when choosing a prep school what aspects should I care most?

[school89]

Dear mums,

want some opinion form you please.

I am choosing a pre-prep school for my son and wondering what aspects should I look into when comapre the schools?

I am thinking of:

co-edu or boys only? does it matter?
leavers destination?
size of the school?
class size?
religious? (I am not catholic or christian, is it ok for my son to go to religious school)

anything else i should care?

please help here. its really difficult time for me to make decision.

thansk a lot!

Millymollymama- yes! sport is very important. If they can't field a sports team then my DS would not be staying there. Missing out on the sports for 2 years would mean they would be severely behind others when they get to senior school.

DS's school has LOADS of sport. His fitness has absolutely skyrocketed in the 2 terms he has been there. His confidence has also increased.

There are lots of studies that show the benefits of regular exercise to children's ability to study and learn, and also the benefits of team sports.

I think you should consider another school which is boarding for Yr 7 and 8 to be honest, if you don't have anything local. Lots of weekly boarding schools for children - lots of schools with flexi boarding as well.

Hello, hoping you can help. I noticed you said you were familiar with SJW and Hampstead.. would you mind telling me what your experiences are with Devonshire House at all?

we dropped a school when we realised they did a 5% increase each year & told us it would continue in the visible future!)

That's pretty standard for London, I think you'd struggle to find a decent prep or pre-prep that hasn't raised its fees by that much each year.

Artistic - I would be surprised if you are in London or SE England, as I don't know any schools which do not increase their fees pretty regularly by the dreaded 5%.

So school89 I hope you have factored that in.

When people mean destinations they mean: at 11/13 do you hope he goes to Eton or St Paul's or a state grammar or a more "quirky" independent or a local Comp? Different Preps cater for very different destinations and ambitions.

Are you still on waiting lists for State? Have you been offered nothing or just nothing acceptable to you?
Would you look to move to State in a couple of years?

Other thoughts:

Does the school select either by stealth (or overtly) - if they do, how would you feel about having to move if they said your child wasn't up to the next level?

Look at the accounts of the school - how are they doing?

Where do children come from - are they bused in - will this impact friendships?

What is the general ethos - fun as well as academics?

SEN support - is there any or is it a nod to dyslexia?