Best girls prep schools in Kensington and Chelsea these days?

[Hamptons99]

Falkner House, Garden House and Glendower are often touted as the 3 best schools for girls. I know things change, schools improve or worsen, new Heads come in and make changes for better or worse.

I hear Glendower has terrible staff turnover and is unable to hold on to good teachers; has gone down hill since expanding the school to 2 classes and is no longer a hot house but a good choice for all rounders who don't necessarily want an academic prep school. True or false?

Faulkner House supposingly remains excellent but impossible to get into.

Garden House seems to have retained the same reputation it's always had. Well deserved or not quite true?

I would love to hear from parents with children currently at these schools or have insider knowledge of the schools from other sources. Are there also other schools we should be considering? Thank you.

I often hear of Kensington Prep. Too far away from me though.

Does it have to be single sex?

If not, I recommend a short hop across Chelsea Bridge to Newton Prep.

Thank you ladies.
Cru cru I also heard in recent years Kensington Prep has suddenly shot up and doing better than even Falkner and puts Glendower in the shade. Unfortunately the commute to Fulham with no nearby tube is too far from our home especially in a couple of years when I will have a double school run for my son. Same reason I have to give Newron Prep a miss.

Definitely Falkner House and Ken Prep if you go by exit results, teaching quality, parent reviews etc. Bute House is fantastic of course, it's in Hammersmith and you have to be able to win the 4+ lottery, but still be aware of it. These three are the most successful and academic schools. Garden House is lovely and nice but is less pushy and accelerated (which can be a good or bad thing, depending on what you are looking for). Ken Prep is on Fulham Road not far from Fulham Broadway and just a 2min walk from Parsons Green tube by the way, so there definitely are families coming from the Western side of Chelsea and South Kensington. The facilities are just so much better and more spacious. Once I had seen Ken Prep, I just couldn't send my daughter to Glendower anymore, it's a world of difference in terms of facilities and space for the little ones to run around. It depends on where exactly in RBKC you live though.

Thanks sanam2010 - are you a ken prep parent? everyone raves about tit. So was the lack of outdoor space the only factor putting you off Glendower? we live in a garden square where kids run around and play after school so i'm less bothered about that. 10 years ago before i was a parent i was very aware of Glendower being a super school for super kids so was somewhat surprised to hear a rumour that it's lost its way.
Glendower and Falkner are easy options as i can walk to school which matters to me. everyone says lovely things about Garden House - a short drive but doable

Would LOVE to hear from parents with girls actually at Glendower or Falkner. Often rumours are just that. Please comment if you can. Thank you.

raves about it ! sorry for the unfortunately typo :)

Are you a journalist?!

No. Just a parent trying to get some insider info.

Surely it depends massively on what sort of personality your daughter has?

It depends on your child's personality, your family's priorities. If the short school run is important to you, and it should be, then go for one of the two within walking distance, presuming you liked it when you looked around.

Glendower and Falkner are equi distance from home so if she gets into both it's a matter of choosing the better school. I liked both schools when I toured but have since heard too many stories that Glendower is on its way down and no longer as elite as Falkner/Kensington Prep. We want a highly academic school rather than one for all rounders. We have a better chance of getting into Glendower. Looking for a vote of confidence from current parents that the school is as god as it's always been.

As other posters have said, the best school for your daughter will be the one that fits her best. All you'll find out by asking people who don't know your dd is which has the best reputation at the moment and parking etc. Or do you want her to go to the 'best' for bragging rights? If you have a son why don't you look at co-ed?

I want her at a school that will stretch and support her to achieve academically. "Bragging rights"??!! That's a new one!

What colour are her eyes?
Just that Glendower's uniform can look awful with some eye shades.
Then again the jelly bag hats are not ideal either.

Glendower and Falkner House have been dissing each other for decades.
Just see which one will make your child happiest.
Academic at age 4 is largely pretension.

