Pre prep north london

[drmumoftwo]

Hey guys,
We're really stuck on finding a good pre prep school for our son who is now almost 3. We applied for grimsdell and St Paul's cathedral school. Considered Hall and Highgate, forest and Habs boys.
Does anyone have any recommendations for north london pre prep or ones located in the city of london.
Hoping that he moves on to Westminster school or city of london boys.
Thank you!

TR sends a high proportion of boys to Westminster and loads of boys go to City from there too. Do you mean The Hall? Yes, they send stacks of boys to Westminster but getting in might be more difficult since it is more famous and targeted by many more ambitious families.

City Junior School worth considering if you're aiming for City secondary but too early for your son.

The hall, Arnold house, TR and hereward house are probably a little late now but worth checking in with the school. Look into st Anthony's. Highgate and habs are through schools and unlikely to prepare your son for senior school entry elsewhere.

Look also at UCS junior school.

See Westminster feeder schools on their site for an idea of where boys come from.

I would also say that whenever he starts, he can move later. The academic preps are not for everyone and there is a shakeout over time. More academic boys will move in as spaces become available and it’s easier to see a boy’s potential.

Just double checking, it’s TR Trevor roberts?

Hi, very good point. Thank you for sharing! Honestly, his happiness is our main priority before academics. He’s a very curious bright boy but we don’t want him to be in a school where academics is the only focus

Yes, TR is Trevor Roberts School. Just reading the post, I would be cautious about thinking about a through school's prep (i.e. Highgate and UCS) as a place to send a boy and expect him go on to Westminster or City 13+. AFAIK, they are not set up to prepare the boys for that. Make sure you ask if they prep them for the ISEB pre-test and what number stay to 13. I know that Westminster no longer requires Common Entrance explicitly, but the academic preps are still teaching the syllabus. That means compulsory French, Latin and Greek and really pushing them to two years ahead on the rest of the curriculum to be ready for Westminster, City and St Pauls. I'm not saying that route is better, but, if that is what you want, there are certain boxes that are better ticked than not.

Hi, thank you for sharing a list of suggested schools. We’re hoping for a good prep around the city of london, such as St Paul’s cathedral as my husband would be dropping my boy off before before work and picking him up after. We’re back in Enfield so we’re open to any school along the way from here too.
We have noticed most of the great schools are in Hampstead or Belsize Park which are a bit out of the way.
ill have a look at the Westminister website. I hope that WUS will start at 4+. Does anyone know if that will end up happening?
thanks again

Hi @CrankyP thank you for your very useful message. I didn't realise about the exams. Your advice has made me regret applying to grimsdell (Mill Hill)! It's a very good point about through schools! Do you have any opinions about Eaton square? Is it any good? I've heard westminister is becoming co Ed and we much prefer single sex schools but not opposed to a co-Ed school. love Sussex house but it's too far away for us! Wonder what people who work in the city do when it comes to dropping off their kids for school. We're happy to move anywhere north central if he does end up getting into a good school

I had a look at the Westminster feeder schools and at least two come from through school junior branches, so it does happen, but not often. I don't think Eaton house is bringing in a very academic cohort and I don't think big numbers go to the top schools. Eaton house clearly does often send 2-4 boys to the tops school so I would guess it is fine. I have known kids get into top schools from preps that almost never send one. A lot of it is about the dc and his enthusiasm. However, my only advice is to avoid preps that are part of a chain and those owned by investment companies. Go for those with long established reputations and relationships with senior schools. They are usually independent with a head master/ proprietor. It's hard for preps to make money without a property legacy (they own the building) and a way to save on staff costs - like being family run. Generally, those I know are in Knightsbridge, like Hill house or Hampstead, but I'm sure the Good Schools Guide would help you construct a short list! I have never heard of a prep in the City. Apart from City Junior school, I am not sure they exist.

Sorry that is Eton Square not house. Different schools