Lingfield ND, Copthorne Prep, Reigate St Mary's, Hawthorns, Micklefield

[rainbow4567]

Hi can anyone offer any current or recent personal experiences of any of the above. We are looking at moving our children aged four and five from state to private school and we are scheduled to visit them all but would just be interested to hear any feedback. Thanks very much.

Copthorne Prep - caring school which tries to help each individual pupil. Take a look at the leavers destinations - they often feed Lingfield Notre Dame.

The Head at LND Senior used to work at Ardingly College. He seems to be trying to make LND more like Ardingly. They now have quite stringent entry requirements for the 6th form, but the grades are still not that great compared to other less selective schools. I don't feel there is much value added. The Junior department is supposed to be good though.

Re The Hawthorns I would avoid. Happy to elaborate if you PM me. Where are you based?

We put all our children through Lingfield and should have learnt our lessons as things changed. Some very good teachers but Head is not interested in the children, just business. Beware of scholarships and awards as they force you to stay through to the sixth form and demand full repayment if the school is no longer suitable, fails your child or you have to relocate. There are far better options out there.

ShopOnTheGreen that sounds terrible! Making people repay Scholarship money if they don't go all through the Senior school??! That is mad!! I've never heard of that before!!

Do you think the not that good results are down to selection at entry?

Was the pastoral side poor generally, or was it just the Head who was crap?

Loopy could you PM me too please?

The website and PR looks good but don't be taken in. I know of several families that benefitted from awards who have had to pay to get out. The Head prides himself on the hard position he takes and the contract terms imposed. My neighbour's son was withdrawn and they were appalled as to how it was handled as was his new school. The final 2 years of prep used to be very poor and they only prepare them for entry into the senior school.
It is selective but they're now offering BTech in the senior school, I guess to drag in the numbers as it's not a natural offering of the Private Schools.
As I said, there are some excellent teachers but a lot of turn over.

You pay your money you take your choice but you could do better.
Read the small print, don't take a scholarship and 'caveat emptor'
Would we do it again.......NO

Hi

My son is at Copthorne Prep, wonderful school. Micklefield and St Mary's is full in most year groups but depends what age you're looking at. LND isn't enjoying a great reputation at the minute. As another poster said it's trying to become more like Ardingly, so much so in fact that after Easter it will be known as Lingfield College.

Will pm you re: Copthorne.

Olly could you PM me too?

Sorry to hijack the thread!

Sure Yatatata!! 😊

I followed this up after I saw your post. The Head
appointed Bailiffs and the family had to get the police involved to intervene. Totally unwilling to negotiate despite a fair notice and offer. This is not a School run for the children. Beware

😮
I'm just so appalled a Head would do that!! Especially in an "it's in the small print" sort of way!!

It's only by getting the word out that any change would occur. I would always think it best to make people want to stay not blackmail them. The Governors should feel ashamed.

Exactly!

Well it will certainly do the rounds in my gossip circle!

Hi there, my son been offered a place at Lingfield ND and Dunottar but not sure what to do.
I have a good feeling about the head of Dunottar, the pastoral care but not sure about the quality of teaching.
Lingfield seems having better grade that Dunottar but don't have a good feelling about the head.
Any feedback are welcome !

Copthorne all the way! Go and have a look around. Wonderful caring school with a great ethos and so much space.

user1468577140 we joined Lingfield when the old head was around. The school has changed significantly. 1st child about to leave after GCSE’s and in hindsight I should have moved 2nd child in Year 9. Overall we have been unhappy but due to financials we were stuck. The head is an acadaemic snob who only has interest in scholars and top performers. He will it a knowledge you and he cannot retain his staff. The turnover has been high and I cannot count how many times we have been left without a maths teacher in the last few years. They are interested in the cash and league tables not the child. Pretty much wrote my 1st child off with his GCSE option choices as his grades weren’t high enough. We fought it out and said child is doing extremely well in his chosen subjects in fact one the best in the class. Other child has talent that hasn’t been nurtured but has continued to excel outside of school. If your face doesn’t fit or you speak up for yourself you get the brush off and the word absurd is used frequently. If you can find another school do and go with your gut reaction as yours is spot on. Best of luck!

Hi All, We are moving to the area and are trying to decide over Copthorne Prep or Lingfield college for our 2 young boys. Does anyone have any recent experience of these two schools? Any feedback would be appreciated - its so difficult to make a decision just from looking around. Thanks x

Experience of both past and present! What is it you specifically would like to know?

Hi There! I've been around both and I liked both. I'm really struggling to select between them. I initially love Brambletye, especially pre prep, but was put off by the boarding community as our boys will be day pupils. I'm guessing Copthorne being just the junior school has a smaller feel to it? I'm not sure the linked junior and senior of Lingfield is a good thing as the chances are they will continue through but a change might be better at that age. Do either of them do Saturday school? Thanks for any comments. Its strange to select a school without speaking to any parents! x

Neither do Saturday school at prep age.
Sports fixtures are on a Wednesday PM. Once the children get to senior school at Lingfield they will have sports fixtures on a Saturday.
CJ at Copthorne Prep is doing a great deal of marketing to make CP more of a boarding school and there are talks of CP to go through to 18 at some point. I will say the Head at Lingfield is marmite, so make your own mind up about that. However he is producing great results. CJ is a very very good salesman and no one champions CP as much as him. If your children are going to be in pre-prep at Copthorne then they will be headed up by SS who governs quite differently to CJ in prep. So for me what worked was LC for pre prep and Copthorne for prep. My children have been through both. Anything else do ask.

Hi @Ollyparker
i know this is a very old post but I was wondering if you could PM me your feedback on a Copthorne too pls?