Oakfield Prep - urgent advice sought

[UmmH]

My daughter has been offered a place at Oakfield Prep for Reception 2016. We were impressed with the environment and staff and my daughter really wants to go there. Although it's a big financial commitment, I would happily undertake it if I were confident it would be the best place for her. However, a friend who's a primary school headteacher and whose children went to both prep and state told me that in her professional opinion and her opinion as a mother PREP SCHOOLS ARE A WASTE OF MONEY particularly for reception. She noted that in addition to the school fees parents had to engage PRIVATE TUTORS to get their children into the desired senior schools. Is this true??? I'd like to hear from anyone whose children went to any prep school, but Oakfield in particular - did your children need private tuition or was the tuition at the school adequate? I know that there are 'top' prep schools where this might not be necessary but unfortunately I cannot afford those. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Everyone who has a child at a prep school tutors their children for the 11+. Everyone. At all prep schools. They don't admit it, but it happens.

Bluecarpet, in hindsight I realise this, always was the last to know! I'm just still really surprised by the whole ugly experience. I feel sorry for my son who had to sit tests for local academic private schools when he clearly didn't stand a chance- Oakfield should have guided us a little better. Plus it's expensive- all that registering and admin costs for absolutely no reason- you should have seen his face when he came out of the exams- he looked traumatised!

Everyone who has a child at a prep school tutors their children for the 11+. Everyone. At all prep schools. They don't admit it, but it happens.

Generalisation extraordinar..

NO Not EVERYONE.

I know this for a fact.

Enkopkaffetak

ok. I'll alter that

the vast, vast majority of parents at preps tutor their child for the 11+ and don't admit to it. I can't exclude the possibility that a few don't, but almost everyone dose.

In the end I waited until the state school offer came out, and fortunately we got Sudbourne. I felt huge relief and all desires to go private evaporated. The money I will save can be spent on tutors if needed, extra-curricular activities and saved for fees at senior school level where I believe it is more important. Thanks to all of you for your opinions, and if anyone reading this wants advice on Sudbourne I'll be delighted to share, once my dc has settled there

We are a private school family and I am a teacher too. If you have a good school, your DC will be hitting the targets expected of them and will NOT require anything more than support and encouragement at home.

We have had to move from private to state briefly and despite the primary school being in the top 200 in the UK, my eldest is suffering. I am so glad we can now go back to private to get her back on track. It has also made me see how privileged we were to be able to send her.

It isn't just about the academic side, the pastoral care has to be right. Not all schools are a one size fits all regardless of state or private. You as a parent have to feel confident in the school and judge whether they will teach your children as well or better than you could. I hate it when parents send their DCs to the school round the corner because it's convenient. You have to choose wisely and this is why it's great they have an appeals service if you don't get the place you want.

Was private the right decision for Reception level for us - damned right it was. Was it a waste of money? Not where we sent DD it wasn't.

It all depends on a) your finances, and b) your long term goals.

If you can afford 13 years of school fees, then fine. Go for it. If it's a struggle, it is probably better to save and pay for the senior school, if the local primary offerings are any good.

If the senior school is a 13+ Common Entrance establishment, then consider prep school from Year 6 or 7.

It all comes down to what the alternatives are.

Don't write off a prep school as having no value over a primary school. I know when I moved mine from Y2 and Y5 from primary to independent, it was like having scales removed from their eyes. It was a whole new, amazing and enriching world for them. We haven't looked back.

"Don't write off a prep school as having no value over a primary school. I know when I moved mine from Y2 and Y5 from primary to independent, it was like having scales removed from their eyes. It was a whole new, amazing and enriching world for them. We haven't looked back."

I agree with this. The way I look at it is - objectively yes ok maybe it isn't "good value for money" (state education is free) - a bit like saying why would you want the new car with lots of features rather than the most basic car with no add-ons. But actually the basic car gets you from A to B, but that does not stop you wanting the car with its other features (despite it really not being good value for money)

Good analogy, 999

bluecarpet Not every child at prep schools is tutored for the 11+. My daughter wasn't tutored and neither were most of her friends. Children in the lowest set did have tutors but they were in the minority and some were dyslexic.

One of DD's friends received six offers - G&L, LU, KGS, etc - and her mother said it had never occurred to her to get a tutor. It didn't occur to me either.

This was a non-selective prep by the way.

State vs Private: It depends where you live and what is on offer IMO. In one town, a state may provide equal opportunities compared to private whereas in another it could be the complete opposite. It is unfair to suggest that ALL private pre-prep and prep schools are a waste of money.

