Thomas' fulham vs Kensington Prep

[Arcelik]

Our DD went through the assessments for Thomas' Fulham and Ken Prep. We have an offer from Ken Prep, which we are delighted about, and on the waiting list for Thomas'. Her nursery school teacher says she would be better suited for a coed school as she is sporty and socially confident. Of course we can pursue the waiting list at Thomas' but I would appreciate any views on either school from other parents. Help please!

Ken Prep is a great school that feeds girls into top secondaries both day and boarding. Why would you not accept this place pronto?! TF as yet unproven for secondary results IMO..... Do co-ed stuff outside school. I think it is hard to tell if a child is sporty at 3 yrs, and KP will do sport too! Which school do YOU feel is right...does the timing work that you can keep KP in limbo whilst waiting to see if TF get round to offering you a place?

Since when does "sporty and socially confident" mean a child is better suited for a coed school ?
Ken Prep is a fabulous school. If you think it's right for her then take it. Nursery teachers often mean well but are heavily influenced by their own views rather than what's right for your child. I would go with your instincts rather than their advice in a heartbeat.

We have 3 currently at Thomas's Battersea and genuinely can't fault the education they're receiving, and they're thriving on the very many extras which are part of the school day.

Of all the girls' prep schools, Ken Prep stood out to me because it combined a thorough academic education with an enthusiasm for lots of other activites but wasn't at all ' precious'.

Ultimately we chose Thomas's because when we first walked in, the atmosphere felt exactly right for our DC1 - it just fitted somehow.

If you preferred Thomas's, ring the Registrar at Fulham, explain your quandary, find out where you are on the waiting list and whether you stand a realistic chance of getting a place (the registrars at the Thomas's schools are very straight, clear people and they'll respect yr honesty). If you preferred Ken Prep, grab the place!

I wouldn't pay great heed to your nursery teacher re: sporty or social confidence as there's a place for both qualities at both schools.

Have a very good luck at what Thomas's is getting at the output end, and remember that there isn't much data. They are very different schools - tbh I would have thought you would have had a strong gut feel as to which chimed with you. KP does have a rep of being very rigorous which some nursery staff may covertly disapprove of. It is the hot ticket for girls in the area, if that helps at all!

Sorry - a good look....

Thank you all for your responses. The difficulty is that we liked both schools very much so there is no clear "gut feel winner" in my eyes. Some people say that because KP is rigorous, it might be a bit pushy. Does anyone have a perspective on that? I would love to hear from parents of current pupils of KP if that is possible????

This may sound an odd question, but do you have any plans for more children? I really liked an all girl prep school up here in Yorkshire and was ready to apply there for my daughter, but then we found out our second baby was going to be a boy. As dual working parents we just thought that doing two drop off/pick ups 5 days a week was going to be a nightmare. So we reopened the search and found an amazing coed school that's in the Sunday Times top 50. And it takes both boys and girls.

If you know you're done with babies I say go with your gut, but if there is a niggling feeling you might want more than one (who could be a boy) it might be something to factor into your decision.

Both Ken Prep and TF sound lovely.

My friends with DDs at KP love it and say it is not pushy but would agree that it is rigorous, which I would have thought is a good thing. Not a lot of homework because they achieve so much during the day. I don't hear the same compliments about TF; the school is too new....I would pick a school with a track record every time at 11+/13+, especially if you are planning to do London Day Schools. The competition is fierce. Have heard lots of tutoring goes on at TF (but maybe it goes on everywhere?). When picking a school at reception level you don't think about the next stage, but I think you should. All the girls I know who are at/went to KP are lovely, confident, mature, happy young girls. I also know of several people with DDs at KP and then a DS at either TF or Fulham Prep. The distances are not huge so the school run is doable to either. KP has longer terms though! I do not have DCs at either school so have no axe to grind here. Also, you have a place at KP, but not (yet?) at TF, so how does the timing work with respect to acceptances? HTH. Good luck with your decision.

Can't help on ken prep (other than it was prep school of the year wasn't it?) but head of my son's nursery prefers thomas's battersea and garden house to eaton house as they are a "less rigorous environment". We have another year to think about things and see how our son develops, but I agree with other posters you need to go on what you think, you know your child best! Good luck

Honestly, I don't think you can go wrong with Ken Prep or Thomas's Fulham. I'm a happy Thomas's Fulham parent but I don't doubt that Ken Prep is excellent. Obviously, coed vs single sex is an issue to consider. There seems to be a lot research suggesting that girls benefit from single sex education. That said you can opt for coed for primary school and single sex later and vice versa. Whatever you decide you're not locked in for life.
Another noticeable difference between the two schools are the fees. The fees look similar at both for Reception but take a look at the prep school. TF is approximately £3k/year more expensive for Prep School. (Years 3-6) I don't know Ken Prep well enough to know if there a significant difference in extras offered or staff/student ratio to explain the price differential. There do seem to be a number of parents with DS at TF and DD at KP so perhaps they can provide more details.
As for future schools, please do not worry about the 11+. If your child is destined for St. Paul's Girls, she'll get there from either school, with or without a tutor.
TRL's recommendation that you phone the registrar sounds quite sensible if you want to find out your odds of a place at TF. Some female siblings will have already turned down a place to go to Ken Prep.
In any case, congratulations on dd's place at Ken Prep. By all accounts, it's a terrific school and I'm sure there are more than ample sporting opportunities at Ken Prep for any sporty girl. Best of luck with your decision. :)

Does Kensington one help children out with regards to prepping for scholarships? DHs head told me that he is scholarship material (11/13+) and we need to consider if schools focus on this.

Ken Prep is a girls school that goes to 11+. TF goes to yr6 and if you don't do 11+ you transfer to Thomas's Clapham for the last 2 yrs. any prep school should publish a moving on table with details of any scholarships achieved. HTH.

D'oh. Just realised I was being vague! I meant Thomas Kensington. Well I've failed the initiative test then!

TK also goes to 11 and then they transfer to Thomas's Battersea.

Very late reply on this... but just wondering what you went with? Am hoping for Thomas's Fulham for my son, although assessment won't be until January. But interested to hear if you daughter got in and how you like it if so? Also, I have a younger daughter, so interested to hear also if she is in Ken Prep? Thank you!