Help! St John's Beaumont or Aldro?

[swappingwellies]

Hi all,
We are currently looking for a prep school for our DS and cannot decide between Aldro and SJB. Both seem lovely and we can't wait to visit to get a feel of the school but would like to hear from current parents. Both schools seem academically driven, feeding into top boarding schools -but does this impact negatively on the children, i.e. would either be classed as a 'hot-house' with a lot of exam pressure/'exam factory' feel?
DS has a keen interest in science and tech and has a very hands-on learning approach. Wouldnt say he's extremely academic, but he sits comfortably in upper 80% range in class tests/exams. He's very outdoorsy but not particularly sporty. Would he be suited to either or any of these schools? Our DD is due to start at Wellington College, so we are focussed on prep schools in the area. We would be incredibly grateful for getting some helpful insight into the schools
thank you! :)

The previous head at SJB was one of the best prep heads out there but left a few months ago under mysterious circumstances. Don’t much about the new head but in all fairness you can’t wrong wrong with either school.

The new Head at SJB is only there as an interim - he is going to a different school next September.

I would say Aldro is a much safer bet.

Hi OP - interesting post as we considered both but didn't choose either one. They are very different from each other. Have you considered any other preps? There are so many in Berks / Surrey aren't there - can be a bit mind bending! There are some great ones - and closer to Wellington than Aldro. We narrowed it down to just 3 based on our criteria.

What year is your DS and do you have any thoughts about senior destinations? Aldro is a big Charterhouse feeder.

Thank you @SoManyQstns thats a relief to know! So many options has me going round in circles!

Hi @Suttonstracke, thanks for your advice. Aldro is slightly more out of the way, but definitely willing to do the journey if it suits DS

How interesting @Legoninjago1! If you don’t mind could you pm and let me know what schools you considered! It would be great to have options closer to Wellington 👍
DS is currently in year 7, he will
be joining in Yr 8! I know terrible year to move, but we’re expats returning home and DD is going straight into wellington for sixth form. I’d prefer wellington than charterhouse for DS…

If he’s going to Wellington can he not go to Eagle House? He might then get to know quite a few kids moving up with him?

Oh sorry - misread that he was going on to Wellington for senior school. But still Eagle House makes sense!

SJB is a great school and I can recommend. There has been some recent changes but a new head has recently been appointed - returning to St Johns after a few years as head at a London prep - and changes all seem really positive. If you’re son is already registered for senior at wellington etc, st johns would be good to support this transition. There is usually a handful of boys that go there.

I agree with PP that Eagle House would probably make the most sense.

It's only one year. ISEB, offers etc will all be done already. He just needs a place to have a fun year and hopefully meet a good number of people who will also go on to Wellington.

If still of interest, I think the new head of SJB (from Sept 2023) is the current Head of Donhead, Wimbledon who has seen us through Covid with exceptional leadership. I couldn’t speak more highly of him.