SW6 - Eridge, Sinclair or Fulham Prep

[2girlfam]

Hi we are entering the minefield of schooling and finding a reception place for our DD! Does anyone have any experience with Eridge House or Sinclair? Our nursery thinks our DD will be better suited to a smaller school than Fulham Prep but I am worried about lack of track record for 11+ and it being too small, especially as Eridge drops down to one class from year 4 onwards. Any insight is much appreciated :-)

Fulham prep just got an outstanding ofsted report and while it is a big school, the pre -prep children I.e reception to year 2 are in a separate building so it doesn't feel that big. Our close friends children are at the school and they love it. I especially noticed how their oldest DD blossomed at the school. My DS will be starting reception there in September so can report back in a few months!
I don't know anything about Sinclair. We had a look at Eridge house but were not impressed. Very nice and nurturing environment but it felt too babyish and not challenging enough. Would not have suited our DS.
Best thing is to have a look around the various schools yourself, probably on a couple of occasions to have different experiences.
Good luck, it is so hard making the choice!

I agree with Ash. FP is a big school if you look at the numbers but it feels small because R-yr2 are on one site. You get small classes, good TA support, specialist teachers, and the benefits of a big school (choirs, sport) etc that it is harder for a small school to provide. Class sizes remain small at the prep. So there might be 5 classes in yr 4 but they are 14-16 in size for example - allows 4-5 sports teams for both boys and girls to play matches each week. Read the Ofsted which is on the website and was done in June. I believe the links with the prep are going to be strengthened (eg. Sports dept getting more involved at pre prep). The 11+ and 13+ track records are excellent at the prep and some girls do stay to 13 along with a good number of boys. It is a very happy school where DC grow in confidence without getting arrogant. Go and look at both pre prep and prep and you'll get a good feel.

Don't know anything about the other schools except they are much smaller and have no/very little track record at the top end. That would be a no no for me!!

I didn't like FP, Eridge was def not on my list, and I don't know much about Sinclair. However if you want a great alternative you should look at The Merlin School, it is in Putney and is co-ed. only drawback is that it finishes at end of Yr3. It is a fantastic school and worth a look.

Fulham Prep is making gains. I suspect by the time your daughters were doing 11+ at FPS, it would be sending girls to top schools in pretty good numbers.

I know nothing about the others.

Another vote for FP from me! Eridge and Sinclair both too small, unproven, struggle to keep the top end of the school full. FP in contrast is thriving - good results at both 11+ and 13+ and a big school that has small classes. Extra curricular also very strong - music awards at 13+ most years to big name schools (Westminster, Radley, Sherborne, Charterhouse etc) and scholarships and commendations academically each year. Sport for all each week - ie. they field 4-5 teams in each year group each week. Huge number of after school clubs - something for everyone. Read the Ofsted report from June 14.

Merlin would have been a no no for me (1) negotiating Putney Bridge and Putney High St 2x daily, (2) basically signing up for the 7/8+ process at age 4/5 - ie. your child spending the first years at school being prepped for what is a very competitive exam and many get tutors for (see threads on this board!!).

I agree, there is no way I would start with a school that goes only through year 3. It would really kill me to subject a child to the 7+ process. My 12 year old just went through the 11+ and even then it was a miserable process.

I think there is a bit of overreaction about 7+/8+. It doesn't have to be miserable and stressful. And you don't have to get tutors either. In fact tutoring a child to get them into a school is a big mistake- what do you think happens when they get there and the tutoring stops?

And as for children being "prepped for a very competitive exam", what is school but preparation for everything? What about 11+ or 13+? Is there no preparation for them?

And the school run from Fulham to Putney, pah!

Superene, can you tell me more about Merlin? Have turned down a place at Hurlingham on the basis that DS is on the waiting for Merlin and, for various reasons, I haven't managed to have a proper look at it yet. I am slightly deterred by committing him to 7/8+ and by the trip from Fulham. What is it about it that people love and that makes the school run insignificant? Is it still easy if you have another at nursery in the opposite direction? Am open to persuasion! Many thanks

We looked at Merlin and Prospect House from Fulham, and then decided to go the other way to Newton Prep!

I liked Merlin, but DH thought it was a bit cramped. He liked Prospect House, but I didn't like the idea of no hot lunches.

We both loved Newton!

Psst Kingscotestaff - Prospect House now does school lunches.

Too laaaaaaate - he's in Yr 8 now...

Rumours about Eridge House are unfounded and the school definitely isn't changing ownership next year! Too many rumours going around! I've got children there and so do my friends - at this point they appear to be slightly more academic than FP and Thomas's but still very nurturing. The sport is good, after school clubs excellent and my older two went on to top London schools. I think people talk too much amongst themselves without having even visited the school let alone having children there. Sinclair is totally different to Eridge.

JJ - on what are you basing your comment "at this point they appear to be slightly more academic than FP and Thomas's"?

A quick glance at 2014 leavers destination for the 3 schools would not bear this out.

Hi JJRoll, just wondering, doesn't Eridge House only go unto age 11? If you have boys, where do they go until Secondary at 13? I've heard only good things about EH, but this would be my only concern. Many thanks!

We have two children at Eridge House and have been incredibly pleased with the school. Both children doing very well and very happy. Would advise seeing the school and experiencing first hand.

I have three children at Eridge House and we love it, all 3 children are completely different and it has suited each one beautifully. They are caring, their teachers are wonderful and have the child's best interest at heart. It is a fabulous primary school who are there for the child rather than the kudos! I have met my best friends there as the community is close and friendly. Lots to be involved in if you want to, but doesn't matter if you don't!

Also re name change, we love the new name, tells us where the school is in London and is so much more memorable than Eridge House which everyone forgets and says incorrectly. It also has an excellent track record of 5 years of children moving on to secondary schools, the owner is definitely not selling only improving the school. People forget that Fulham Prep only started in 1996, EH 2001.The PGP new logo is so much better and was needed.

Whoops tetine, looks like the rumours were actually about Fulham Prep...

JJRoll, can you elaborate? any link?

My children have been in EH for several years and I can assure you it is a very academic school. I know parents who have left EH and gone to Thomas' and found their children to be well ahead. These families chose to leave EH due to sports. EH isn't quite big enough to have multiple sports teams per year group. so if you have a rising football star who wants to be on the A team, then EH may not be for you. EH does make every child feel welcome on the pitch and feel proud of their contribution.

EH just won the Finton House Football Trophy - I think there were 20 other prep schools competing, so not doing too badly!

Any other views on Sinclair? I'm strongly hesitating of accepting my son's offer letter but I'm still a bit unsure about the school's lack of results at 11+...