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Original poster

How much did your prep school help you with secondary applications

39 replies

rosieroseflower · 31/01/2023 12:07

Just that really. Wondering if the school my dc attend is doing what it should as I feel a bit lost with the whole process so far.

OP posts:

HandyGirl76 · 05/02/2023 20:12

First time around nothing at all, we were very disappointed and felt let down. Second time around there were 5 weeks worth of a one hour after school lessons, but that was it. Not much prep for a prep school!

Dim0021 · 06/02/2023 07:43

I think we should pay more attention to preschool activities. While your child is still small, it is important to develop the child as a person, including developing the ability to learn. For my son, I use materials on wunderkiddy.com/

MrPickles73 · 06/02/2023 08:25

HandyGirl76 have you said anything to the school? We have just had 1st one through it and were disappointed. Very last minute and 30mins here, 30 mins there.

HandyGirl76 · 06/02/2023 08:41

Yes we complained and they did do better second time around, but barely. I don't think the school is really on it and I'm not sure I'd choose for my children to go there if I had my time again.

They seem very focused on common entrance, such a waste of time as it's mainly pre-test now and no one cares about CE. The CE prep is insane though, four sets of mock exams!

HandyGirl76 · 06/02/2023 08:43

I've heard of schools doing ATOM (for ISEB) weekly for a year in advance and then doing extra prep for specific papers. I've heard of one school setting 1 hour a day of Bond/ CGP/ GL assessment for the summer holidays before the tests. Our school did nothing like this.

MrPickles73 · 06/02/2023 08:46

HandyGirl76 ah good. We have made rumblings too. As you say many schools now hold their exams in year 6 or our case term 2 of year 8. Preparation was very lastminute.com and we did much of it ourselves. I've let them know I'm not impressed and I don't want the same thing for the second child..
I'm at a loss - I thought that was the 'preparation' in Prep School. I am very disappointed. We like the school alot and it is 99% is most areas except this... but it seems a rather fundamental one..

MrPickles73 · 06/02/2023 09:02

HandyGirl76 our school only introduced Non Verbal reasoning about 6 weeks before (of which 3 weeks was the Xmas holidays). Maths they added an extra 30 mins a week for scholars about 2 months in advance (again including 3 weeks of Christmas) but we missed some of those due to attending sessions for other scholarships... So just too little too late IMO..

MrPickles73 · 06/02/2023 09:03

I would have thought an hour a day over the summer holidays is a bit tedious but I should think you do need to start a year in advance.

geeteetoo · 06/02/2023 09:07

Our school was appalling. When I told them dc was doing a cat4 test a few weeks before, they said they'd never heard of it.

I am finding out this week if my dc has gotten in to any schools but I am very worried.

MrPickles73 · 06/02/2023 09:35

geeteetoo oh crumbs. I'm sorry to hear this. I just don't understand how these schools can be so hapless? Our Christmas holiday and january was extremely stressful trying to frantically cover what should have been done over the previous year... It's really not fair on the children (nevermind the parents).

HandyGirl76 · 06/02/2023 10:37

Yes MrP, an hour a day in the summer seems like a lot but it was very tailored to the exams and not compulsory so you could dip in and out but at least the kids had some idea of what to expect and the parents had some idea of what was needed. The school doing the hour a week of ATOM I think had it about right.

I don't think it was a coincidence that in my DD's year many of the kids who were offered places had a stay at home parent whereas the kids of working parents seemed to get less offers.

MrPickles73 · 06/02/2023 13:41

HandyGirl76 to prevent having the same experience again we are going to try for the Grammar School in Year 6. I'm considering using ATOM learning. Atleast then you can measure progress and know how you are doing.
I'm baffled by these prep schools. Our school does send children to Eton etc. but I get the impression anyone can get in these days if you can afford it its just a bunfight if you want a scholarship anywhere...

MrPickles73 · 06/02/2023 13:42

HandyGirl76 interesting re lockdown... both of our kids came out of lockdown with good maths scores (I have a numerate job and work from home) but I feel they have 'lost ground' on maths since.

TizerorFizz · 06/02/2023 15:54

@MrPickles73
Scholarships don’t attract much fee reduction now. Some schools are overwhelmed with bursary applications. Only a certain type of parent wants Eton or Harrow. So I think they self select.

Our prep talked through possible destinations with parents. It’s changed in terms of CE but we didn’t want (or expect) our local grammar but we decided to leave at 11 plus for girls’ boarding. Others who stayed to 13 always got first choice as school paired Dc with destination schools incredibly well and had amazing contacts. So schools that don’t bother probably have quite a few parents who are not bothered either. At our prep, everyone was bothered and the vast majority went on to boarding at 13. We thought dd would make friends better at 11. Many DDs went to prestigious boarding schools and I never heard one complaint about the prep not doing it’s job. It was a very old established prep and used mostly by parents who wanted boarding for senior school so the school knew their job.

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