Salcombe prep school - Southgate

[pickle346]

Hi,
Does anyone have any views on above school at all? We are moving to the area, so would like to gauge a few opinions! It is the lower school we would be interested in.

Thank you

Hi, I have read your post and it was the most recent, Can I ask what are the pros and cons of the school. I am looking to move my son from another local prep and there aren't many good schools in the area. Hence don't want to take the decision without feedback from someone who has been in the school.

Appreciate your help.
Thanks

My daughter is at this school and I can tell you anything you need to know

Thanks alot XelaM.As mentioned am looking to move my son for year 3 and daughter for preschool, would like to know your experience of the school so far, in terms of their academic approach and overall personality development of the child.

Sure, I can write in a bit more detail tomorrow and pm me if you need any specific advice. My daughter started in reception and is now in year 6.

Positives about the school:

1. The new Head Mr Smith is lovely and very approachable. He stands outside the school gates and greets parents every morning and afternoon at pick-up, so you can always speak to him.

1. The school is great if you have bright children who enjoy being pushed academically. The school really places A LOT of emphasis on academics and if a child is bright they will most certainly be stretched. This also applies to bright children who joined from state schools. There are sets in English and Maths. Children are also encouraged to enter/chosen for various maths/science/other academic competitions.

1. The pupils as a general rule care very much about their education and strive to attain good grades and most importantly work towards the 11+. They are well-behaved and there is no disruption to learning.

1. Class sized are small. The school (both lower and upper) is generally very small and the Head(s) (the school also has an executive head) know every child individually.

1. The school does prepare the kids for the 11+ (including all London grammars and top independents). I must say the secondary schools Salcombe sends its kids to are very impressive and although many parents go crazy with tutoring, actually the school works hard from about year 2 to drill the 11+ necessary curriculum into them . As a general rule, Salcombe’s top-tier students will get into the schools of their choice. Many also find year 7 fairly easy, as Salcombe does make them work at a higher level.

1. The teaching for the most part is very good and very “serious”.

1. The lockdown provision was excellent. Full-day online lessons and they have now given every child a new hp laptop to work on, which they take home and use in school.

1. The school is very diverse; the parents very nice and for the most part, normal middle class working parents.

10. It’s been a few years since we have been to the lower school, but from what I hear it’s quite nurturing and they have school pets (chicks), which are a fairly new addition.

11. Different music instruments grading and Trinity Guildhall exams are offered in the school (at a bit extra cost).

12. The school have a house system and there are some fun house competitions to look forward to. They also organise things like Master Chef competitions, which are great.

A few negatives:

1. A lot of homework! Like I said, the school is very serious about academics and the amount of homework my daughter used to bring home was at times insane (in my personal opinion).

1. A small school means less choice of friends. If there are falling outs, there is a very small pool of other kids to hang out with.

1. The facilities obviously aren’t great compared to some other prep schools in leafy settings.

1. Almost all kids go through the 11+ process and unfortunately many friendships split up as they end up in different secondary schools.

1. My daughter hates the food, but she might just be fussy.

Having kids trough this school I can honestly say don’t waste your money. The new head is fantastic but The old head of the school is still in charge .
The school level of homework has reduced and I am sorry to say the school doesn’t prepare for eleven exam. Every kid (middle of year 4 and year 5)has a tutor and this should be noted. It is nothing to do with the school. Criticism is not accepted. Kids are set on sets and if your kid ends up on the bottom it will not be a happy bunny. Not much help with bottom and middle sets. English sets are removed in year 5 which makes them pointless, and just divides the kids. The kids think they are not as able, which is very sad.
English is very weak and a lot of kids go to creative writing and tuition to be able to pass 11 plus . Maths tuition are used,too. Speak to parents which has gone through 11 plus and ask them how much work they have put and then decide do you really need to pay 💰 for it. Do your research. I wish I did.
Having trips every term, every topic is tested , regular spelling test which it does help a lot. The history teacher is the best, Science and Geography are good. Kids will live above the national level but all this will be very quickly levelled in Secondary school.
In this top performing secondary school ,you will meet a lot of kids which come from normal school ,with same tuitions and more time due to more free time( short school day and not homework)
Yes, the chef is not fantastic it was removed and brought back.
This is my view. Yes my kids went to fantastic schools but it was nothing to do with the school.

Good luck

Thanks for the review

I personally don’t think that’s a fair assessment. I think the school’s 11+ preparation is very good. All they ever seem to do in both English and Maths are 11+ papers and they have after school 11+ prep twice a week.

The kids who made it through to DAO and WE boys this year are kids who have been consistently at the top over the years and I didn’t see any “shock-tutor-inflated” results from those I know who got in. I think parents (me included) panic and go for all this tutoring, but actually the kids that have beeb doing consistently well throughout their time at Salcombe will do well in their 11+.

I also don’t quite understand the English sets comment. There are sets and I don’t think English is taught badly at all. Generally, I think all subjects are taught well.

As for the Head - the new Head is definitely lovely but the old (and still Executive) Head although more tough, has always been very approachable in the sense that I could email her directly and she would respond to me almost instantly regardless of time of day or day if the week.

Apologies for the many typos (am on my phone). That should read DAO and QE boys

I touched a nerve I can see.
Two years ago if I do remember three went to Latymer and two to dame Alice own. Last year I have been told that four went to Latymer, and three went to DAO from which one lives next to the school, and nine kids went to saint johns and mount house.
You keep talking about top sets which some of these kids are very able and parents stay on top of their kids education because they want them to succeed, and they do pay for tutors including you as I did too, because we do not trust the school. I am sorry ,I did pay for this school and I can honestly give my opinion. Yes the school have positives and negatives as any other school. What they does any other school in the country should give to any child .
I am sure you will admit and let’s leave it here and I am sure you are one of the pta parents which always try to shut up other parents, please read the others comments from a few years back and I do not think that anything will change. Let’s please leave it here we agree to disagree. I am sure few more PT parents will come forward.

Err... no I’m not. I also don’t know what that means, as the parents in my daughter’s year are all very nice and normal. Your post is a bit OTT and odd. It’s not just the grammars kids are aiming for - many aim for and get into Habs etc.

We’re very happy with the school. Know parents who have been thrilled with their time, some less so, some in the middle. So both Xela/Tobi’s posts will be accurate reflections. Ours, like Xela’s, is positive - my kids are very happy, the children at the school seem great, confident, well spoken, they form tight friendships and they are not strangers to hard work. Salcombe has good academics, good teachers and nice parents. Only negative would be not enough focus on sports...but we have had a great experience so far. 11+ prep grammar prep was not the reason we chose the school - small classes, good education and proximity to home were however what we paid for. We have no regrets. Good luck in the search.

Hi does anyone have any more recent feedback on this school? We are considering placing our son there. We enjoyed the visit but wasn’t too impressed with the after school clubs / facilities. Thanks

We're very happy with the school. Lots of activities during the school day as well. The pastoral care is also top quality. They teach a year of the curriculum so be prepared to catch up (they will definitely support you) should you join.

Thank you for the feedback :) my son will be joining starting in reception. It’s so difficult knowing which choice to make

That should read ' Year ahead'.

Then you'll be in good hands. The team at the pre-prep site are very hands on.