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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Anyone know Manor Lodge School HERTFORDSHIRE?

19 replies

outerlondonmum · 17/04/2011 18:41

Any info gratefully received. I've searched old threads and they sound quite positive but there's a new head I think.

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severalyearsdowntheline · 17/04/2011 20:33

I have friends with children there and they have been very happy with it. Everything I've heard suggests that it's a lovely school and it has excellent pastoral care but they do get a huge amount of homework even in year 1 & year 2. I was totally shocked by what my friend's DD was expected to do over a weekend.

MammyT · 17/04/2011 22:13

It is highly selective even at Reception and they seem to go for a 'type' of child - outgoing and very confident. But that said, it is generally accepted to be one of the best independent school in the area.

Original poster

outerlondonmum · 18/04/2011 08:43

Thank you for this info so far. Severalyears - can you give me an example of the amount of homework?

It is for a place higher up the school. I am assuming a few leave at the end of year 2 (to go to Habs and NLCS - hinted at on the website) so some places would come available then. I guess I will have to wait and see.

Not sure ds is outgoing enough though - he can be with adults but with children he doesn't know can be a little shy - and although very bright according to existing school (reading a couple of years ahead, maths good), it is a state primary and things like handwriting and spelling aren't emphasised in the same way, so maybe he won't make the grade to get in anyway.

OP posts:

CeciC · 18/04/2011 09:12

Hi there,
My niece is in Y1 at Manor Lodge, and my SIL is very happy with the school. With reference to homework, my SIL says that she doesn't get as much homework. She has to read everynight ( and sing the reading book( and gets spellings every week. She might get another piece of homework for the week, but so far no maths homework at all. My DD2 in Y1 as well but at a state school, gets more or less the same amount of homework. The only difference is in reading, as my niece has to do it everynight and for us is more flexible.
Over all I would consider Manor Lodge. Having meet some of the other parents for my nieve birthday party they are very sociable and quite down to earth.
Good luck

Original poster

outerlondonmum · 18/04/2011 09:35

Thanks Ceci.
That doesn't sound too bad if it is mainly reading as ds adores books and would typically read them on the way home from school anyway.
The getting a place could be a challenge.
Do any of you know how many kids typically leave at the end of year 2 as the website says some do to go to 'other schools' (presumably Habs and NLCS)

OP posts:

severalyearsdowntheline · 18/04/2011 11:08

I know a few children who leave at the end of Yr2 and there is always natural movement, my friends children seem to have had a number of children coming and going for various reasons. My DC's are in a very good state primary and I would be pretty confident that they'd be able to keep up without too much trouble at ML. I do have friends who've pulled their children out of there as they did not handle SEN issues very well but that was a few years ago and it may be much better now. The parents from there who I've met seem very nice and it has a good religious and ethnic mix too.

Original poster

outerlondonmum · 18/04/2011 11:24

Lucky you with the good primary severalyears - ours is really underwhelming, hence thinking of moving. Such a shame as it is a lot easier to get to than ML but it's failing to cater to bright ds miserably and seems badly managed (but that's another thread!)

OK this all sounds promising. I will definitely call them to arrange a visit after Easter.

OP posts:

100lilgreen · 20/04/2011 13:51

YES i have a friend who has 1 daughter there atm and 2 who have finished. both went on to excellent schools. one to NLCS, and the other to Immanuel College. The oldest d was unhappy in her state primary, hadley wood primary, so moved to ML was fantastic. she settled in straight away.
def think about ML

Original poster

outerlondonmum · 20/04/2011 19:10

Thanks 100Lil - all good and reassuring so far. They do seem to get them into very good schools afterwards.

OP posts:

busheymum · 15/01/2012 17:22

outerlondonmum, I know this thread is quite old but I just wondered if you had seen Manor Lodge and gone further with getting a place?

I ask because my daughter has a place there for reception this sept...but we're not sure whether to send her now or instead send her to a very good state primary and then get her in at 7+ time. I know they don't officially do 7+ so I'm wondering whether they do have spaces in other years.

Ilelo · 15/01/2012 18:38

busheymum we are in the same situation as you. We have a place at the school but hoping to get into a very good state school closer to home.

