Poole/Bournemouth prep schools

[KR2013]

Hi there, hoping some people can help!

We're looking to move down to Poole or Bournemouth at the end of this school year. We'd ideally like to buy in the Lower Parkstone area but are also looking at Southbourne and Queens Park.

We have twin daughters who are in Year 3 currently, and having spoken to the council, the chances of getting them into a good state primary school are basically zero, so we're looking at private schools for primary and then they'll hopefully get into grammar for secondary.

So far, we've spoken to Yarrells, which we loved, and St Martin's, which we liked but are worried it might be too small (they'd be joining a class that's currently only 11 children, which feels a bit sink or swim for friendships!). We're also talking to Talbot Heath, but I know they encourage the girls to stay on into secondary education and we can't afford to do that.

I would love for them to go to Yarrells, but there seems to be much less housing going in Lower Parkstone at the moment which is right for us, and I'm assuming travelling from Southbourne to Yarrells would be totally horrific?

Does anyone have any feedback on the schools mentioned above or any other suggestions? For reference, we can't afford the more expensive private schools - Yarrells and Talbot Heath are the most we can consider spending.

Thanks in advance!

Hi, we are exactly in the same situation, relocating to Bournemouth this summer. We have done a bit of research and talked to some of the schools. We have twin boys currently in year 4 and a daughter looking for a sixth form. Same as you, we gave up trying the state primary schools after phoning them, places are unlikely to become available specially for 2 children in the same year group.
Park school, right next to Queen’s Park, is a very nice independent school that prepares the children for the 11 plus exams, with very good reputation locally, this is our preferred option but they have waiting lists.
We have considered the Bournemouth collegiate prep school, it looks like a lovely school, I spoke to them recently and they also prepare children for the 11 plus by invitation if they see academic potential for a grammar school, I have heard very good things about them in recent years and they are located in the right side of town if you are looking at Lower Parkstone. On places to live in the area, we loved Southbourne, since being very close to the sea, but found traffic an issue as it is far from everything for us: schools, swimming pools, main shops, etc. Queens Park is very central and very nice indeed. Good luck with your search.

I went to both St Martin's and the Yarrells (although it was known as St Monica's then). This was quite a long time ago, but I absolutely loved both Schools. I know of some children who go to both now and it seems that the traditions of both have been continued over the years. They are both very 'happy' Schools. The curriculum at Yarrells in particular is very varied; ballet is part of everyday life, and we were also taught to write music and to be able to recognise the various instruments of an orchestra! OK, probably not an everyday skill, but sometimes it comes in handy!

I lived in Ferndown when I went to Yarrells - it took about an hour there and back for my parents driving me. Obviously traffic has got worse since then, so I would suggest Lower Parkstone for a house rather than Southbourne or Queen's Park. Might be worth enquiring whether they have School minibuses - I often see them from other Schools.

Talbot Heath has an excellent reputation for education standards, although they have always been know as concentrating heavily on academic success rather than 'softer' pursuits. It all depends on the environment you want for your children.

Good luck and if you would like any more info on the area, please ask!

That's really useful - thanks so much. The lack of school spaces in the area really surprised me, but I guess it's better to know now rather than once you've moved in and haven't factored in school fees! It's also useful to know about the traffic in Southbourne. My husband grew up in Wimborne and knows Lower Parkstone pretty well, but Queens Park and Southbourne are pretty much new to him so any insight is really helpful. I hope your move goes well - the thought of being close to the sea is keeping me going through the end of this lockdown!

@MagicSummer

I went to both St Martin's and the Yarrells (although it was known as St Monica's then). This was quite a long time ago, but I absolutely loved both Schools. I know of some children who go to both now and it seems that the traditions of both have been continued over the years. They are both very 'happy' Schools. The curriculum at Yarrells in particular is very varied; ballet is part of everyday life, and we were also taught to write music and to be able to recognise the various instruments of an orchestra! OK, probably not an everyday skill, but sometimes it comes in handy!

I lived in Ferndown when I went to Yarrells - it took about an hour there and back for my parents driving me. Obviously traffic has got worse since then, so I would suggest Lower Parkstone for a house rather than Southbourne or Queen's Park. Might be worth enquiring whether they have School minibuses - I often see them from other Schools.

Talbot Heath has an excellent reputation for education standards, although they have always been know as concentrating heavily on academic success rather than 'softer' pursuits. It all depends on the environment you want for your children.

Good luck and if you would like any more info on the area, please ask!

Ahh, that's great info - thank you! We're definitely coming to the conclusion that if we want Yarrells, Lower Parkstone is the place to be ideally. They do have buses going from fairly close to Queen's Park, so that's definitely another option - I'd be happy to do the school run from there temporarily, but would be nice to have another option in the long run, especially once I've found a job!

