Breaside Prep (Bromley) and Merton Court (Sidcup) - any views I'm trying to decide which to go for

[MrsFogi]

I'm trying to decide which one to put dd down for - can anyone tell me about their experiences of either of these schools? Also does anyone know whether one is better than the other for grammar school entrance?

Leavers' destinations are on the following pages:

www.breaside.co.uk/senior-school-destinations.html

www.mertoncourtprep.co.uk/index.php?thissection=19

Thanks ti99er22 I had seen those but given the stage dds are at I'm not v clued up on which grammar schools are super-selective, considered "better" than others etc so thought those with older children may be able to tell me. I'm also a bit lost as the Ofsted for Breaside seems better than Merton Court but on my reading (with limited understanding) of the leavers' destinations MC seems to do better at Yr 6 destinations. It would also be good to hear from anyone that has any experience of the schools rather than rely on the websites and what I have found on mn so far.

I've put details of those I know below - hope that helps (sorry, dont know which of the private schools are selective)

Bishop Challoner School - PRIVATE
Bromley High School - PRIVATE
Bullers Wood School- STATE
Chistlehurst & Sidcup Grammar School - BEXLEY 11+ EXAM
Colfe?s School - PRIVATE
Dartford Grammar - KENT 11+
Dulwich Prep - PRIVATE
Eltham College - PRIVATE
Farringtons - PRIVATE
Hayes School - STATE
James Allen?s Girls? School D/K
Judd School- KENT GRAMMAR 11+
King?s - D/K
Nonsuch High School D/K
Newstead Wood School for Girls - SUPER SELECTIVE
Ravens Wood School - STATE
Ravensbourne School - STATE
Royal Russell School - D/K
St Olave?s - SUPER SELECTIVE BOYS
Sackville - PRIVATE
St Catherine?s School - D/K
Sevenoaks School - PRIVATE
Trinity School - PRIVATE
Townley Grammar School - GRAMMAR BEXLEY 11+ GIRLS
Whitgift School - PRIVATE
Wilmington Grammar For Girls - GRAMMAR KENT 11+
Wilmington Grammar For Boys - GRAMMAR KENT 11+

Thank you wineoclock you are lovely

Hi,

I am now having to make the same decision as you, between Breaside and Merton Court. Did you make a decision between the 2 schools in the end?

Thanks,.
Holly

Have you thought about Babington House? Fab school!

Merton Court prep. Our son is just finishing there in year 6. He has loved every minute of it. The leavers destinations are excellent and also get many children into super selective schools like Dartford Grammar boys and St Olaves. Our son even asks to go to breakfast club at 7.30 every morning as he enjoys being at school so much. Have never experienced this at any other school. Grounds and facilities are excellent at MC and the amount of extra curriclar activities they do whilst still achieving top results is simply amazing. All staff seem extremely committed to the school and many have been there for years.

I have a girl at Babington House School, do visit before making up your mind. It's an amazing school. Extra curricular list in endless (for both boys & girls), fantastic teachers, breakfast club and so so much more. Certainly worth a visit before making a final call.

Had a friend who had a DC at MC. They spent a fortune on 11+ tutoring outside school. She was not the only parent who did, maybe something to bear in mind when looking at the transfer list. She ended up at MC because she moved in to the area and it was the only indie with available spaces and the good state ones were full as well.

Did you finally manager to decide between the 2 schools? I am planning to move to Elmstead Wood/Chistlehurst area and is in a similar Dilemma between Babington house and Breaside school. Farringtons isnt ideal for us given the distance to station and both of us wourking in London it adds to the daily commute. Any thoughts to help me out

Hi BunnyBump sorry I have just seen this. I am hearing a lot of good things about Babington House at the moment and there has been quite an exodus from Breaside to Babington over the last couple of years.

wineoclocktimeyet,

I have added slight amendment to your list:

Beths Grammar School - BEXLEY 11+ EXAM
Bishop Challoner School - PRIVATE
Bromley High School - PRIVATE
Bullers Wood School (Girls)- STATE
Bullers Wood School (Boys) - STATE, opening in 2016 for their first year 7
Chistlehurst & Sidcup Grammar School - BEXLEY 11+ EXAM -
Colfe’s School - PRIVATE
Coopers Technology College for boys - STATE
Dartford Grammar - KENT 11+
Dulwich Prep - PRIVATE
Eltham College - PRIVATE
Farringtons - PRIVATE
Hayes School - STATE
James Allen’s Girls’ School D/K
Judd School- KENT GRAMMAR 11+
King’s - D/K
Nonsuch High School D/K
Newstead Wood School for Girls - SUPER SELECTIVE
Ravens Wood School - STATE
Ravensbourne School - STATE
Royal Russell School - D/K
St Olave’s - SUPER SELECTIVE BOYS
Sackville - PRIVATE
St Catherine’s School - D/K
Sevenoaks School - PRIVATE
Skinners Grammar School (boys) - GRAMMAR KENT 11+
Trinity School - PRIVATE
Townley Grammar School - GRAMMAR BEXLEY 11+ GIRLS
Whitgift School - PRIVATE
Wilmington Grammar For Girls - GRAMMAR KENT 11+
Wilmington Grammar For Boys - GRAMMAR KENT 11+

