Cranmore v City of London School (ashtead)

[funmum42]

My son is more sporty than academic, we have him down for both schools. I feel COLFs is the right fit but worried he might not pass the 7+ test and don't want to put too much pressure on him at such a young age. Any thoughts or tips?

I have heard (but no personal experience as DS was at Lanesbrough) that Cranore only suits some boys. I have known 5 families leave, and heard reports of many others leaving too, because it just doesn't work for their son and they had various issues there. All these boys were different types but all had issues. So I'd look at it with caution, it may be perfect for your DS, but if you have any doubts then I would steer clear.

I wouldn't worry about pressure- any pressure comes from you, so don't make it into a big deal and your DS will be fine. Have a back up which you are happy with and so you aren't anxious that he must get into COLFs or it is the end of the world!
I put my DC into selective schools with minimum prep, with the attitude if they got in, it was right for them and if not, it wasn't right and they needed to go somewhere more suitable. I didn't want to prep them to a level that they temporarily could pass but naturally it wouldn't have been the right school for them. They got in to our first choices and thrived there. Neither ever felt pressured, both were middle of their year groups and found the atmosphere very comfortable and well-suited to them. (And this was at GHS and Lanesborough/RGS which are renowned for apparently being 'hot houses').
Do not worry about the pressure, if you are telling him he must get into COLFs and making him do hours on end of prep, yes he will feel pressured. It is all about what attitude you take!

I am not sure how helpful my opinion will be as I do not have a child at either school, however, we have been to view a number of prep schools including Cranmore and personally we would not send our DS there. They have a pretty high turn over of staff which will tell you something about the school, the HM was underwhelming in his speech and seemed to brush off questions he couldn't/wouldn't answer! But the biggest draw back for me was this...on your tour you are shown all these amazing facilities (and there is no denying they have some great things/sports/clubs there) but when I started to ask questions of the young man showing us around it quickly became clear that VERY little time was actually spent using them. For example they have a great D&T workshop with lazer cutters and such like, which apparently only the older boys use and for only one term a year! Not sure how much you can properly design and make in just one term. The same went for latin the boys do one term of it (I am presuming just enough for them to scrap through common enterance, but if you want to send your son to somewhere that has a vigourous latin test as part of its entry procedure I think you would have to get a private tutor). It felt to me that I owuld be paying for other people's children to enjoy all these amazing facilities and clubs while my son may, or may not, get to use them for a short time at somepoint in his time there!

Also (only mentioning as you say your son is sporty) the boy showing us around apparently played rugby in school but played cricket and football outside of school as he wasn't allowed/able to do all three within the school. Not sure how this works but it is clear that the "sports" at Cranmore is not what it is held if this is the case.