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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Knightsbridge School and St. Nicholas Preparatory school

48 replies

Juthawan · 11/07/2016 18:39

I will move to London in Aug 2016. My son's 4 years old so he will attend to reception year in this Sep. I went to some school in London last week. I 'm deciding between Knightsbridge school and St. Nicholas Preparatory school. Which one is better such as education, exit result? After i went to Knightsbridge school, i like it becoz it has mandarin langauge. Could you please advise me?

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DinaBoulos · 27/09/2016 22:59

Hi Juthawan, I was wondering what you decided in the end? I currently have the same dilemma between the 2 schools.

Mosa4eva · 21/02/2017 21:56

Guys can you let me know what you decided on because I have the same dilemma? Thank you so much!

sanam2010 · 22/02/2017 10:41

go with Knightsbridge school, it's a no brainer.

Mosa4eva · 22/02/2017 22:03

Sorry but can I ask why is it a no brainer? Knighsbridge school and Saint Nicholas seem to be similar and in same area? I haven't visited them yet will do end of this month but primarily I have read mixed reviews about each so it makes it so difficult. Is north bridge house prep any better or worse? Thank you!

vee123 · 22/05/2017 16:15

Hi I would love to get more info on St Nicholas prep?

goldengirl64 · 24/05/2017 12:35

Help! Am also deciding between both for DD. Why is Knightsbridge a no-brainer? I hear St Nicholas are getting a new Head but don't have much info about her. She might be just what the school needs? will be watching carefully. Advice needed. Thank you!

vee123 · 25/05/2017 16:52

Yes I believe the new head is fab and I loved the small nurturing feel of the school!

Mummygintime · 25/05/2017 19:50

I heard the same....Apparently she is high energy and could be just what the school needs! From another local prep school so knows the central London area. Could be good. Breath of fresh air maybe? Watch this space!

Hamptons99 · 31/05/2017 22:47

I looked at both schools when doing research for my daughter and Knightsbridge School seems miles ahead on every measure. A beautiful school with lots of space. Strong on music and drama. They also got a new head about a year ago (the previous Head moved up to more of a Principal role at the school) who is apparently working hard to improve academics. St Nicholas is however also getting a new head as others have mentioned who has a great reputation so that could really change the school for the better, also smaller and nurturing so might suit a quieter child better? There are fewer jet set types there too compared to Knightsbridge School . This interview with the Head might help. He rarely gives interviews
knightsbridge-village.com/the-library/headtalk-nana-coles-interviews-magoo-giles-head-of-knightsbridge-school/118/#.WS84ADOZPos

Ellyfromtheblock · 10/12/2017 04:19

Hi my daughter is in St Nicholas prep. A year ago we had the same dilemma and she has spent a test day in Knightsbridge school. We went for St Nicholas because it has outside space (garden) and is located directly opposite the park. It is very important for kids this age to be able to get some fresh air during the break rather than spend time in the school bus to go to Battersea park for it as they do in Knighstbridge. Knightsbridge is a great school though with wonderful atmosphere and its sad they do not have even a small backyard where kids can play. Also, my DD liked the food in St Nicholas and didnt like the food in Knightsbridge very much. I thought it is important since the lunch in school is one of her three meals every day! We are enjoying it in St Nicholas, although the school is small on 5 floors, and taking long steps up and down every day is tiring for small feet. The academics are good, however you can feel the school is not very selective as there are some kids with 0 English language. The school lost quite a few kids to Thomas’s last year, primarily because it seems more selective and more academic.

cdstandingnow · 28/12/2017 15:30

Some kids with zero English language would alarm me. How can teaching be pitched at the right level in class if some of the kids can barely speak English. I must say St Nicholas is one of those schools that have been around the area for years but local Kensington parents never rave about it or aspire to sending their children there. Knightsbridge School is newer but seems to have made more of an impression and I know so many parents who have children there and are happy, also quite hard to get in whereas most children who want a place at St Nicholas get in.
What is your child like? Where would he/she thrive? St Nicholas might suit a quieter child who needs nurturing better than Knightsbridge might.

Allyfromtheblock · 29/07/2018 23:23

Just wanted to add that the new head is very good and the school is moving to new premises soon

Tasha12345 · 31/08/2018 16:44

Knightsbridge School has a lot of bulling issues - people takes kids out of there as school doesn't do anything about it
Also favourite families ( somehow connected to the school staff) which kids also get awarded, year by year, term by term. Horrible expereince, wouldn't recommended at all

AFASR · 02/09/2018 21:30

Go for St Nicholas. New Head of Pre Prep is amazing. Her previous school in SW London will not be the same without her. Would love to move my children so they can continue to grow under her genuine care. She gets to know every child inside out. She oozes happiness. Children adore her - she is firm, but so fair and kind. As a teacher she is amazing. She just gets children. She’s pragmatic, has charisma and is super efficient, but it’s her genuine way with children, which gets the best out if them, that impresses most. Parents in SW London were devasted when her departure was announced. St Nicholas is so lucky.

