Prep school in around London, Cambridge or Oxford for academic shy non sporty DS

[Léopard123]

Hello all, seeking advice.
ds currently in y1 at pre-prep in sw London. Have been looking at prep schools. School tells me that he is a good candidate for St Paul’s/Westminster at 7+.

Due to divorce, I am looking at a cheaper lifestyle and may facilitate this by moving slightly out of London (I work in the City and need to be there 1-2 days per week). I am wondering what preps May suit my DS for year 3 entry. He is also very shy and takes time to adapt to new situations. The preps i knowif/have researched in the likes of Berks, Herts, Surrey etc seem quite ‘hale and hearty’ and not particularly academic.I don’t drive so need to live somewhere within walking distance of train station and shops I have no family nearby and ex h lives abroad, so am reliant upon after school care.

any suggestions for preps that may suit my ds? Reasonable fees would be a huge plus. Thanks!

OP, are you in a prep similar to Shrewsbury House in Claygate/long Ditton or further into London? Re Cambridge, the traffic is dreadful so it would be complicated to coordinate the school drop off and then train to London plus the house prices are £££.
If you don't drive I would consider staying in greater london and moving to somewhere like New Malden - lots of preps like Westbury House or The Study New Malden that are small and Nurturing with academic options. Also Weston Green in Thames Ditton just near Thames Ditton train station and walking distance of Esher station which has fast links. You could then consider Tiffin for secondary.

@sailingsunshine thank you. I’m in Fulham and ds attends a well known pre prep close to Fulham.

It's tricky because the well known academic preps are all sports mad. 1 to consider is The Mall in Twickenham. If you go down the A3 they are all outdoors/sporty as well as academic.

@redrobin75 thats the problem I’m facing. Ds would absolutely hate somewhere where he was forced to play football/rugby etc. He is sporty in that he likes a cycling, gymnastics but not too fond of classic team sports .

Oxford preps apart from Dragon are not v sporty. Magdalen College Prep for v academic boys. Christ Church Cathedral School is non selective but always has about 50% of boys who are grade 8/diploma in 2 instruments by 13 and go on to Magdalen College School, Eton, Harrow, Winchester etc. It's very non sporty but lovely grounds for a gentle spot of Cricket. Both schools very popular with Asian parents and so very much in line with Asian/Chinese values (loads of maths and music, less emphesis on sport).

@NellyBarney thats the same vibe I get from the Oxford preps. I love Oxford but I think the commute to the City may be problematic, though to be fair it would be only 1-2 days per week.

Magdalen Colle and Christ Church have lower fees than many London Schools, especially Magdalen College Senior School is more affordable than Westminster, and almost everyone from the prep moves up.

@NellyBarney actually both Cc and MC school seem to have higher fees than some London preps …certainly at prep level. But totally understand that they focus less on sports than other areas.

ChCh has the Cardinal Scholarship for 7plus entry (just academic, no singing required). Was more thinking about senior fees. 20k for MCS senior fees is not exactly cheap but St Paul's and of course all the boarding schools make it almost look like a bargain.

We love Surbiton boys prep - really champion everything and the teachers are incredible in terms of the environment they create for all. Lots of challenge for those that need and great 11 plus support it seems.

@Swansong124 i heard it was very sporty! Do you think it might suit a non sorry DS such as mine?

I was going to suggest either Magdalen and CCCC (Christ Church).
Train into London would be fine 2 days a week. Many people commute to London daily.
Oxford is a great city if you don't drive. It really promotes cycling everywhere.

How interesting! It is into sports but I’d say equally or more so the arts and probably looking at my sons class there are more who aren’t sporty than are! The boys have house singing and other things that they all love, despite many like my son previously these types of things are awful! Feel free to PM. I’ve got a girl at another SW through school so feel I’ve surveyed some! I absolutely love it - enough challenge for my son (who’s fairly quick and blessed with quite bright) but also so nurturing with excellent teaching ratios and a wonderful ethos.

St Martins in Northwood would be a good option. Very academic with most boys heading onto Merchant Taylors, Habs Boys and St Albans. All three are very academic local schools - they absolutely would support your son aiming for St Paul’s or Westminster.

@BookwormButNoTime thank you, how is it on the sports front?

@Léopard123 They play sport like all prep schools, but they’re not known for sporting prowess. They are rather good at offering things like dodgeball matches for the less sporty boys. There’s more of an emphasis on sport as part of a healthy lifestyle as opposed to hard core elite teams.

Lots of boys are not sporty. Things like coding club are very popular however. They like to find out what they are good at, excel and achieve.

St Martins is a good call like a PP said, or Lochinver. They play sports but it’s not the be all and end all.

@Twilightstarbright Lochinvor is actually on my list of schools! What type of boy would it suit? Of course physical activity is good and required but like you say, I don’t want my ds being unhappy at a school where there is lots of emphasis on team sports.

@Léopard123 i think it’s good for a mix of boys with the usual caveat that private schools aren’t good with anything beyond mild SEN. There’s lots apart from sport for boys to flourish in.

It’s best for parents who don’t want a big name school or a complete hot house. That said, standards are higher than other local schools and they get into Habs, QE, St Albans etc.

Can you visit these schools and get a feel? Both Northwood and Potters Bar are pretty good to commute 1-2 days into the City.

So you're saying that you don't want to apply to St Paul's or Westminster at 7+ as advised by his current school, is that right? Would you want to look at them again at 11+ or are you looking for a senior school outside London too?

Thanks @Twilightstarbright @CatnaryReturns

I may or may look at St Paul’s/Westminster for 7+. With the divorce and ds being anxious about being in new/pressured environments atm, I may leave these schools until 11+. Even if I did put him forward for the exams and if he were not be successful, I would want some schools as back up.
Depending upon where he ends up at 7+, I would look at other good senior schools/grammars outside but in commuting distance of London (eg Magdalen college school, perse schools)

Can anyone comment on the prep at Bishop stortford college?

New college school Oxford
christchurch Oxford

both very academic and not super sporty, both would be in suitable locations to live close to train station but not be far from school
magdalen very academic but more sporty

i have ds’ at prep in Oxford and lots of parents commute by train into the city several days per week - at least 6 current parents just in my son’s classes - most live in botley/western side of the city or in wolvercote (north) near Oxford parkway station

@RedPanda2022 these schools like great. My only persistent fear is being late back into Oxford due to train delays etc from London…ds will be year 3 and ex not in U.K. to help out…and not having any support network from moving to a new city

there are loads of trains back to Oxford, and if you are late for any reason, there will be after school clubs for them to get scooped up into.
If all else fails, there's the Oxford Tube too (a 24hr direct coach service).
DH commutes from Didcot (37mins to Paddington), but not sure how long the train is from Oxford.