My husband grew up in Wimborne and his sister lives in Ferndown! He's really set on being in either Lower Parkstone, Queen's Park or Southbourne as he's slightly scarred from the travelling to and from Poole and Bournemouth when he was younger and the lack of independence 😆 When I was looking on Rightmove yesterday I noticed that Broadstone seems to be slightly better value than the other places we've been looking (and certainly has bigger gardens!) - do you have any views on Broadstone?

Broadstone has a good reputation and some very nice houses! Other possible options might be Corfe Mullen or Bearwood, or even Lytchett Minster and Wareham out the other way past Yarrells? Does your husband need to be more central for his job? I can sympathise with him about the travelling from Ferndown/Wimborne into Bournemouth or Poole!

@MagicSummer

Broadstone has a good reputation and some very nice houses! Other possible options might be Corfe Mullen or Bearwood, or even Lytchett Minster and Wareham out the other way past Yarrells? Does your husband need to be more central for his job? I can sympathise with him about the travelling from Ferndown/Wimborne into Bournemouth or Poole!

His job is actually based in Windsor - it will be mainly home working even once restrictions are released, but he will need to travel there a few times a month so we're reluctant to go too much further west ideally. Those tips are great though - thanks again!

Other schools are Castle Court or Dumpton (although the latter is probably too far for you).

I wouldn’t hesitate to go with Talbot Heath. I know parents who have taken their girls out of BCS and Castle Court to send them to TH, and they rave about it.

@Haydugi - Oh yes, I agree re TH - I was just trying to let OP know that they are very, very academic - and nothing wrong with that!! I was supposed to go there but in the end went to Wentworth (which later became BCS) .

So I went to TH for senior school and they are quite academic focused, but also lots of emphasis of sports, music and art, they also did extra dance, drama and music lessons. I stayed on for 6th form, and prob only about 30% of the girls did at that time. This was a few yes ago now though so may have changed, but they can’t force you to stay, and lots of girls left and went to Brockenhurst, Bournemouth school
For girls (think it’s called something else now).
southbourne to yarrels would be quite the drive. The Upton/hamworthy traffic in the morning is bonkers.
So Upton/Broadstone would be a good move house wise if you are interested in being this side of Poole. Upton is close to the Hamworthy train station which would be handy for commuting?

Broadstone is nice and we seriously considered moving there. The main high street has quite a few good independent shops, and an M&S, and there is the Junction sports centre for swimming and kids’ holiday clubs.

It has good access to the Heath for walks etc.

It is also very handy for the grammar schools.

Thank you! Interesting comments from all about the schools. Does TH have a sixth form? with very good GSCEs being predicted we think we can get our oldest daughter in one of the grammar schools in either Poole or Bournemouth but will need to have a look at TH. On location, We have not really explored Poole massively or the west side as my husband grew up in Bournemouth and went to the boys grammar school and we were targeting our search in Bournemouth. Another reason is that we both work in a company head quartered in west Berkshire and would need to go to HQ once a week. We though we needed easy access to Wessex road and the commuting roads. This is something that Queens Park or littledown in Bournemouth also have, easy access to everything: the grammar schools, commuting roads and shops etc. And...just 30 min walk to the sea, not bad at all. We have done many house viewings this month, and tested the walks and drives from and to, and Queen’s Park and Talbot woods remain our favourites, with littledown coming third.
Back to schools, we also spoke to St Martin’s and didn’t find the size of the school an issue, it is a lovely school and they do great prep for 11 plus with great results. The main issue for us was that they don’t provide with lunch, but you have to send them with a packed lunch, which might be ok for some families but not for us. Hope this helps!

Just jumping on this post as wrote a similar post this am, we are moving back to Poole in the next year and buying in Parkstone area if we can find the right affordable house. Looking for my kids to go to one of the prep schools in central Poole, purposely not yarrels/ further out etc to avoid driving etc, want to really be as
Local as poss. We looked around both bcs prep
And Talbot Heath prep, for us bcs won hands down at the prep
Level - had the most gorgeous family vibe, intimate setting and loads of extra curricular, TH just didn’t have that vibe at the prep school level, but the secondary school part of TH was fantastic. We r almost definitely starting our girls at bcs prep and then will see what suits them both once they hit year 5/6. Just need to find a house we can afford that isn’t a studio flat!!!

The house prices are crazy at the moment, aren't they?! We've ended up buying a house in Lytchett Minster as we were finding the houses we wanted in Lower Parkstone were going too quickly and we were losing out to chain free buyers. I'm guessing that will settle down once the stamp duty holiday finishes though!

Hello, if I am not too late, I would recommend TH. My daughter goes there and whilst they would like the girls to go into the senior school they are realistic and a significant number go onto the grammar school each year.

It is academic but really balanced with an excellent STEAM curriculum and lovely facilities. Our daughter started on Year 3 and loves it. Check out their Facebook page for some videos of their interdisciplinary days they do.