I know 6 families in the school and parents and kids speak highly of the school. One of the families transferred 2 kids in Years 1 and 3 and another 2 transferred their sons in Year 1. One of them has been invited to the 2nd stage of Habs assessment to transfer in Sept (Year 3) and there are others sitting the exams according to the mum. Hence they do have spaces coming up in various year groups.

Have you decided if you will be taking up the place? I keep flipping between yes and no, but if we get the state school of our choice, we'll have 2 days to make a firm choice.

busheymum · 15/01/2012 18:58

so nice to hear from you Ilelo! Its reassuring to hear that children get spaces on in later years. We really like the school but question whether at this stage there is as much value in a private education and whether she would benefit more from it a few years later on. Of course she would have to be assessed again but she is quite focused and able (I am biased of course!) and if she carries on that way I would hope would have a chance of getting in later.

Like you we flip between yes and no too! We're not sure whether she will get our preferred state primary...if she doesn't decision will be ML. If she does we will also have those 2 days to decide.

The children that you know that transferred in, were they from state or private schools?

Ilelo · 15/01/2012 22:46

They all transferred from other private schools.

One of the reasons we can't make our minds up is 3 of the families said it's not worth paying for private school at this stage if one can get into a very good state school and put in the extra effort at home/outside school activities etc. However, my husband always asks why they haven't changed their kids to state schools ...

My cousin who has 2 kids in the school went with me to visit the state school we are hoping to get into said if she had to do it all over again, she might do it differently and start in the state sector.

Regardless, they all feel Manor Lodge is an excellent school.

Just like you, not getting our preferred school means it's ML for us. I'm actually glad it's not just us as I always fear if we start state and decide to reapply to ML they might not entertain our application. Good luck.

2GirlsDad · 02/10/2013 19:21

My DD joined Manor Lodge. The children and families were very welcoming and she is doing very well.

Essentially the school is not privately owned and has great facilities including sports. She loves it.

hertsmummy14 · 11/09/2015 23:13

I am considering Manor Lodge for my DS and wondered if you had any insight into the school's focus on academics, their sporting facilities and levels of preparation for the dreaded 11+ exams, please? I also can't seem to find any info on their wrap around care (we would need a 7.30 drop off and a 6pm pick up). Finally, is their selection process particularly onerous for 3 year olds? Thank you!

ImNotChangingMyUsernameAgain · 12/09/2015 13:30

Manor Lodge is a fantastic school but does not have the sort of wrap around care the you need. The only school in the area with wrap around care is Lochiver which does 7.45 - 5.30.

If you can get around the wrap around care then Manor Lodge is a great choice. It is nurturing and challenging in equal measure. There is a lot of focus on 11+ preparation right from the start but the kids are happy and take it in their stride. There was a considerable amount of homework in reception but nothing they couldn't handle.

Competition for places is high. 120 applications for 54 places with siblings given priority. Assuming 20 siblings there are 34 places for 100 applicants. They will be assessed one to one by a teacher so your DS need to be prepared to walk away from you. Those who cry tend to be sent home and not offered places. Harsh but they need to select somehow.

hertsmummy14 · 12/09/2015 18:40

Thanks so much for all the information!! Is that the selection process for age 3 entry please? ML does seem like the perfect choice for DS if we can arrange some after school care. It is a stressful time, especially as we have been told that we should have registered DS with prospective prep schools at birth and I am worried that we might be too late to even register now!!

ImNotChangingMyUsernameAgain · 12/09/2015 23:15

Manor Lodge does not have a 3+ entry. The Manor Lodge nursery (age 3 entry) is limited to siblings of children already in the school. The earliest entry point for non-siblings is 4+ (age 4). The closing date for registering for the 4+ was yesterday (!) and the assessment is next month.

hertsmummy14 · 13/09/2015 11:18

Of course, I did read that the age three entry was for younger siblings only. DS will be hoping to enter in 2018 and I really do think ML will be the perfect setting for him so I hope I am not too late to register I will call them first thing Monday. Thank you again, it is nice to hear from someone with knowledge and experience of the area.

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