Independent school choice

[Suzyship]

Hi lovely mums,
This is my first thread here and really hoping to get your experiences and suggestions on choosing independent school for DS who will start school in 2023.
We live in Newbury Berkshire, and considering to move to Carshalton, Surrey (or nearby) due to choice of independent primary, secondary schools and multiple grammar schools as well.

However looking at independent schools in Newbury ( Horris Hill and Brockenhurst Marston) Home field seems pretty average, at least facility and infrastructure wise. But if we stay where we are then we are limited for good, close by secondary and grammar schools in future.

Then second option we are thinking of is Merchant Taylor in Northwood and moving to Watford. But I don't think there are many other options.

We are looking for good academic and all round development from school. Don't mind if it's boys only or co-ed.

From the prospectus MT seems much better than HF, Surrey.

Can you please help? Thank you.

There are plenty of great independent schools in the Watford / Herts area.

The following are “all through” or have a prep that feeds into the secondary. Some are more academic than others.

• Merchant Taylors
• Habs Boys
• Berkhamsted
• St Columba’s
• St Margaret’s
• Aldenham

Prep schools:

• The Beacon
• Lockers Park
• York House
• Beechwood Park
• Edge Grove
• Westbrook Hay
• Chesham Prep
• St Martin’s
• Radlett Prep
• Manor Lodge

If you move somewhere like Amersham then you are also in the catchment for Dr Challoners Grammar. Spoilt for choice really!!!

@Suzyship , I think you would be hard pressed to find anyone who moved from Newbury to Surrey for Homefield prep school.

Thank you @zodlebud and @sunshineclouds24.
Are there any grammar schools around Watford area. I know of Watford grammar school but I believe that's an academy now?
What would you choose between Surrey and Watford given the choices I have?
Also this means I need to wait until the admission confirmation before we buy house?

I’d also think about whether you want a through school or not. And whether you may change your mind! We thought we were happy to go for 11 plus but decided otherwise when we heard how tough it was compared to 7 plus so now moving schools…..

@taj0112 not sure.. I guess you are right. I was thinking to go for independent school for primary and then try for grammar if DS is academically good. Though I don't suppose there are many options for through schools in Surrey. That would make M T better choice?!
How difficult is it to get into MT from Reception? What is their assessment like and what do they look for? Does anyone have direct experience?

Merchant Taylors only accept the very brightest boys. Entrance at any point is hard. I personally think that taking the 11+ for schools like that is a far better entry point as at that stage you know just how academic your son is. Schools like MT can be miserable places if you are bottom of the class.

Watford Grammar is only partially selective. They are part of the South Herts consortium which also includes Parmiters and Clement Danes - all are highly sought after but they are not true grammars. For that you need to live in Bucks, not Watford, and you would need to have moved before applying for a place. All places are allocated on distance, so there is no distinguishing between someone who just scrapes a pass versus the person who got 100%.

In the kindest possible way OP I really think you are over thinking this. Your DS is only 3 or 4. So much could happen. Try not to get too hung up on schools. My primary school aged children are at their 4th school. This wasn’t planned. We moved house for a school and it was a complete disaster. You only really know what a school is like once you are their, and many prep schools will say anything to get your money. After several miserable terms we moved DC from the awful school and now they are super happy at a school miles from where we live!
Herts & Bucks are known as academic hot spots in the country, and this became very apparent when we moved away.
Good Luck with your search.

@Disfordragon thank you. Perhaps I am overthinking this, but since we are moving from Berks and further away, I want to consider every possible options and think through this. Hence lovely people like you all are awesome who share the honest opinions 🙂

Currently all I have is someone's opinion who's gone to Home field but nothing for Watford schools. It's a bit stressful:-(

@Zodlebud do you know if we'll need to have moved for MT at reception entry point as well? Bucks is probably not something we've considered. Partially because it's little away from London and we don't know many people there.. do they have good independent and grammar schools?
I think Grammar schools are spread across right so if we move somewhere now we may well end up being at a distance?

Private school you can apply from anywhere. State school you need to live close to the school.

Bucks is just the other side of the M25.

Your son is a little boy, let him be a kid, don't overthink it, many kids who end up at top independents start at the local primary, it's common to transfer at 8 or 10.

As someone who lives in Newbury there is a really good range of secondaries that suit a variety of children both state and private. All of the state schools get bright children the top grades and into Oxford and Cambridge and on to course like medicine and vet medicine. Plus for sixth form many children head to Peter Symonds for A-levels.

@loncatwithkitten which ones are you suggesting please?

[quote Cheesecastle]@loncatwithkitten which ones are you suggesting please?[/quote]
All the local secondaries get students into Oxford and Cambridge if you are looking for a grammar school experience St Bart's was a grammar and still has similar traditions.
For boys if you are looking for really academic then Abingdon would be to obvious private choice.

You have only looked at two preps there are so many others Elstree, Cheam, Thorngrove and St Andrew's in Pangbourne Horses for courses / some schools suit one family others another.
State primaries - fashion and gossip disagree with Ofsted. But there are many excellent options depending where you live.
You honestly don't need to move there are so many options depending on where your child's interests end up lying.
At the sharp end on schooling have watch my DD's friends attend a wide variety of schools in the district I can see that if the child has potential all of the schools round here will help them achieve that potential,

Thank you all. We were around in Watford recently and looked at MT and Habs from outside. How are these two different in terms of their ethos and academics etc? They seem to be quite close in their performance. Any views? Experiences?

@Zodlebud massive thank you for the list above x

Hello mums,

We live in Chigwell-Hainault area and is currently looking for the best independent schools(both academic and all round development) around this area. Could you please recommend some good schools and tell us why? Thanks

You would be better to start your own thread aswathi, as no one seeing the title of this will know that you are asking a new question.)

(There is no need to address a query to
‘mums’. Not everyone who posts on MN has children.)

It’s helpful if you say what you are looking for in a school - and indicate the age and educational background of the relevant child!

Sorry
It was my first post and didn’t realise that I am posting under a different thread

Thanks

@aswathi

Hello mums,

We live in Chigwell-Hainault area and is currently looking for the best independent schools(both academic and all round development) around this area. Could you please recommend some good schools and tell us why? Thanks

I would start your own thread with location in the title so people with local knowledge can see it