Any pre-school experiences with RSG/Hampstead Hill/Broadhurst?

[Jaylden]

Hey lovely mums: has anyone sent their kids to any of the following pre-schools? RSG/Hampstead Hill/Broadhurst

What has your experience been?

We noticed that only Broadhurst do 4+ prep which is a bit unfortunate. On the flip side, we really liked the “wholesome” approach that HH and RSG appear to have.

Appreciate your insights! Thank you

I do with Broadhurst - feel free to PM

How does LJS compare to Broadhurst, RSG and HHS?

Following as I’m a currently looking at the same ones.

They're all very very different from each other. It would be best if you had specific questions which we can then try to help with where we can

Broadhurst has good leaver stats but many mums say tutoring is a must. Is latter the case for all the schools? Is the quality of teaching similar at the schools?

As in tutoring from when they are 3? My initial feeling about it all that it’s too young for them to be in such an academic setting. But then I start worrying that I’m not doing enough for my child if I put her in one that’s more play learned.

what are the chances of getting into one of the better schools without one of the more educational ones? Also, which ones are the best ones in north London?

(sorry for hijacking the thread)

@nordiclondonmum - I’ve just gone through the 4+ and have an offer to a highly selective school. I would say that you do not need to tutor, but you do need to spend time each day with your DC at home eg practising writing and numbers etc, on phonics, recognising their name, reading books, playing with Lego, doing puzzles, colouring in etc.

In my experience (including those of my friends), you can absolutely get into a highly selective school from a nursery that does not ‘prep’ your DC. Attending one of these feeder nurseries does not guarantee anything - there are plenty at my DC’s nursery who did not receive any offers to a highly selective school.

Are you asking for the best schools or feeder nurseries in north London?

Interesting as we thought Broadhurst does prepare for 4+, while we now have heard from mums that they do only to a certain degree. So we wonder if HHS and RSG may be good options as well for pre-prep.

@Jaylden Hmmm not sure where you got the Broadhurst does not prepare for the 4+ from…
They do as that’s their business model, but you need to supplement what they learn at school, at home too. They give ideas on how to do that each week, but you would want to do your activities too. I’m sure that would be the case wherever your DC went for 4+ prep.

Have spoken to 3 mums now who were disappointed with their experience add the school in terms of 4+ prep and not getting their child into their preferred school. Obviously, there are many factors and the pre-prep school can’t be the only responsible factor.

Nurseries can only do so much. Parents need to put in the "work". Realistically if you want DC to go to highly selective school supplementing things like phonics, numbers, etc at home is important but so is giving your DC a happy and wide range of experiences - museums, parks, zoos, holidays, woods, lakes, etc. encourage their interests!

Also have heard broadhurst is v different to what it used to be. More corporate, generally larger class sizes than before, etc. I'd say parents whose dc go to v selective schools are v hands on. Many of the ones that don't get in either have DC that weren't ready at the time, had a bad day on assessment day, or expected the nursery to do it all.

Agree with all of what @preppingforlife has said. It’s very important to take them out too so they can talk about what they did on the weekends, to broaden their general knowledge etc.

You’ll find parents who either like or dislike any of the schools mentioned above based on their personal experiences. Unfortunately, the fact is that selective north London schools are extremely competitive - SHHS & UCS have over 300 applicants for 30 or so spots. I find that parents are just not realistic about their chances or they don’t acknowledge the fact most are only 3 when they do these assessments and how they do depends on whether they’ve had a good night’s sleep, they’re feeling well etc (regardless of how much support you’ve given them at home and school). As @preppingforlife said, some are simply not ready yet (they’re still so little). Some are high achieving parents who struggle to hear these schools are not the right environment for their DC (I know a few of those).
I guess my point is Broadhurst, HHS & RSG are all great feeders into the highly selective north London schools. Whether that’s due to the school or the DC and parents or a combination, who knows?! Obviously canvass opinions of the current or recent parents (which you’re doing), but do a tour and see which you liked the most, is closest to travel, whose hours work best for you etc as all of that is important too.

Also look at mulberry house and clowns Manor House if the ambition is the selective schools.

@BubbleTe first of all congratulations! out of curiosity - what do they test for on the assessment day?

and also was referring to schools, started doing my research but would be interesting with a list.

Thanks @nordiclondonmum. I couldn’t get anything specific out of DC but the nursery will give you an idea of what to expect eg recognise their name, write name, count and recognise numbers, use scissors, jigsaw puzzles (up to 16 pieces or thereabouts), listen to a story and answer questions, draw a picture of mother or something else, talk about their family (family members, what parents do for a living, what activities does dad do with DC etc), where they live, build something with LEGO or blocks.

The most selective north London schools are:
Girls - SHHS, NLCS (though not in London, they have an extensive coach network), Habs girls (again not in London, I believe they are trialling a limited coach service with Habs boys but not entirely sure).

Boys - UCS, The Hall (must register before your DS turns 2), Habs boys (see above re coach service).

Co-ed: Highgate (you enter a ballot to sit the assessment), Trevor Roberts (they have a 1-2-1 assessment but not sure how selective they are- you need to register very early though and you have to do a tour first).

There are schools that are very good but not as hyper selective eg St Anthony’s, Channing etc.

Hereward House is also very good and don’t assess the boy; it’s only an interview with the parents and they ask for a nursery report.

@nordiclondonmum if you search for the 4+ assessments 2023 thread, there’s some chat about what DCs were asked to do in the assessments and you’ll see the above schools mentioned

@nordiclondonmum forgot to mention if you want to get out of this 4+ craziness, there is Sarum Hall for girls and Arnold House for boys. They take them from 3.

@BubbleTe thank you so much for info! Much appreciated

Sorry to jump on this .. Have any of you seen Ivy House School? It used to be St Anthony’s School For Girls but is now coed and has no religious affiliation.
I went to their open day and thought it was brilliant. My child is only 1 years old so I’ll be looking at their Nursery - they go from 2-11. Their Nursery is clean and all the children have specialist teaching even in Nursery !

I also looked at Clowns , it’s good for 4+ but it has a long waiting list!

DD is at clowns and we absolutely adore it. Please make sure you keep your name on the waitlist - places come up!

We were at Broadhurst and had a horrible experience. I moved my son to RSG last year in the middle of the year. It is such a lovely nursery, I cannot explain it in words how nice that place is for kids that young to develop and grow. Also my son just completed his 4+ assessment and got into two top schools.

This is so nice to hear! I’ve liked RSG (did the ABC groups) from the start and still thinking about sending my daughter there. However I wasn’t 100% sure about the set up in primrose hill but kind of want to see St. John’s wood terrace up and running before deciding.

I visited clowns and although I did like it there’s a part of me who thinks it a bit too young for them to be so academic (probably the scandi in me haha).

out of curiosity - what did you not like about broadhurst?

clowns is actually very gentle, particularly compared to broadhurst/hampstead hill

Why is Hampstead hill not gentle?