MWZina · 14/09/2018 20:58

I have 2 children at St Nicholas. The school is getting better and better. I have listened to Mrs Walker, Mrs Gibban and Mrs Painter talk in the last week. They are incredible and they definitely make a very strong team leading the school. They are all so approachable too. The combination of the three of them is just what the school and the children need. With them now leading the school, I am very sure that the school is going to get more and more popular. I know so many families are so impressed.

beaulieu123 · 19/09/2018 22:47

North bridge House school in Camden Town
Highly recommend.

GlobLon · 03/10/2018 21:19

The other posts are right. Mrs Walker is very good. We really like Ms Panter and Ms Gibbern. There have been lots of improvements, even since the kids came back after the summer vacation. The parents I speak with are so pleased that the three of them are at the school. You should go and look round. We looked around lots of schools. Some were full but we are so pleased we went for St Nicholas.

CL48 · 04/10/2018 19:52

The posts interested me, so today I visted the school for its open house. Ms Walker spoke and seems to know a lot about London schools. Her talk was interesting and forward thinking. I really liked her and her way with the children. They had the children singing and the reception class just seemed to love performing. I went on a tour, which children took. They were very good and were proud of their school. The lady in charge of the younger part came with us. She was kind and she took the time to answer my questions and worries. I now look forward to bringing my son in January and hope the school teachers think he will do well with them. I am very keen for a place for him in September.

Arwill · 21/10/2018 18:01

I agree with these posts. We looked round St Nicholas a few weeks back on a friends recommendation and loved it. It is our favourite and first choice for our daughter. We looked at Knightsbridge which was disappointing in comparison and Pembridge which only seemed to have an interest on the academics. St Nicholas had much more. My daughter is to start in September 2019 at St Nicholas if we get a place.We hear many good things about the school and the changes Mrs Walker is making. A couple of our friends have kids who joined Reception this year and they rave about Mrs Walker and say the lady who takes the lead with the early end of the school is as good and that their children talk so much about her.

RPow · 12/11/2018 21:27

I haven’t found choosing schools for Reception easy. The posts on this site and friends made me to look at St Nicholas. I loved it. I met Mrs Walker on my tour. She is welcoming and kind and had a different kind of positive energy, which I haven’t encountered with other headteachers. I was introduced to Miss Katy, a sweet lady and you could tell she has the right qualities to work with very young people. I got the impression she understands them and knows how to calm us parents too. I also spoke with Mrs Gibbern (I’m sorry if I have the name wrong). She seemed very traditional in a good way, straightforward - what a school needs.
I hear that Mrs Walker and Mrs GIbbern have both come from Glendower. Impressive. It doesn’t look like Miss Katy did, as AFASR mentions SW London.
Friends just say it’s fabulous and speak very positively of the new leadership.

Mumstheword82 · 13/11/2018 11:22

Both schools are very nurturing and have high standards with an emphasis on the broad education of the child rather than simply hothousing them in Maths & English. I have a preference for Knightsbridge School as it feels more organised, is a little less transient than SN and seems to do better with regards to future schools. That said Miss Walker has a wealth of experience and is really stepping things up at SN. SN has amazing outdoor space and if you don’t have outdoor space at home then this is hugely important. Note, KS is a very sporty school all the same! Your child will get a great all rounded education in either school. Go with your gut.

AFASR: The pastoral care is excellent at KS and I completely disagree with your comments about bullying. I don’t know how you justify a sweeping statement like that.

RPow · 13/11/2018 21:56

On the organisation front I do not agree. I looked around both schools. Knightsbridge was chaos and the children's behaviour was not what I would expect. St Nicholas was calmer and there seems routine. I don't think you can judge SN on future schools. Mrs Walker has not been there that long. She has come from Glendower. She will know how to get the results.

MSLC · 21/11/2018 20:42

We looked at St Nicholas as friends recommended it. Our child is now there and we are very happy. Miss Painter is our main contact after the class teacher. She is helpful and follows everything up. She is open and listens and we love watching how she greets the children in a morning. It's like they are her own. She is magical. All schools need someone like her. We could not have made a better decision and know that with Mrs Walker as headmistress, St Nicholas could not be in better hands.

Allyfromtheblock · 28/11/2018 05:34

I have earlier written about St Nicholas, but change my mind. The school is not a very nice place, a lot of bullying is in place. Stay away.

ILK2 · 29/11/2018 23:21

St Nicholas is a friendly school and Mrs Walker looks after kids very well. If there are problems, like with all children at sometime in their lives, she will sort it out. Mrs Walker has changed the school and she bring on board very good new staff like Mrs Gibon and Mrs Katy. We think school is great, like Mrs Walker.

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