Assuming you're at the beginning of educating children in London, I can assure you 99% of conversations around schooling are thinly veiled bragging competitions. It gets very wearing.
Any selective private school will stretch her. Whether she fulfills her potential depends on how much she enjoys her schooling. Look at what will minimise travel and give her the best chance of having local friends.

^^ Talkin makes the good point that selection at 4 is practically impossible. They can choose biddable and posh but not academic potential. Look at the leavers' destinations and also whether they 'lose' any at 7+

Oh dear TalkingPeace I take it your child did not get offered a place at either school?

Hamptons99 I am a Glendower parent and will try give you the constructive info you're seeking. It is truly a lovely, happy school. The girls are very well behaved and supportive of each other. Rarely any bitchiness. The teachers are committed. I have no doubt in terms of pastoral care your daughter will be very content and make some lovely friends for life. My daughter certainly has.

In terms of academics, (and yes you are perfectly within your rights to make this a priority) it is still a strong contender in RBKC but perhaps not as elite as it was in the past when there was only one class intake a year instead of two. The sibling policy means there are girls of very mixed abilities at the school and all are welcomed and tolerated. Falkner on the other hand will say no at 4+ to girls that aren't considered strong enough even if they went to the nursery or have a sibling so from day one they have a group of very able girls they can groom for St Paul's etc.

It's true there is an issue with staff turnover. One Upper school class endured 3 different teachers in one academic year which was destructive. Sadly it seems to be the good teachers that leave every year. One wonders if there's a personality clash going on ...

With all the advice from the Head not to tutor kids a lot of that still goes on and part of the school's success is really down to pushy, focused parents as much as teaching. The parents community is strong. You have to be present and supportive - not a great choice for working mums who simply do not have time to be at the school gates selling home baked cakes for charity.

The PTA is extremely active and expects a lot of time and money from parents. Depending on the type of parent you want to be this can be a good thing.

May not sound like it but I'm actually quite happy at the school. The 11+ is just around the corner and I know we now have to knuckle down to hard work.

I will end by saying good luck with the assessments. If you get offered Gkendower, accept it. Sounds like you have a clever little girl, rest assured the top 50% of Glendower girls always end up at the best senior school so even if you sent her to Ken prep or Falkner (which objectively speaking have now overtaken Glendower) she wouldn't necessary do better than at Glendower. Good luck!

OP - are you Kate Middleton?

Thank you so much Biw. Really good to hear from a parent. Exactly the kind of pointers I was hoping for.

Biw
Of course my daughter did not get a place. I do not live in London.
My information on the schools comes entirely different directions.

I would apply to KP anyway just to hedge your bets and visit it so you have a point of comparison and then you can decide for yourself which one you like best. The space at Glendower was the main issue turning me off, I thought the girls were great and all the teachers looked excellent, too. I probably liked it better before the school doubled its intake as it now seemed a bit crammed, but if you want to stay in South Kensington, that's what you get.

Moving into Notting hill you have pembridge hall

I've heard mixed views about Pembridge Hall, mainly positive though. Do people generally apply to more than 3 schools? Sounds exhausting! I was only going to apply to 3 and had shortlisted to GH, Falkner and Gkendower with Francis Holland as my wild card.

Pembride Hall is non selective, and unless you signed up very early, you won't get a place anyway.

People often do apply to more than 3, especially if you are talking about highly selective FH and Glendower. With small kids it's hard to predict how they will behave at assessments, so people hedge their bets.

With Dd1 - I think we did 4 assessments, and had a confirmed back-up place at a non-selective school.

Assessments were not at all exhausting for Dd - she had no idea what was actually going on. We called them "play dates" at big kids schools - and ALWAYS did something fun right after them - went for ice-cream, or to play at a toy store, etc. Also - the schools make them quite fun for the kids.

After we were done with the assessments - she was asking to go to more of the "play dates"!

For parents, on the other hand, the process is far from fun....

That's good it's non selective surely?