We are thinking of sending our DS (3 and a half) to Edgeborough School and would welcome thoughts on our specific questions please.
Context
Our DD (5 and a half) attends an academically selective school and is thriving there. Her brother appears to be as interested and able as she is, so we are keen to place him in an environment that would stimulate and challenge him as much as our daughter's school stimulates and challenges her.
Concern
We have been to view Edgeborough twice and like a number of things about it but one thing in particular concerns us - it's academic ambition.
When we asked "what would you generally expect the children to have achieved by the end of Reception Year, in terms of reading, writing etc.?" we were told after prompting, that the children would be sounding their letters and beginning to write basic words noncursively. We were also told that they don't push children until they are ready. (We felt that ths was a little out of context and perhaps defensive).
When we asked the same question of 2 academically selective prep schools and also South Farnham School, we were given variations of what for us were positive answers: the ability to write freely what they have done over the weekend, cursive writing, a reading level at least one year ahead of the national average. Every family is unique as is every child but surely having a stated ambition will increase the probability of optimal achievement for the average child, let alone those more able.
Thoughts
Can anyone with children in the nursery shed some anecdotal light on how well children at Edgeborough are doing generally relative to the national average and if there is above average ambition?
Disclaimer
I have tried to write my post sensitively and respectfully: I do hope that the responses will reflect that.
Thank you!