Independent schools in Bromley/Bexley

[ChildOfThe70s]

Hello, can anyone recommend any independent schools in the Bromley/Bexley area? We are planning to move out of central London and are hoping to send the DSs to private schools (which wasn't affordable where we are now!) They are not desperately academic though so we are not looking for a super-selective school. Thanks

Anyone??

um, how old and what sex?

Bickley Parva is very good for boys from 4 - 13.
A lot of older boys then transfer to Eltham College or Sevenoaks.
I don't know about girls as I didn't get girls until after we moved from Bromley area

actually though Bickley is quite academic as are Eltham College and Sevenoaks...

Thanks Pagwatch: I have 2 boys, age 6 and nearly 8. DS1 did his sats at his state school last year and came out as resoundingly average! DS2 has been assessed for Aspergers and we have been told that although he has some autistic tendencies, he is not "autistic enough" to be formally diagnosed. He is above average intelligence but not v.sociable and finds writing quite a chore. He would not suit a v.academic school I don't think but would benefit from smaller class sizes as he finds his current class quite hectic. I really don't want to put pressure on DS1 by tutoring etc to get him into a school where he might struggle. I just want them to benefit from small class sizes and the extra facilities/opportunities etc that you get from independent schools. DH and I were both lucky enough to go to grammar schools so we have no idea or experience of where to start with researching the independents.

I would go and look at Bickley

Nice small prep school, pretty structered but small and quite pastoral.
Ds2 has ASD so I know a little bit about what helps in enviroment for ASD issues and I think Bickley is nice ( although DS1 went there 10 years ago so may have changed!)

If you phone they will send you aprospectus.
If you also contact Eltham College you can ask for a list of feeder school which will give you more prep school to look at.
After that you just have to visit and get a feel.

Most preps will give you an assessment of some sort - even pre entry at 4 - but it is just some play/chat/games based stuff so they can get a feel for whether child+school = a fit for both.

The other thing is to speak to the independent schools assocaition and get list of school - also any local esate agents will have info on local school too.

But FWIW I would recommend Bickly - they were fab helping me and DS1 when DS2 went through very difficult early years and diagnosis.

I used to tutor several children who went to a private school in bromley. It sounded like a lovely, nurturing place, and the children were very well educated. i'll gave a google and see if I can find it...

Here it is: Breaside

You could try Bishop Challoner here which is not selective and reasonably priced. It is Catholic but I think they take all faiths. Don't know anyone there, though.

Pagwatch - was it Bickley Park or Bickley Parva? Just googled Bickley Parva and it has apparently closed.

Chillo - thanks for the info, I have the brochure for Breaside and it does look really nice.

Caoimhe - thanks also, just looked at Bishop Challoner and I think it looks a bit too academic, they do have an entrance exam which looks a bit tricky for my DS1! I think he'd be ok just about with the maths but definitely not the English paper.

No - it hasn't closed - they are one and the same. I suspect they just use Park now as Parva sounds a little old fashioned.

Same school

oh the shots of the pre-prep take me back. My Ds1 is a 6ft 16 year old - I can't believe he was so little!

They seem to have an open day coming up on 5th Feb

Thanks for that Pagwatch, how confusing!! I have just got the brochure through the post and it does look good. I am definitely going to have to do the rounds of the open days, I think there are a few coming up. It is really helpful to get insider info though

But ChildOfThe70s that must be their 11+ paper and your ds is only 8 - I've heard that it really isn't a particularly selective school.

Considering Bexley has grammar schools and Bromley has a number of very highly regarded comprehensives (plus 2 grammars), the independent schools can't afford to be too selective.

If you intend to move to Bromley you will be fine sticking to state schools if you choose your area carefully. Langley Park School for Boys is very highly regarded (it used to be a grammar school) and gets a glowing mention in The Good Schools Guide. The nearby primaries - Unicorn and Oak Lodge - are excellent schools.