Glendower, Garden House or Thomas's - Decisions Decisions

[sarjd]

Hello, can anyone give any insights or experience or views on this? We are counting ourselves lucky to have offers from these three schools and are really struggling to decide between them. There are positives and negatives about each of them. Would anyone agree or disagree with any of these points: glendower is the strongest academically, glendower has the worst physical environment, garden house is the weakest academically but has a fantastic physical environment but may tend towards the princessy, thomas's is good all-round but doesn't stand out above the other two.
Any views or particularly current experience of any of these schools would be great. This feels like a big decision and it is really hard to choose between them.

Garden House. Hands down. Thomas' second. The physical environment is a big plus.
Wouldn't worry about results, Glendower should have better academic results, they select on entry. They are all good schools academically. Congratulations and enjoy!

They all select on entry. Do you want single sex or coed? Which is easiest logistically? Don't underestimate the advantage of being local to your school - London traffic is a pain!! Glendower girls are impressive in the swimming pool and on the netball court, despite their cramped space, and I'm surprised they don't do better academically (vs a school like Ken Prep). Garden House does air on the princessy which would put me off (my DD definitely benefits from having boys to play with at break time and at parties). So my vote would be G, T, GH !! Agree they are all good schools! Follow your gut instinct. Good luck.

Garden House does not select on entry. Thomas' do and priority is given to sibs. Not all popular & academic London preps select on entry.

Are you sure? When my children went through the process we had to sit in a meeting with ms chalen while she asked maths questions?? This was a few years ago.

Hill house does not assess children and seems to get excellent results.

Garden House selects children (and parents). It does seem to have a slightly less 'academic' reputation than Glendower, but they do teach and extend bright girls well fro what I understand from people with kids there.

My DD is blissfully happy at Glendower and the lack of physical space doesn't seem to cramp it. I personally am not happy with everything there, but also realise that am the kind of person who can't ever be completely happy.
I think it's nice that GH has boys and that at least sometimes - eg at drama in the later years, boys and girls get to interact. It is also nice that they do teach them separately - I believe that mixing them at the age of 4 benefits boys more than girls.

Thomas's is a happy school with great drama program, but it it's academic results you are after - it doesn't compare.

To summarize - it does come down to what you are looking for and how you DD is. If you think she is a more studious type - then it's down to GH and G. Then it's what is more convinient logistically - important for both convinience and future social life - play dates, etc. And finally, where you'll fit better - both schools have there share of rich parents, GH is rumored to have more and 'flashier' ones.

Good luck - it's a great place to be to have these choices!!!

thank you all very much for this feedback! I don't know anyone with children at any of these schools so really appreciate your views. DD also has two younger brothers so she doesn't lack exposure to boys! I particularly like GH for this reason - you still get the separate teaching but have all the advantages of the kids being in the same school. I love the facilities there. It is the rep for the flashy that is putting me off.
Our offer is from Thomas's Fulham. Another complication to throw into the mix is a wait list space from Cameron House. This was my favourite school so the wait list was disappointing. Whether to hold out for an offer from there is another question.

All three schools are excellent. Interestingly a friend called yesterday discussing her decision of Pembridge versus GH for her DD. She concluded that even though Pembridge is academically stronger - she much preferred the atmosphere at GH. The girls just seem really happy. Also if your DD is relatively bright the top 50 per cent of girls at GH go to the top schools at 11+. Essentially what I'm saying is that your DS will probably end up in the same place academically at any if these schools. So don't split hairs over the academic strength of one versus the other. You may aswell just pick the one where you think your DD be happier.
My DS is at Thomas's battersea and loves it. A big outside space and pretty relaxed atmosphere until they get to 11 +. Co-ed makes for a less cliquey environment for the girls. But battersea is a schlep. Good luck.

I am a cameron house parent, so sorry you didn't get that one straight off if you were keen - the sibling factor tends to make it a bit tricky. GH is definitively princessy and there is a larger quotient of mothers who refresh their make up for pick up there. I don't know Thomas's Fulham but T in Battersea has done very well with 13+ leavers recently for what that is worth. I know these decisions are tricky, but you are lucky to have the options!

Michaelahpurple, may I ask - do you not get the impression that CH exit results have deteriorated quite a bit in recent years? Is it because the top boys leave at 7+/8+ either? Girls' results don't look that impressive either though. It looks like such a lovely school though. Thomas's Fulham currently doesn't have such great results but it's still new so I would expect them to get better over time.

Sanam that's a tricky one to answer. The year 6 at CH is small - this year at 13 odd is one of the biggest recently, and is as big as it can be. A few years ago there were few to no boys at the top end and the school has invested much successful effort in moving towards 50:50, where necessary by recruiting post 8+ This means that the number of children sitting for 11* for either boys or girls are too small to be particularly susceptible to statistical analysis year by year. For instance, a pair of very academic sisters sat this year and 1 or 2 years ago who would have been strong Paul's candidates, but the family wanted co-ed, so they aren't boosting the exit stats. Generally there has been a declining number of boys sitting 8+ as the school has gradually made clear that this isn't their plan - this year only 4 sat out of 12 boys, and the school would prefer this trend continues, which will of course continue to help the 11+. As far as I am aware, and subject to the statistical point above , 11+ has been holding up.

Thanks a lot for those details, that makes a lot of sense. I had always thought the class size was 20 throughout (or is it 16?) and that those who left would be replaced from the waiting list!

Hi Sarjd. Glendower or Garden House are the stand out for me, based on what I've seen and from talking to other mums who have their DC there. Like you said, nothing that makes it stand out from the other two. Ok academically and a new school finding its feet.

Sorry I meant nothing that makes Thomas's stand our from the other two! Not enough sleep!

I always wondered if there were people who accepted Garden House just for the uniform. It is definitely more obviously appealing than Hill House's, for example, but nevertheless, probably not the most important thing in a school.

I would choose the school that appeals to you the most. Both Garden House and Thomas's have a pretty good rep for happy children and reasonable exit results. I personally do not like over pressured schools, particularly for young children. Glendower wouldn't be my recommendation.

I'm always amused by the impressions people have of schools from afar and/or from hearsay! The reality, I think, is that any of these schools would be absolutely fine. I know many delightful, bright, engaging and fun girls at Glendower. Seems to be a happy place. I know GHS first hand. The uniform IS beautiful but doesn't have to be expensive. A former mum runs a second hand shop and most people buy at least some of the elements of the uniform (ie coat) from her. The school is a bit more relaxed than others in the early years, especially for the girls, but is suitably academic as the girls move up and prepare for 11+. The range of extra activities is fantastic, making excellent use of the Royal Hospital gardens for outdoor things; music is top rate as is ballet. The atmosphere fosters kindness, respect for grown-ups, good manners, etc old fashioned, but I think very important for children. And.... I don't think the "make up" on mums at pick-up is any more pronounced that at other schools. Many families are wealthy and the wealth is obvious at events such as charity auctions -- but there are few displays of glamour at the school gate.

Given you have such good choices, I'd select the one that is the closest to home.

What struck me about Garden House School was its combination of modesty and discretion. The school seems to place as much importance on results as on the manners and kindness of its pupils. It's not brash or boastful; but quietly successful in helping to form happy, all-rounded, polite, children. One of London's best kept secrets.