Orchard house school vs Ravenscourt Park prep

[Ealingmumoftwo]

Please advise! We are currently holding offers for 2017 entry at both schools and having already paid the first terms fees at one school, need to decide whether to pay the hefty sum to the second school to keep both spaces open until 2017.

My concern with RPPS, is the recent opening of the sister senior school, Kew house as I don't really want my child ending up at an unknown school at 11 just because RPPS kids are being "pushed" down that route. Has anyone got children that attend RPPS or Orchard house that could give me any views on this, and also the leavers destinations for both schools? I would obviously like my child to end up at one of the leading London day schools so what I'm really hoping you can help with is which is more academic? Thanks!

Ravenscourt has fewer children going to boarding schools, I think I'd prefer it. More working mothers there too.

Thanks - that's interesting. Would you say Orchard is more of a hot house then?

No, the country boarding schools are easier to get in to than the day schools as the market is smaller. Have you looked at the leavers' destinations for both schools this year? They should be able to send them to you.

Hi OP, I don't know either of the schools 1st hand but know many children from both go to the usual suspect West London senior selectives, not just onto Kew House.

The leavers destinations are on both websites - though I would question why Ravenscourt has not yet updated its 2015/2016 figures yet. There is also an aggregation on one of them - these are areas I would delve into more before making your decision, if you have somewhere in particular you are targeting for your DC, you'd want to know their recent success rate?

I don't know too much about preps, but I am a little confused...you have holding places for 2017, and not Sept 2016? I would be working quite fast before school breaks for both to get this resolved, before it gets more expensive!

Hiya, thanks for your advice. Yes, good point - I think I need to figure out why OH has aggregate figures. The prep schools are giving offers for 2017 - I know - it's crazy, isn't it??

I don't think RPPS kids are being pushed to Kew House and anyway, Kew House is meant to be fab. Do you prefer the vibe of one to the other? I would go with that, as they're both good schools, otherwise ring up and ask for the latest leavers' destinations and go with the one who sent the most to the school you prefer (though I think RPPS is bigger, no, so you'd have to factor all that in). If your child has the necessary ability both schools should prep him/her for the schools they have in mind - post-Brexit they may be a LOT easier to get into. They are both lovely schools, from what I hear.

HI OP - i have two children at RPPS - one is in year 6 and just got into Godolphin and Latymer with 7 of her class mates. 5 children are heading off to Latymer Upper and lots to Hamptons and other schools. Point being that they, in no way, push for Kew and in fact when we had our Year 5 meeting with the heads - Kew was not recommended to us for our DD. The children who have gone to Kew are those that truly loved it when visiting and wanted a co-ed option that was not a hot house like Latymer. The school do not use Kew as an option for all - it is more for those children who want more out of schooling than a competitive, very academic or oversubscribed school in West London. Saying that, Kew was oversubscribed this year but RPPS children were giving priority on the waiting list - they still had to sit the entrance exams, attend interviews etc. I'm a big fan of RPPS - the ethos, teaching and community spirit is great. I nearly sent my DS to boarding school but have just backed out last minute as I think the school will make sure that he does well in the 11+. I have friends who sent their children to Orchard House and the level of support during the 11+ process was not great with a lot now going for boarding schools outside London. Saying that, all the Orchard House kids that I have met (mostly through friends, sporting fixtures etc) are lovely and polite. Quite a big foreign contingent compared to RPPS. Good luck with the choice that you make - both lovely Prep schools and it really boils down to what you are looking for as a family.

Oh and my youngest is starting reception on 2017 at RPPS - if you do decide to go with RPPS then PM me and I can give you some more info on the school/mums etc.

Thankyou mumofthree1976 - that's really sound advice. After having spoken to mums with kids at both schools, I think we have decided on rpps for various reasons, so it seems we will see you at the school gates from 2017! Thanks again!

Just saw this thread and must say I am really surprised by some of the comments. I have had two children at Orchard House and they have both got into excellent senior schools. We felt extremely well supported throughout the whole process and the school were absolutely transparent in all their communication with us. Some children (mainly girls) do go to country boarding schools but it would be a misconception to think this is an easy option - Wycombe Abbey is among the top schools in the country. Orchard House regularly get scholarships to top academic schools both day and boarding, added to which the children are polite and well mannered. Anyway Ealingmumoftwo sounds like you've made your mind up and good luck with Ravenscourt Park but do feel free to PM me if you want to talk more!

A bit late to the thread but I thought I would share some experience with RPPS.

The 11+ result is similar to other local schools but mind you it's largely the parents' doing with tutors at this school. Parents complain that the school's support for 11+ is not great. But you will see that its result is similar to other local schools and better than its sister school. The mums there are extremely motivated and tutoring ion the extreme side (from young age) is wide spread. The mums get very competitive when setting happens and tutoring to be in the top set is also not uncommon. I've met many mums who use very expensive a class tutors etc. Tutoring is wide spread in west London in general. But at this school the tutoring and parents competitiveness level is way above other local schools that I also know well about. So don't assume that their result is mainly the schools doing because it's not.

Pastoral care can be better. It's a big school with a big churn each year. I've heard many mums complaining about the wide spread bullying. To be fair I think the school does have a good process to deal with it. But it seems to happen to too many kids in the first place.

The new head is nice. And he has a very easy going relaxed approach to the school in general and 11+ (probably as he knows that parents will prep kids very well outside the school gate anyway). And teachers too don't have huge ambition for the result and says things like St. Paul has not very nice culture (which may or may not be true). It's quite obvious that they are not under pressure for 11+ as Kew house is an option for a lot of the kids there.

After school care and clubs are good. Although I know many including myself who avoid the mixed age clubs as they seem to have bullying issues frequently.

It's a business and it's money grabbing attitude is very tiring. You get charged for so many little extras that are frequently free in other preps. And it's marketing is superb and well funded.

You will see lots of young (not very experienced) teaching staff. Some very young. Some parents might or might not like this.

It's a good school overall. But it has its distinct culture explained above that people don't realise until they join.

The staff turnover is high IMO. A happy teacher doesn't usually leave a school unless relocating etc. There are nicer businesses to work for so look for a school with older, experienced (ie expensive) and longer staying staff.

On RPPS, I don't quite agree on the comments about the school charging for little things - I think it's the case in many private schools run as business, not just RPPS.

But I do agree on the teachers and their teaching quality - you can find much better in nearby good or outstanding state schools. Even the subject specialist teachers have not enough experience IMHO as a teacher. Huge turnover of teachers and assistants.