Sevenoaks mumsnet advice for secondary schools

[Bettyboo33]

Hi we are looking to move the area and cant decide on the schools that we have visited. Any thoughts on New Beacon or St Michaels? We just want a prep primary to move to state for yr 7 plus. Any advice on local state schools too? We are not of a faith. Thank you

If you’re moving to state for Year 7 I would choose a school where a significant number leave after Year 6, as they will prepare them for the Kent Test (if you’re interested in grammar schools).

Some Prep Schools are focussed much more on pupils staying to Year 8, and prepare them for secondary entry at Year 9, so don’t do much prep for the Kent Test. I think New Beacon is like this, and I would imagine a lot of their boys go on to Tonbridge/Sevenoaks etc, but this isn’t through direct experience, just what I’ve heard from friends. You probably don’t want a prep primary where your child (son, presumably?) will be only a handful of ones leaving after Year 6.

If you’re not aiming for grammar school then just choose the one that you think your son would be happiest at. I realise it may be far too early to judge what sort of secondary school would suit him, so in that case you’ll probably want to keep your options open.

Thank you. Yes that is what has been on my mind. We are already in a prep in our local so thought best to keep them in a simiar setting but i have noticed there is only a small number that go to grammar. Any recommendations on state- not grammar secondary? Any views on St Michaels- dont hear many mention it for prep.

If you're not planning for a selective independent secondary, I would not put them in a prep school in the area. There are lots of good state primaries I am aware of (Sevenoaks, Amherst, Riverhead, etc). You will need tutoring either way, so if you are not aiming for Sevenoaks School/Tonbridge I would just do state primary now. Also it's a much easier transition from state primary to state secondary.

If you're not interested in grammar then your options are Trinity (religious) or Knole Academy. The kids with the most invested parents will go to the (numerous) grammars in Tonbridge or Tunbridge Wells or Maidstone (or the satellite grammar campus on the Trinity site), and the rich ones to Sevenoaks School or Tonbridge School. Those with money and girls who fail the Kent Test go to Wally Hall (not sure of boys' equivalent although Radnor House is coed) and those with money and SEN to Sackville.

It's an unusual place!

Thank you that has been helpful to ponder over. Do you like living in the area? Any tips for a newcomer?

I grew up there but now live in SE London. It is a very beautiful town with lots of good shops and restaurants. Socially it can be hard to break into unless you're sporty or religious, and the traffic is awful.

I was bored as hell there as a teenager!

Thank you. Yes i can imagine.

I love living in Sevenoaks. Wordly friendly people of multiple nationalities although mainly white. Any activity is available within 15 mins drive and most of all, I love the quick journey into London. Only downside for me is that it is very hilly so I feel like I can’t go for a run out of my door (not good at hill running) and may not be able to live in Sevenoaks in my old age if my mobility is inpaired. My kids enjoyed living here.

Most families who send their children to the schools you mentioned will go to either private secondaries or grammars. Non-grammar state schools are rarely considered.

To their credit all these 3 schools share their leavers destinations very transparently on their websites. If your goal is the grammar route, it’s quite obvious that a couple of these schools send only a small number of students there relatively to those going down the private route. I’d question how much they support with preparation. Also it’s easier to prep / tutor when other children also do it.

Thank you.

Have you considered a school like Russell House? Fantastic lifestyle in Otford village in Sevenoaks district. Co-ed and age 2 to 11. They have a strong academic reputation but are a smaller prep school than some of the others in the region and their main focus is on the children’s individual potential, wellbeing and nurturing.

When we lived in Sevenoaks, we didn’t feel that any of the Sevenoaks schools were quite right for us and chose Somerhill instead. It’s an easy drive down the A21 (easier than crossing Sevenoaks/traffic) and we felt it the best of both worlds in that lots leave for state at Y6 but also has a thriving Y7/8. Amazing environment and turned out to be wonderful in so many ways. Worth a look if you haven’t already.

Whatever you do, don’t send your kid to St Michael’s Prep School (has another nickname locally that I won’t repeat here). Appalling local reputation for academics and safeguarding. Lead coach who coached out of their hockey astro for years banned recently for life for abuse which mostly took place at the school with the help of their staff. Loads of St Michael’s parents also covered up and wish for this coach to be back despite the abuse as he was a very good coach but that’s the culture of the place. Story made the national press and investigations still ongoing. It’s been known to be a poorly run school forever, relying on beautiful grounds to lull parents. New Beacon seems to be very well run. Nice grounds as well but substance behind it in terms of academics and keeping kids free from abuse. Can’t see any other school other than St Michael’s allowing what happened to take place and let it run and run

To be clear how serious this scandal was about abuse that took place for years in plain site at St Michael’s… the nickname replaces the word Prep with another word beginning with the same letter. Will say no more. Don’t believe any of their odd socks day anti bullying rhetoric either, seems it’s all ok if you are really good sports coach and have a very close relationship let’s just say with staff and keep winning. Truly horrific story and so very sad for the kids involved. A lot faced retaliation for speaking out including from angry st Michael’s parents who were happy to turn a blind eye to abuse as long as the gold medals kept tumbling in. Everyone’s predicting a panorama doco on this soon

Russell House is an excellent local school for private/grammar school preparation. I can't comment on the scandal at St Michael's, hadn't hear about that, but the approach there seems a lot less academic and more on exploration. Beautiful grounds. The Weald annex on the Trinity site is a good option, then Trinity itself for a non-grammar. Knole would be the last resort.