Central London prep school

[Chimpchat]

Has anyone experience of a good prep school within striking distance of Marble Arch (hate the thought of an hour commute)?

DS in year 3 now, so 2012 or 2013 entry. TIA

What about St Paul's Cathedral School? 15 mins on Central line.

Sussex House was one of the prep schools recommended to me by Eton some years ago. It still has the same Headmaster and is a stone's throw away (by Central London standard) from Marble Arch.

Wetherby?

I don't know what the traffic's like, in terms of length of journey, but the 137 bus route would make several schools possible - Hill House, Garden House, Eaton Square, possibly as far as Newton Prep or Eaton House The Manor.

Connaught House school is practically next door to Marble Arch.

Sorry just saw you have a DS. Scrub Connaught House.

Does anyone have experience of The Hall or Northbridge schools?

Wetherby just about laughed me off the phone when I enquired as they have a 60-odd long waiting list already. Not sure about Sussex House either as we have missed the 8+ it seems that if the schools have 'set' entry points, they don't really take children at other stages.

How is Hill House regarded these days? Two of my cousins went there in the 70s and seem to regard it as 'second class' (not quite sure with regards to what though!). The Garden looks a bit too rich for our blood (we pay our own fees, no nice employer paying for it!).

Sussex House was a no no for me as they have NO outside space and my boys need a fresh air fix and a football knockabout twice a day. People I know at Hill House are very happy. Knightsbridge School? Goes to 13 but unproven results (ie. they don't put much on their website, so I'd investigate!).

Here's Hill House's lists of leavers' destinations for the last couple of years. Getting 9 to Westminster and 5 to Eton (one scholarship) is no mean feat.

Must check HH out. I hope having ex-pupils as relatives may give us brownie points! How 'stable' is it with regards to oupils and teachers coming and going? Where we are has a high turnover of both, so poor DS just gets a new BF and favourite teacher, then its 'all change'. I know central London is like that - we are both Londoners (DH born here and I've been here for over 20 years) and we are staying put!

It's funny - like London buses, two Hill House threads come along at once.

When I was in London, I knew some families with DCs at Hill House and they were all happy with it. It is reputed to have a high churn rate of pupils, simply because it is an international school and many families are peripatetic. There are however Londoners who stay all through. I don't know what the relative proportions of those groups are, but it does have a good reputation for assimilating newcomers.

I don't know anything about staff churn.

Are you familiar with its uniform?

I have photos of cousins in the old knickerbockers, cravat, and cap with tassel. Always worth a laugh.

I have heard Eaton House is good, but the campus DS would be in is Clapham.

I there a general 'score' or ranking for prep schools - as there is for secondary schools?

I don 't think there is any such thing. You have to go on leavers' destinations and general word of mouth.

When looking for the page I linked above, I saw the uniform. The caps may have gone, but the knickerbockers and cravats are still there.

Try the Lyceum Prep. 20 mins on Central line (Liverpool Street). Search this board or Google for more info.

Friend's son has just left Hill House. Suited him brilliantly; he's quite an all-rounder. I think friend thought it was sensible and they understood him.

Did he leave at 11 or 13?

Sorry not to get back before now.13.

Thanks for getting back - I dont want to chop and change with schools, and the thought of getting him settled in a new school is worrying me. It is so much weasier when they are small and do what they are told without too much quizzing/complaining.

Where did your friends son go on to? Their results for 2011 leavers was quite impressive!

Don't want to give too many details but a top boarding school. Nb friend says that if you are trying for st Paul's, Westminster or winchester you are expected to top up the French and Latin yourself and they are put in a separate class. Worth knowing.

Don't want to give too many details but a top boarding school. Nb friend says that if you are trying for St Paul's, Westminster or Winchester you are expected to top up the French and Latin yourself and they are put in a separate class. Worth knowing.

If you are looking for Sept this year for year 4 (ie first year of prep) you have neatly missed the boat by about 4 months, as I am sure you have realised! Have you just moved to London? What a bore for you, especially as Wetherby would have been perfect.

HH pretty much always has places, because of the general churn, so could be a good option. Also, hoovering up an occasional place next year in year 5 could be a fall-back, once the post-8+ frenzy has cleared.

Some one told me this weekend that, rather oddly, Latymer is doing a mini 8+ for a few places in March, but I guess Hammersmith doesn't do it for you.

The other strategy would be to look for a place at an 11+ school which will have lost some boys to 8+ and so have gaps, but that puts on on the 11+ rather than 13+ track - I assume from you post that you have decided on the latter?

Hill House said 'hahahahahahahahahaha. Ha!' Wetherbu said similar (they have over 60 on thei writing list) so I suspect they may be a little oversubscribed for this September! We have been pointed towards Thomas' and Newton preps.

It seems as if there have been a huge leap in the numbers of children applying for places this year. I wonder why?

Front paw, I've pm'd you