Prep schools in Wilmslow & surrounds

[kimlek]

I'm looking to put my 2 DD into a prep school. I want something pretty academic as they are bright according to current teachers (age 7 & 6). I don't mind co-ed or girls only. Does anyone have any experience of Ryleys now it's gone co-ed in Alderley Edge; Pownall Hall; Wilmslow Prep in Wilmslow, Ladybarn in Cheadle Hulme or any others that are close to Alderley Edge/Wilmslow please?
Huge thanks!

Ryleys newish to girls, mixed reviews, too boy focussed iykwim. Alderley Edge School for Girls great reputation all round, DH went to Pownall and loved it, very old school mentality, LadyBarn bit of a treck from Wilmslow/AE.

Have replied on your other thread, give me a sec and I'll re-post here. :)

Ok, some of these are to 11, some to 13 (so more traditional prep I suppose), and some are mixed and some all girls.

Wilmslow Prep I went here, and loved it. Obviously wont be quite the same now, but it's a lovely school location and buildings-wise and everyone I've spoken to seems happy there. Good record of getting girls into Withingthon/Man High/ Stockport etc.

Pownall Hall Also in Wilmslow, quite good record I think, lots of speech and music.

Ryleys In Alderley. Has recently started taking girls. Still runs to 13, so good if you want to board afterwards. Not so sure how academic it is (it wasn't great last I heard), but no girls there are old enough to be sitting for senior schools like WGS/MHSG yet so I don't know about that. I would think it might take a few years to shift to being properly co-ed, rather than boys with a few girls.

Ladybarn. Academic (if a bit pushy imo), but much larger than the others. Not so good if your DD's shy, my brother moved here from the Ryleys, and I always thought I'd have hated it. It is quite a way away.

There's also Terra Nova, but it's a bit further out (Holmes Chapel) and probably better if you want to board.

Or there's Bowden and Hale, but again, a bit too far I would think.

Terra Nova was excellent for our son, who arrived somewhat battered ( emotionally) from another school and brought out the best in him academically in a very un- pressurised way. he is now very happy at a good senior school. There were roughly equal girls and boys.

Wilmslow prep has a new headmaster and he is not very good. In my daughters year, 11 girls have left since he has come in (out of a class of 19). They are very good at saying the right things to parents but behind the doors it's a different case. The girls aren't working to their full and the care is not there any more. It's such a shame because it was really good. It's also worth noting that quite a lot of teachers have left since he has come in too.

Ryleys is doing quite well with the girls but still early days. Although the girls I know who go there love it.

Alderley Edge I haven't heard anything bad about it (I just don't have much experience of it).

Terra Nova I really like and is worth a look around.

Pownall hall doesn't seam to me to do as well as the other schools but I could be wrong.

Ladybarn is more academic and think is nice but depends on the child.

Oh that's a shame Cheshire, it was lovely when I was there (not all that long ago, Mrs S was my headmistress for a bit). I've heard there's going to be a new music teacher who I vaguely know, and is very good, if that's a tiny bit of consolation...

I don't know if this is still the same wrt Ladybarn, but there used to be problems with dyslexia etc., they were being so prepped for the exams that nobody realised until they were at their new schools. But it might be better if you'd rather they went to a big senior school, like Cheadle or Stockport, because it would be less of a jump in numbers.

Cheadle Hulme is excellent, I'd have a look round there

Although, strictly speaking, the only Prep Schools so far have been Ryleys and Terra Nova, with possibly WPS and Pownall.

I thought after the OP's other thread she no longer wanted a school with an attached seniors, so AESG and CHS aren't really what she's after.

WOW!! Thank you all so much for your replies - this has been soooo helpful!! Although I'm still at a loss. The Heads always say what they think you want to hear so it is impossible to decide. Does anyone know if Ryleys is academic or not very - I know they are non-selective. Where have the boys been going to?

Thought Wilmslow Prep may be an option but now not sure! AESG has a new head too who isn't very good & people are leaving in droves! Apparently he is disliked by a lot of staff and parents. Sounds similar to WPS. Might go look at Ladybarn as I'm pretty sure my DD's don't have dyslexia etc as they've been reading a good while now. I was told that Terra Nova was good for independently wealthy kids who'll never need to work - is that very unfair?

Cheshire - what do you mean by 'Ladybarn depends on the child' pls?

I still think I like MHSG but feel they are a bit young to be going all that way and thought a local prep would be easier & more social for them (& me)! I therefore prefer a prep that is likely to get them to MHSG at 11+, which suggests it needs to be academic (albeit fun too!!).

I have heard a lot of good things about Ryleys it is very nurturing and a lot of the children pass door mgs etc.. The girl bit is growing but the head is excellent and I think he will make it work... mHSG is very good, and not that far... AESG I have heard that the new head is still disastrous and a lot the parents are leaving if they can..which is difficult as passing for academic schools when you are coming from one that has not taught to the standard required. Apparently he is narcissistic, arrogant and has ruined the school There is favouritism, no pastoral care, and on top of all that the work is just not good enough..

Kimlek, The children that I know who have chosen to go to Ladybarn have been very confident children, I have never been around the school just know of some children there. The children I know there are very happy with the school. I just get an impression that confidence helps at this school but I it does seem a very nice school and may do well with less confident children.

CheshireLady Thank you for that - mine are pretty confident little things tbh. Seems to be between Ladybarn & Ryleys. Going to see Ryleys again today (but they only have space for 1 DD) still need to go see Ladybarn & find out their vacancies

Sparklegal That reflects exactly what I've heard about AESG. Just wondering if you have DCs and where they are at? Do you have first hand experience of Ryleys?

