Choice of school between Merlin and Prospect House in Putney

[Ztava]

Dear all. We are desperately trying to choose between two private schools in Putney , Merlin school versus Prospect House school. It is for our 4 year old son who will start reception in coming September.

Both schools are within walking distance from us , Merlin is pre prep to 7/8 years old and Prospect House is a prep goes to 11 years.

I have been to both more than once, Merlin has smaller class sizes while in PH they put up to 22 kids in one room.

Of course also is the matter of exams at 7+ versus 11+.
I will be so grateful if anyone can share any experience with these two schools or anything that can help our decision in general.

Thank you so much in advance 🙏

Hi OP.
Partly just bumping for you, but I was in the same situation a few years ago and chose Merlin, however we moved away before taking up the place. I thought at the time that if I'd had a girl I'd have gone for PHS, but I liked the vibe at Merlin more for my boys - small class sizes, mainly boys, traditional feel etc. I also felt it kept the options open for either going down the 7+ / 8+ route if they were academic or just joining another prep (including PHS) in Yr 3 if they were not.

@Ztava i know this is an old thread, but if you see this, which did you choose? I’m currently making the same decision!

Hi we went with Merlin in the end.
it was a tough decision as both schools have great reputations.

what are your criteria?

Our DS was at a school that finishes at 8+ and we moved him to PHS at the start of Year 2. There is no doubt in my mind that the 11+ route is more advantageous if you intend to send your child to a day school instead of boarding school.
The idea of having to sit an entrance exam at 7+ / 8+ and then again at 13+ sounds stressful and although PHS might have an occasional place in Year 3, these are often given to siblings.

Also, in the case of DS, he matured later and definitely benefited from sitting 11+. He just wouldn’t have been ready for fiercely competitive entrance exams at the age of 7/8. PHS feeds into some the best schools around and there are more secondary school places available at 11+ than at 13+. If you are interested in boarding, then Merlin might be a good stepping stone before prep-school but otherwise PHS wins by miles. A bigger class size is fantastic and the extracurricular choices on offer are second to none. There is also a pretty equal mix between girls and boys, which was important to us. Children are well-rounded and happy and it’s definitely not a hot house, although they work hard to get excellent 11+ results.

@Ztava can I DM you?

We left PHS a few years ago, and are so glad we did. Under Mr Hodge in our experience they became very negative about SEN children and we were particularly shocked at Mr Hodge being very downbeat about future school prospects for DS1. We listened to our instincts and moved, and we were proved right as DS1 has actually achieved very highly and is now at a super-selective with no massive need for tutoring, just a better school environment for him.

@Puppyblues24 We had a very similar experience under present PHS Headmaster (Head at PHS for past 7 years and I heard is now leaving this July 2024). We left PHS at the same time as the exodus of families, and we are also so glad we did! I agree that under the present Headmaster, the school became sooo negative about kids with SEN - gorgeous able kids - and we were incredulous at present Headmaster talking our DS down about future schools. The present SENCO also was really really poor. We reckon she is on staff just to tick the SENCO box. The years we were at PHS, she kept saying she would arrange this and that support for DC, but then years later she had still done absolutely none of it. Whenever I followed up with her, she either did not respond to my emails or made excuses. Following our hunches we moved DS and now DS is doing really well at an academically more competitive school, and we also didn't tutor.

We had the exact same experience too! Moved, and couldn’t be happier. Feel like PHS is a slick operation with little substance.

I sincerely hope that the incoming head takes the school back to how it was under the prior head.

It was an awesome place that supported SEN children and that led to great results for the school.

It is telling that three of us had the same experience with SEN children and similar outcomes on leaving PHS. I suspect they would have loved to have our children’s leaver schools on their leavers lists (which let’s face it, is what they are selling a lot) yet due to their lack of conviction and support they don’t. It is sad that we had to leave what was notionally a fantastic school with historically great SEN support to find better supportive environments though.

Dear mums,
could you please advise which schools you have chosen after leaving PHD for your kids with SEN. I have a son, we were planning to move to Prospect house school knowing that they provide extra support for SENs children. But reading this i am shocked. Probably we need to think twice now before making the move.

i’ll pm you. However maybe the new head will turn it around and bring back the usp that PHS used to have - which was a caring, thoughtful, supportive, ambitious, high achieving school with SEN support if needed.

Hi mums, so interesting finding this thread. I’m really struggling to find the ‘right’ school for my son who has mild SEN needs, but is very bright. I liked PHS upon visiting it (nice size yet academic etc). Would you mind letting me know where you sent your child on to? Would be so helpful! Thanks x

Another vote here for leaving Prospect House School even though not SEN child. They watch way too much TV, are offered way too many candies and they trumpet that they are a healthy school while at the same time they offer the same unhelthy food again and again. When I questioned that, they replied the outrageous "we had leftovers" as if we pay for our kids to eat yesterday's food which is reheated. There is some kind of preference towards the class reps kids: the same and the same kids are being recognised and receive the prizes. The Headmaster was saying "you are not allowed to film your kids at the school ceremonies, cause admit it, are you ever going to view it?" (As if what???? Who, with kids says sth like this? - he gave the impression of a weirdo) and at the same time they were uploading our kids on Facebook and Instagram. Utterly pretentious school and arrogant teachers