Rowan Prep or Newland House? Feedback greatly appreciated

[TedTalker22]

Our daughter has just sat the 7+ exam for both Newland House and Rowan Prep schools. She has been offered a place at both and we need to make a decision in the next week! We like both schools for different reasons. Newland House is more local to us (15-20 minute school run) versus 30 minutes to Rowan. Any guidance or feedback on your experiences would be great!

My daughter is in the very same position, TedTalker: wonder if I know you? I have second-hand experience of Rowan from friends with daughters there and they are all very happy with the school, which they describe as academic but not pressured, creative and very nurturing. I know no Newland parents, unfortunately, so let's hope some are on Mumsnet and can give us their views!

Hello! I think there may be a few of us in the same predicament. I know a few NH parents but not very well, they are all happy with the school. I don't know anyone at Rowan but yes, I do get a very 'nurturing' feel from the school. The new head seems lovely. The big negative for us is the travel time and that my youngest is at school in Hampton so would mean many long afternoons in the car for her ; ((

I've got a daughter at Rowan and I am so pleased we chose it for her. She loves going in everyday,the teachers are great and there is so much for the girls to do. Agreed with onevertiredmum, academic but not pressured. I couldn't be happier with Rowan.

Thanks for your views, Mumoftwo. Tedtalker, for us too the journey to Rowan (about 35 minutes) is the main problem, but I'm leaning towards it anyway, especially after reading some not so great reviews of Newland elsewhere online. Could you perhaps move your youngest to Rowan to make your life easier?

Yes, we considered moving our youngest but she is so happy and settled where she is and I think even if she was at Rowan pre-prep, it would still mean waiting around for an hour each afternoon for my eldest to finish (& I would think clubs would eventually go on beyond 4pm) ; ((
I wonder how many of us there are the in Hampton/Teddington/Twickenham area that area that could perhaps eventually share the school runs to Claygate? I know Rowan had piloted a minibus to/from Hampton Court last year but there was apparently not enough interest so they have stopped it.