My HT sent her children to a village school (catchment area) and she had no particular wishes etc. Her eldest now attends a Private School for secondary. She has never divulged why (non of our business) but my guess is because the three nearest secondary schools have or are in SM, do not provide the best education, have 'issues' regarding academics, retention of staff and behaviour. I actually don't blame her for what she has done IF that is her reason for doing so.

I have a friend whose children attended state primary and moved to private secondary and she said she found no difference in the education children received at primary level between state and private. That is because in my area, schools are all good or outstanding and whereas I have little faith in OFSTED, I trust, due to parental feedback, that this is true.
But the secondary schools are rural and do not have much to offer in terms of music, art, sport and GCSE choices . Despite my initial reservations about academies, my secondary school of choice for my child (long time yet - 7 years away and all can change!) is an academy miles away! Failing that, I would definitely go for a scholarship to one of three possible private schools as would a teacher friend who teaches at one of the state secondaries! In fact, a colleague of hers has SIX children at one private school (all but one are scholarships) because there just isn't the choice and in our big wide world, it is restrictive and limiting.

I don't know what the best choice is in your area OP, only you will know that by doing some research and going to have a look and chat to others. I do know in my area, at the moment, state primary is best for my children and then private secondary. Now to find the money ...

UmmH- Sudbourne is a fantastic school with a really good parent community. My DC don't go there, but we are in a nearby. My DC all started at another nearby 'outstanding school'. Sudbourne is by far better. I know loads of kids and families there and many go on to top schools both state and private.

There is always a debate re- state vs private and it is a personal choice and often a political one depending on who you are. No need having that debate here.

My DC all went to our local state primary. It was and is by no means perfect in nearly every category. It was good in the early years and being able to walk to school and be part of the local community was a real plus. There were also some very good teachers. Some really bad ones as well.

The later years were and are a mess. My DD went on to a top selective state school. Very hard to get into and she also got into 2 top privates. I did have to prepare her myself. Wh Smith has all the books. The school did nothing and as she was bright she was pretty much left on her own for the last 2 years of primary except for one year 5 teacher who took a shine to her and sadly left the school after one year. I don't think Sudbourne is like that from what I've heard from families there. So that is a real plus. It just depends on the leadership of the school and what they think is important. My school does very well at raising the achievement of the lowest academic group. They don't do much for the middle and the top kids. Only enough to tick a box. It is pretty pathetic.

My middle DS is very bright and was bullied terribly for several years at this school until he was so seriously beaten up during playtime I had to remove him. He is now at a private school. I can say it is a different story at the private school regarding kids attitudes to learning in the later years, kindness, opportunity and the arts. I won't need to do much work preparing him for exams next year because it is part of the curriculum at the private school. He wasn't behind when he got there. He's been put in the top sets, so education wise there wasn't much difference except that he has other kids like him rather that sticking out as the smart one. That has raised his confidence. It's also a more peaceful atmosphere. It's cushioned and soft and not really London, but that was what he needed after his time at the other school. Happiness does make a difference.

There are benefits to being in a London State school and kids learn valuable skills, but depending on your child the pros may not be as positive and the negative cons.

I still have my youngest DS at the local state. He's ok. He has a different personality and keeps to himself. But, I don't look at the school with rosy liberal glasses anymore. It has huge problems.

Were I to do things differently if I went back in time. Probably, but we do the best we can with the options before us.

It sounds like you have two really good options. If money is an issue, start in the state sector for the early years. You can always change. IME it really doesn't make much difference academically. Children usually get into the same schools they would have gotten into regardless of what primary school.

Feel free to PM me.

Oakfield Prep is a lovely nurturing school. Both my children went there from nursury - aged 2-11and I was very happy with the education they received. My eldest who is now 14 is at a private secondary school and my youngest is in year 6 finishing in July. The teachers are experienced and the school is nurturing. The Oakfield community is very supportive and I will miss them. Education is very personal and I hope you make the decision without being influenced by anyone. But as an Oakfield parent I will miss the school and my children have nothing but fond memories of their time there. Good luck.

My experience of a really good non selective private school has been the genuine emphasis on the whole child. Academically the school is very good but not necessarily a hundred miles above a good state school but I can genuinely say that each child is encouraged to work to the best of their ability. The extra curricular is far better than any state school but the main thing is that apart from a fairly intense autumn term of year 6 in prep for 11+ the children have had a very calm and stress free primary experience. Exams are now over, the children have done extremely well, some tutored, some not, and now that we are in February they've 5 months of really fun and enriching curriculum with no SAT's which will have them in such a good place for year 7. My older child went through the state rinsed system so I do know what I'm talking about.

Just about to visit Oakfield for their open morning and found this thread whilst Googling!

What are your thoughts on the school so far?

My only concern is they had a new head a short time ago and he has already left and they currently have an acting head? Does anyone know why? Is this normal?