too. Seems nice enough, and there is a push towards more academic success there recently. They’ve invested in science and technology maths. But one of the pupils was scathing about the lunches, and said that only half the children had school lunches, the others took packed lunch. No thanks to that for seven years!

A friend's DD went there and was very disappointed by home schooling provision, 11+ exam support and general teaching quality. In the end it was all up to what the parents were willing to do and organise themselves with zero support from school.

Went to Ashgrove, I meant!

My DS at St Olave's Prep in New Eltham, which is fantastic, although possibly a bit far depending on where you are exactly.

Ah, ok. My DS is at secondary so it is a while since I did the primary school tours. A shame though that a school on your doorstep is disappointing. No travelling would be so much more convenient!

Some of the boys at St Olave’s Prep go on to Eltham. Have you considered that for both your Dc at 7yo OP? They take girls now.

Eltham College, that is, sorry.

@WellTidy I have heard BH and BP coordinate which is nice, I just have doubts on whether it is worth the money for the senior school as I’d much rather try for a grammar. I know the 11+ looks like a full time commitment, but I guess we will have that problem regardless of where we put her.

@whatsagoodusername st Olaves I fell in love with for my DS but BP blew us away with all the space they have, perhaps I should consider it again

St Olave's does well with the space they have, but it is small!

They use Southwood Park regularly, have a huge allotment which all the kids work in, and the older kids do a games afternoon weekly at Footscray Rugby Club.

They also built a new Early Years building for reception and nursery which opened up last year so they have slightly more class space as well.

I do love it

My daughter started in reception this year @ st David’s so still early days but she’s v happy so am I .

@Cisco2 apologies to reply to such an old thread.

How did you find the assessment process at St David's? We're considering trying out for pre-reception.

Thank you!

Avoid St.Davids prep West Wickham like the plague!!

Sorry to (further) revive an old thread but really curious as to your opinion @CuriousMum2025 on St David's? Thanks in advance.

Just to say I agree with the above regarding st David’s prep, West Wickham. We moved my children to another fee paying school and cannot believe the difference. We were away St.davids wasn’t great whilst we were there but didn’t realise how terribly run it is until we left!

No library, no swimming lessons, no inclusive fixtures for sports, the children ran and played dodge ball for most sports lessons, temporarily classrooms with 2 toilets per 50+ children, which would often break, the children not having access to a drinking fountain and having to refill water bottles from the toilet cubicle, the staff recruitment policy is to employ friends or family of current staff, most of whom have no qualification, bullying not dealt with. Honestly shocking!

We went to an open day recently at St.davids prep (West Wickham) and were shocked by what we saw. The school is a building site, the teachers looked very stressed, no library, or swimming lessons (st Christophers the hall in Beckenham swim at trinity) no school bus, the classrooms were very small and a couple of them were offices were children’s were crammed in, the early years section was very old and unloved, the headteacher seemed very unapproachable and cold, definitely not for us.

Unfortunately I have to agree with @ItsAMummaWorld about St David’s - not great quality and the teachers are unqualified. Looking to move too.

Hiya, just to add another perspective on st David’s prep onto here….i have 2 kids there at the moment-1 in an older year, 1 in a younger year and are very happy with it.

we have seen a huge amount of change in the last year-both from a facilities perspective and also teaching.
the new building will bring the school right up to date when it opens in September.
I agree that the temporary classrooms were poor-although the kids loved the air con!

teaching has also gone up a notch and every child is going to have time each day for a personal development plan from September. The new deputy head academic has really worked wonders to bring things up to prep school standards.

sports wise, also agree that previously it was mainly running….however, in the last year, team sports have been much better organised with fixtures not just for ‘the best’ children.

all in all, I wanted to say that there has been a huge change in the last couple of years and we’re very happy!