Huge thanks to everyone as this has helped!!

About Terra Nova...Well, the little stereotype about the schools was 'Terra Nova's for old money, Ryleys is for new money'. Being awfully stereotypical now, Ryleys parents run their own businesses or are footballers, Ladybarn parents tend to be doctors and lawyers.

Also I do have some fairly recent experience of Ryleys and LBHS, so hope this will help a little.

My brother was at Ryleys until Year 4 and then transferred to Ladybarn. It was wonderful for him, but he's very competitive, very sporty etc. I think if you were quieter, you may strugggle more, just with the bigger class size.

The reason he moved was that the work at Ryleys just wasn't up to scratch at the time. At the end of Yr 3, some schools do suggest you move less academic children, and unfortunately, in my DBs year, Ryleys took on so many children from other schools that the standard of the class just slipped, as the teachers were more intent on trying to catch the other children up to the required level than continue working with their 'original' pupils.

He moved to Ladybarn, and the tests they did said he was bright, but just hadn't been taught some of the things he needed to know.

I don't want to put you off, just suggest you talk to some of the other parents etc. I know an awful lot left my brother's 'original' year at around the same age. I don't know if that was just an odd year in that they had extra space so filled it iyswim, with unfortunate results.

Probably the best thing to do is see if you can have a trial day at each, and see what your DDs prefer. :)

Oh, just saw your other question.

In general at Ryleys, about half would go to day schools (MGS, Cheadle, Stockport, maybe the odd one or two to others like Hulme Hall). The rest would do Years 7&8 there and then board, generally at Sedbergh, Giggleswick etc.

At Ladybarn, they tend to go to MGS, Cheadle, Stockport etc. for the boys and Withington, Man High, Cheadle, Stockport for the girls. Actually quite a few go to Altringham Grammar too, but that's a bit dicey if you're in Wilmslow, as we're quite far out of catchment.

There's no catchment for alti boys. If you get a high enough mark on the exam then you can go, wherever you live. The girls is different though.

Thanks Scatterchase Definitely need to go look at LBH - they're currently on school hols. It'd a great idea for them to spend a day at each!! Thanks for the advice - I will definitely do this! A huge plus for Ryleys is that we could walk there & we would know people in the area. Whereas LBH will be a drive away. It'll be whether there is space too as everywhere seems very full! Bar AESG!
Again, huge thanks!

I moved to Cheshire with my children two years ago and they go to Terra Nova. It is definately worth and look and only a few miles from Alderley Edge especially with the new by-pass. My children have loved their time there and have grown enourmously in confidence and ability in all areas. I would recommend a visit to see the School for yourself.

I moved to Cheshire with my children two years ago and they go to Terra Nova. It is definately worth and look and only a few miles from Alderley Edge especially with the new by-pass. My children have loved their time there and have grown enourmously in confidence and ability in all areas. I would recommend a visit to see the School for yourself.

AESG is a fantastic girls school, I have two girls in the juniors and have nothing but admiration for all the staff and the teaching. The pastoral care of my children is second to none, talking from experience and they are both very happy there.

The Headmaster is enthusiastic and competitive and is very involved in all aspects of school life and knows all the girls as individuals, helping maintining the status of AESG as a first class girls school. Some people don't like change but as far as I can see the recent changes have been needed and will be for the better.

It is a great place to send your girls.

Anyone else suspect 'Cutesy' delivering the PR spin?

Until last year, we lived in Wilmslow and my kids went to CHS. The drive could be a bit of a nightmare but from our end of Wilmslow it was quicker to go through Woodford than do the A34 but I'd opt for the A34 for LBHS.

Anyway, we looked at almost all the schools in the area and CHS was very much what we were looking for. I now have 2 girls and 2 boys so co-ed was big on my list partly for logistics and partly because I'm not a fan of single sex schooling. I was put off Ladybarn partly because they seemed so keen to prep for MGS and Withington which I wasn't keen on. I had visions of my very bright DD1 being pushed into doing 6 Alevels or the likes.

There is so much available up there (we're now down south and there's nowhere near as much choice!) You really have to look at what each school is offering and choose whichever one fits best with what you are looking for. In our case, we have one bright but shy child, one academically gifted child and one who probably sits in the average range but is happy and confident to try new things. DS2 is too little to tell yet.

I wanted a 'buzzing' environment for DS1 and for DD1, I wanted somewhere that would stretch her academically but make sure her social skills were honed and offer her 'more' than just an academic path. She is so bright that I didn't want her to fall into that trap of that being her thing IYKWIM. I knew DD2 would pretty much fit in anywhere so I just wanted her to be settled.

Anyway, CHS seemed the best fit and my kids thrived there. We were all very sad to leave.

My daughter has been in the junior school at AESG for almost 2 years now. I really rate the school. She started late and settled very quickly, lots of special touches that helped settle her in like having a shadow at first. I've found it very friendly and welcoming, both for me as a new mum and for her joining an established group.

The head is amazing with the girls. Very involved and approachable, knows all their names and has lots of time for them. I wish I'd had a head teacher like that when I was at school! My daughter has thrived there and I wouldn't dream of moving her.

..plus they've got an awesome marketing dep. too.
Thanks, Pantoprincess!

Some very useful stuff here ladies but such a shame people aren't allowed to say AESG is good without being accused of PR spin or working for the marketing department ! Can I just say I don't work for PR or marketing. My daughters are blissfully happy at AESG and they are doing so well accademically. I have been critically ill this year and I could not have wished for more support from the school. Please don't attack me for supporting my school because they deserve a good press- and that includes the head of the junior school who has been fantastic. Just felt the need to defend our lovely school after how much they have done for us as a family. Hope that's ok !