Sevenoaks (pre)prep recommendations - Granville, Solefield, St Michael’s, Walthemstow Hall, Russell House, Sevenoaks Prep?

[JaggedLittlePiII]

New to the area and considering sending my little one to one of the many pre-preps Sevenoaks is rich.

We’re quite an academically minded family, and would love a pre-prep which nurtures the same in our little one, sparking their love of learning and imagination while also providing a loving environment.

I’ve read the brochures, and all boast about their results. We want school that sets the Little One. However, which one is actually good?

Granville, Walthemstow Hall and Russell House were known to be academic in the past, but are they still?

And how do Solefield, and Sevenoaks Prep compare? Are St Michael’s and Radnor as bad as some reviews say they are?

Do you have a boy or a girl? I assumed a girl as you’ve mentioned the girls’ preps. Solefield is also on your list but it’s a boys’ school.

I’m well placed to give you my perspective/opinion on this.

My DC were both at one of the schools on your list (I won’t say which one publicly but I’d be happy to private message you if you’d like more details). it was NOT a good experience for a multitude of reasons. Again, I could give you chapter and verse but won’t do so publicly.

We moved our DD to The Granville and honestly it’s night and day. It’s such a warm environment - the staff (without exception) have bent over backwards to help her transition - nothing was too much trouble. The school’s 11+ results are consistently exceptional (significantly better than those of our previous school which holds itself up to be academically focused); as are the school’s support and preparation in the lead up (and I can vouch for this having the benefit of the comparison between the two). The feedback and engagement is also excellent and more collaborative (significantly better than our previous experience).

There were several new starters in my DD’s year also from other prep schools also on your list. They (in the main) had left those schools as, academically, they weren’t delivering. Those parents have been very happy with their move, as are we. Frankly, with hindsight we’re so relieved we made the switch and often comment on the marked difference between the two.

If you have plans to have another child, don’t be put off by The Granville not being co-Ed. The school works very closely with New Beacon and runs a minibus from Granville to the boys’ school in the mornings. Lots of parents use it and it works really well. Having been in the system a while now and knowing many parents from all of the schools on your list, I would say that Granville (girls) and New Beacon (boys) are the best in the area if you are broadly looking for an academic focus and targeted 11+/13+ preparation.

Our experience at The Granville has been that it’s outstanding. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it as the best (by some distance) of all the schools you mention. None of the others will give your daughter what The Granville can, overall, in my opinion based on direct firsthand experience and anecdotal feedback from parents at the other schools.

As I said, happy to private message if you’d like more detailed insight on our previous school. If you have any questions about The Granville, I’d be happy to answer in more detail.

Thank you so much for the long answer. Will DM you for the details.

i do wonder - is Granville given it’s popularity hard to get in? What’s a good plan B?

I'm not sure about class numbers in the younger years. Best to phone the school and ask. There's a lot of movement at the end of Y2 into Y3 and Granville has scope for a larger intake then - if there is demand, they split the year into two. I believe that they won't go beyond 16(? although I might stand corrected on that) per class. Once they hit that threshold, they will divide the year group into two. My DD's class will have 11 next year, but 22 in the year. I like the balance as the class sizes are small enough for individual attention, but the girls mix across the year for some subjects and break time etc. The best of both worlds!

If you want a targeted 11+ focus with strong academic performance, I'm not sure that there is a good plan B in comparison! I'd go so far as to say any other school for girls would come a poor second in my opinion.

Hi, interested to hear more. We are looking at pre prep for September. We loved St Michaels, didn’t like Russell House, we’d prefer bigger than one form entry, also the nursery was filthy. Solefields is now mixed so looking at that in November but so far St Michaels is the front runner.

Hi, Keen to hear more. I'm not in Sevenoaks yet, but hope to move in the coming couple of years. I grew up in Sevenoaks and went to Combe Bank which is now Radnor House. My daughter is very clever so I'd like an environment which can foster this, but she also loves the outdoors so Sevenoaks Prep backing on to Knole Park is appealing. She's very gentle and kind too so I'd prefer smaller classes and a nurturing environment. I know they all boast all these things but from your experience which school offers an environment that best matches academic challenge, nature and nurture?