Independent prep schools

[rvc]

Hi, I wanted some advice on independent prep schools in Cambridge as we are moving and have a child who will be going into Yr 5 and one going into Year 7 in September.

We are looking at St Faiths, Kings College School and St Johns College school. I have heard good things about all of them but I wanted to know if it was more advantageous to be at St Faiths for my son in Year 7 as although he will still take 13 + it does still seem to be the feeder school for The Leys.

Similarly, do St Johns and Kings College have similar track record of getting the children into schools such as The Leys, Kings Ely and The Perse for secondary. They all seem lovely and don't really know how to decide.

Any advice would be great!

We didn’t rate St Faith’s for years 3 and 4 but they have a brand new Headmaster now, which will make a difference.

St John’s is well liked by those we have known with children there. King’s more mixed.

If you are interested in The Perse or Stephen Perse you could try going straight into Yr7 which is their traditional change over year from juniors/prep to senior.

IF you have decided on The Leys for y9+ I wouldn’t start a child at St Faith’s in y7 when they could go straight to The Leys then.

Most students at The Leys start in y9 but there’s a lot to be said for joining in y7. The y7&8 house has small classes as well as a great Housemistress and Assistant Housemaster, in my opinion.

The disadvantage of your older child going to any of The Perse, Stephen Perse and The Leys is that you’d be making a decision about secondary education before you really get a feel for Cambridge. The advantage would be that that child wouldn’t have to settle into a new school twice.

Judging by the number of parents collecting from St John’s and King’s after 5pm it wouldn’t be too difficult to have your children in different schools for a couple of years. I don’t know about St Faith’s, though.