Knightsbridge School and St. Nicholas Preparatory school

[Juthawan]

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?

[ILK2]

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.

[ILK2]

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.

[JinLondonUK]

The school is nurturing and my child thrive there. As all people say the new leaders are awesome and this term has been the best we have had. Mrs Walker is amazing and her 2 assistants are following her excellent work.

[Southkenhome]

Yesterday we loved watching the year 1’s and year 2’s Christmas show. We have seen a few with our older kids. This one was fabulous. The childen were loving it. It was a new level for the school. The school gets better and better every day. Mrs Walker and her new team, like all before posts say, are fresh air and brilliance.

[Cdhe]

We like to add to this - nursery’s christmas songs today were very cute. This nursery is so amazing and many changes this term. We love this place. We recommend it to anyone searching for a nursery.

[kye10]

There are many schools to go and look at. People recommend Knightsbridge. We looked at it, but once we met Mrs Walker at Saint Nicholas, we knew it was the right school for our daughter. We dismissed Knightsbridge and took the place at Saint Nicholas. We have not regretted our decision. Mrs Walker has to be the best headmistress in London. We think Ms Painter who came this term is good. She gives parents and our children time and she helps and listens. Mrs Walker found a special person who complements the school. Mrs Walker and the deputy headmistress are both from Glendower. Saint Nicholas are lucky to have secured them. It is the school that is not well known, but is the one people should go and visit. It offers more each term, thanks to Mrs Walker.

[Londonourhome]

We choose St Nicholas because of Mrs Walker and her reputations. We made the right choice and have not looked to the past. Parents and children do not have negatives words to say about her. This school year Mrs Walker made great changes and bring in lots of very good new teachers. We see mentions of Ms Painter. Parents all see she cares for the little children. We had a meeting with her and she knew so well and understood our child. We went away happy and know our child is in excellent hands. We recommend a visit to St Nicholas.

[Sopver]

Until friends visited St Nicolas, I did not know it existed. They signposted me to these reviews and I was encouraged to go to yesterday’s open morning. The children were charming and the staff were friendly. It is not pretentious like other London schools. I liked the fact the headmistress is a mom. I was lucky to spend time talking to her and her deputy at the end of the morning and was impressed. The headmistress, was down to earth and aspirational for the children. I also watched on as the head of prepreps interacted with 2 children in the room - it was natural and heart-warming. What a lovely place.

[Franhannor]

Went to yesterday’s open morning on the back of research and these posts. Much friendlier than other schools in the area. The headmistress is wonderful and very personable. Her desire to do the best for the children felt more real than in other schools as well. Liked her openness to. Also very very impressed with lady in charge of younger children. Spoke to her over coffee and loved her. Like the post from Sopver, I watched her sitting on the floor talking with 2 kids also. It was effortless - its one of the nicest things I’ve seen on school visits. School staff usually brown nose with parents - this place was different. There were teachers pouring cups of tea - no hierarchy. It wasn’t a show, it was real and that is what made it stand out.

[RACS1980]

We were interested in the school and when we visited thought Mrs Walker and Ms Paynter were inspiring. With a young one for Kindergarten we were convinced that this was the right school, and we got the feeling that Ms Paynter would be the right person to take care of our child. We were going to follow up and apply for a place. The letter about the new school we received reignited our interest too. That all came to an end last week - I sat next to two people on the tube. They were berating the school. They had to be members of staff - I was surprised that they openly used the name Saint Nicholas, while they were being derogatory about it. It put me off - I don’t want my child being educated by teachers who are disenchanted and aggrieved. I want happy, kind and thoughtful staff who will do the best by my child. The school needs more like Mrs Walker and Ms Paynter.

[TilandMil]

We registered for St Nicholas and toured the school. We also received an invite to an evening about the new school, Princes Gardens and this week went to find out more. We enjoyed meeting Mrs Walker. She’s an ambitious, but grounded lady and impressive and compelling as well. Her talk was very interesting. We were introduced to the head of preprep and the deputy. The deputy was good and she has knowledge and first hand experience of the independent school system. The head of preprep was warm and humble and spoke very thoughtfully - we liked her and her gentleness is something we’re looking for. We see many positive things about this team, but wonder whether they will be just there for the set up of the new school and then leave. Good people are in demand. We are just looking for security. Has anyone else these concerns?

[Venbo]

@TilandMil. We were there. Don’t have any comcerns. Mrs Walker - tremendous . Didn’t meet deputy head or head of pres - shame. many people in the room, like finding a needle in a haystack. Would have been a good move to introduce them. Personally would preferred words from them, rather than speeches from two company guys.

[KIwisinUK]

Met the senior team at open day early this month. Head eloquent, dynamic and ex-Glendower deputy. Deputy headmistress, also from Glendower - a safe pair of hands! Head of Preprep - exceptional. Tour led by her - informative and discerning. Wanting a September 2020 entry and favouring Princes Gardens, over more established schools - Glendower, Thomas’, Pembridge and Garden House. It’s the senior team and headmistress’ vision that’s done this.

[sereanded]

We completely endorse the last post. We too went to the open morning, not for a place at St Nicholas, but at their new school. We have heard so much about Mrs Walker and her reputation. The open morning didn’t disappoint. We loved her. She’s personable, but also ambitious for the school and the children. We liked Ms Painter as well. Like KiwisinUK we toured the school with her. It wasn’t staged, like tours we’ve had in other schools. The delivery was right. We’re keen to pursue the new school. Mrs Walker and Ms Painter made a real impression on us and we feel they are the right people to entrust our young son to.

[TermanH]

Like Sopver, didn’t know school existed. Friends persuaded us to look. We were only naively looking at better known schools, but think we were proved wrong. Best headteacher we’ve met on any of our tours. Shame we did not meet Ms Panter. Heard about her reputation. We are looking for Princes Gardens for September next year - only negative is state of current building - It’s not comparable to other schools. But it’s being rectified with the new school. It will be a force to be reckoned with - incredible headteacher, new building, and apparently dynamic lady in charge of the younger years. Spoke to deputy head as well - liked her. Would definitely recommend visiting and meeting the main staff.

[Rockylady]

This thread is a bit surreal. Different post with same message and same style of writing.... carefully posted every few weeks or whatever timeframe suits... I don't know anything about the school(s) but makes me wonder!!

[millefiore]

Totally agree, RockyLady especially as just about all of the posts singing accolades about Mrs Walker and the school are from mumsnetters who have only ever posted on this one thread. Perhaps St Nicholas has a new social media officer who is not terribly creative.

[Munhu]

I agree that this thread is surreal. It's so unlike any other thread for any other school. Either this Mrs Walker is truly exceptional and really has inspired parents to sign up and strongly recommend the school to others after attending just one open morning, or more likely someone from the school has been given the task of regularly updating and bumping this thread.

[Jellycat1]

Agree. I read it and laughed!

[goldengirl64]

Of course it might just be that she is genuinely an inspirational Headteacher who has had a huge impact on the school and conveys her passion to prospective parents who want to share their experiences! I don't know much about the school, but anecdotally I have heard great things about Mrs Walker!

[Rockylady]

Of course of course Golden. And of course I could be the PM one day if I really put my mind to it. Anything can be!

In any case, it is one of three options: you are missing the point, or you are a genuine web Robin Hood, or you are one of them!

[Usernamealreadyexists]

Wow what a bizarre thread...

[PropertyFlipper]

Absolutely bonkers!