• some more grammar schools in a 30 train journey from Bromley South to Maidstone as well.

On a different note, my DS' private tutor is tutoring children from private schools and she was saying that regardless their excellent reputation, pupils still need extra tutoring.

I had friends with two DSs at Braeside - one got to a state super selective and another to a selective independent. She liked the way the school supported all the entrance exams and there was even an exhibition style day where lots of schools came in and parents could talk to a whole variety of admissions officers. However another friend had girls at Braeside and decided she was staying in private and so moved her girls to Bromley High, one was in Y3 at the time. I think her reasons were to avoid the bun fight at Y7 and that Braeside had such a very wide range of abilities that for her daughter's wasn't the best fit. To clarify re the list some of the Privates are easier to get into than others. James Allen Girls School (JAGS) is highly sought after and has an entrance exam that is not for the faint hearted. Bromley High is also highly over subscribed. Some others are easier to get into. Similar to the state system some are selective on ability or a particular skill, others are not.

I can only comment about Merton Court as I have a child who has been at this school for over 4 years. I agree with what someone said earlier - every single parent I have come in contact with do put their children through intensive 11 plus tuition (outside of the school). The children do not get as much help as they should in the school. In reality the number of pupils moving on to grammar schools from MC should be attributed to the extra tuition paid for by parents and not the lessons/teaching provided by the school.
Pastoral care isn't that great - it is difficult to complain about anything as either your child will be picked on by the teachers or other pupils. If I could do it all over again, definitely won't take my child to MC.

Hi all, I am new to this forum, but finding it very helpful! We are also selecting the school for our 2 year old daughter. we are looking at Bromley high and Breaside. Could you please share your experience with Breaside? Are there benefits in joining this school at the kindergarten stage (at 2.5 years), how does their kindergarten compares to standard nurseries (we are currently at Busy bees)? How easy it is to get to reception at 5 ? Are there tests and do they tend to be oversubscribed? Thank you very much in advance!

Thanks SanityClause for sharing your experience! We are not really considering Merton court as it is a bit far for us. We live near Breaside and Babington. Thank you!

Well, I was actually answering the OP, petanque.

Petanque - having now been in the area and had dcs at a couple of schools in the area if I were making the decision again I would put my ddd in Bromley High or Babington, I would not go for Breaside.

Thank you, Mrs Fogi. We like Bromley High a lot, but as it's heavily oversubscribed we can not secure a place there until DD sits the tests at 4 (if she passes them). Babington looks really good, but their waiting list is endless (having just moved into the area I think we have missed the boat there). Could you explain a bit more why you would not consider Breaside (if you prefer, please pm me)? Their 2014 and 2015 results look quite good (Babington do not publish their results on students destinations I think, but they run until 16 so would not be comparable anyway)... Thank you so much!

Hello All,

I want to pick your brains specifically regarding Merton Court. A few questions. Sorry there are so many. It's my first time on Mumsnet.

1. Have your children received a balanced education at MC?
2. Have you applied for a bursary on fees or know anyone who has? What is MC's stance on this?
3. My son starts at MC in 2017, and reading some of the comments, it's somewhat hard to read as one always wants the perfect school. Can you please tell me what you think is good about MC?
4. If you wish you had never gone to MC, what would you have done instead?
5. Are your children alot better off than they would have been if they had gone to a local state school?

Thanks alot!!

Jeem
I don't have children there to make my opinion more balanced.

Tutoring of children at MC is enormous, rife even, so factor that into their 'results'

They award free scholarship to very bright children

All schools around here are good, state or private.

I would like to apologise for my comments made on this thread about Merton Court and its head, Mr Dominic Price, and for any offence they may have caused to him, his staff and the parents at the school.

I have asked for the post to be taken down.

Would one please share Breaside experience. We are thinking of sending our child there.

thanks

@JEEM21 Did you end up sending your children to MC? how has your experience been so far? considering starting this year. Any feedback via PM or otherwise would be much appreciated