The Hall School v Wetherby Prep

[Toltori]

We have acceptances form both of the above school for our Year 5 child. Which school is the better choice for academics? Also what are the differences in the two schools on a general level? Thanks.

This is why I'd suggest you speak to an Education consultant. Or doing other research. Relying on Mumsnet and confusing two schools doesn't sound like a great idea when it comes to your son's education

When you mean 'prep for other schools', do you mean diversity wise ? Ie that they prep for schools around the globe/ different curriculum schools, or that they just do a good job prepping for UK schools in general?

Prep schools means something different here. They go to at most age 13 and are preparing “prep-ing” for senior schools that run 13-18. Most of these will be day or boarding schools in the UK. A few people will leave at the end of year 6, age 11, but most at a prep like Wetherby will leave at the end of year 8, aged 13.

most of these senior schools have competitive entry tests. If a school runs from age 4/18 - an “all through school” they might not prep for those tests because they assume you will move to their senior school - hence the comment about Wetherby senior above. I was just saying that I think Wetherby also prep for other schools (St Paul’s, Eton, wherever)

Oh I see. That makes sense. Thanks!

Wetherby Prep has a VERY international intake. It's also very academically mixed, but they have a scholarship class and the boys go on to a wide range of senior schools: academically weaker pupils whose parents don't want boarding at senior school may well go on to Wetherby Senior, but boys also move on to a wide range of day and boarding schools, including Eton, Westminster, Winchester, St Paul's etc.

The parent body is very active and involved - there's a lot of buy-in to the Wetherby 'brand'. Some pretty extreme levels of wealth, especially amongst the international parents: it's not uncommon for pupils to be picked up by chauffeurs, for example.

Pastorally the care is excellent and I think they have strong SEN support.

The Hall School Belsize Park is v academic… so must be talking about a different one. My kid is in his final years at the school

My comment about a poor experience was about a child currently in Year 2 at The Hall Hampstead so same school as the one the OP is asking about.

Yes it's academic if the parents push the child but how academic can the school really be if they take them at age 4 - it's too early for a child to show anything significant. At that age there are going to be a range of abilities and it's how the school deals with it. In my friends current experience they are dealing with it very poorly and brushing his inability under the carpet instead of telling her so she could help him. It was only when she noticed herself and sent him to a tutor that she realised how behind he was for Year 2.

Does anybody have any feedback about the Hall School Wimbledon please? The Senior part. Thank you!

@loula24 , you should start your own thread because the Hall in NW3 is a top boys only prep school preparing ds for the leading private secondary schools in the U.K. and The Hall in Wimbledon is mixed school up to 18 catering to a totally different ability range.

so the truth is you have two great options here - these are two of the schools London parents kill and maim to get their kids into. The Hall is extremely academic. Wetherby is very very academic.

if your exits are Westminster/St Pauls then maybe pick The Hall, otherwise pick whichever vibe you prefer. Hall probably a bit more extreme on academics, some people will see that as a good thing, some not. Also location and pupil mix a bit different - North London vs West. (West marginally posher and more international, North marginally more ethnically mixed and slightly more ultra pushy academic families - obviously this is massive over simplification and exaggeration)

also, if your kid is going in in Yr 6 (???) then it almost doesn’t matter where they go from an exit perspective - the exams for the secondaries are early in year 6 even if you are not leaving till year 8.

if you are just here for a few years before going back to the US then I would pick whichever is nearer your house.

Can you give us a bit more detail on where these schools are and whether are state vs private, selective or not etc.

Kind of hard to offer thoughts with just the name of the school.

Our impression was that Wetherby is more prestigious because Prince Williams and Harry went there!

Would you give the time of day to anyone who took that into account when choosing their child's school? Sounds like the sort of person I'd cross the road to avoid.

At the Hall they are very aware of who is and isn't in the Westminster stream. It's not a place for the faint-hearted.

What kind of US universities admission like to give extra credit to the school with royal connections?

I want to note that down and avoid like hell.

If you're thinking about reputation of a UK school for US university admissions, then it's the reputation of SECONDARY schools that are relevant and important, not prep schools. US universities could care less about primary schools. If anything, it would be better to attend a high performing STATE secondary school, like Harris Westminster in London, than an independent secondary if you want to improve your chances at the Ivies.

@njshore "If anything, it would be better to attend a high performing STATE secondary school, like Harris Westminster in London, than an independent secondary if you want to improve your chances at the Ivies."

Does Ivies league also look at where these applicant took their GCSE results like oxbridge for contextual info? If no then looks like a loophole to be closed.