Any staines prep parents??

[Mummymode]

Hi all any staines prep parents- current or past to share their experiences of the school? We have just under a week to make our decision between this school and another for 4+ and 7+ entry in September. We like the school but know nothing interms of reputation 🙄🙄

I know I have replied on other posts you have made and I'm not a parent but it's a really good local prep school that gets good results. It's unlikely to get much response on MN as its local. If it's your most convenient and budget wise satisfactory option then go for it. You could ring the Registrar & ask to visit again or speak to a parent if you are still unsure. All the Prep schools in your area are good.

Thankyou Sunshine5050! That’s so reassuring. We have been to visit it, and really liked it. My husband and I are both state schoolers and this is our first experience. We have visited a few and loved things about them all! We have two offers, the second from a hampton based prep and know of some people who have experience of our other choice, but nothing on staines. Staines is a) closer (the second is about a 30-40min car journey in traffic) b)alittle cheaper c)seems to gear the children equally to grammar and independent schools, which we like that we could possibly have that option........
Also thank so letting me know why I’m not getting many responses! Was thinking it was the school 😁🤦🏽‍♀️ Xx

No it's just the school isn't well known enough to get a response. Go for the closer school, your ds will have a lot less time in the car and more local friends. Plus Staines Prep is much more geared up for a grammar at 11, it's more acceptable to the school and parents than the other school you are considering.

Thankyou @Sunshine5050!!
That’s so helpful, and you’ve literally stated some valid points my DH and I have been thinking about! Would you mind if I asked how you know about the school?? X

Staines Prep kids go to good grammar schools and reputed independent schools, the school preps very well for 11+. The school has a nice culturally mixed population, however they do not have great sports / music facilities. You can find really rich parents as well as working middle class parents. The teachers are very approachable and the school communication is pretty good. The school is quite popular in Staines /Ashford area, but there are students travelling as far as from Hounslow , Chertsey etc. Hope this helps.

@Mummymode.. did you go for Staines prep?

We are in a similar situation this year for our DS starting reception September 2020.

We have liked Staines prep and Twickenham prep .. any personal opinion on either of these schools?

We were not impressed by Staines Prep and currently looking for other options considering private as well as state sector.

@Mummymode @Sunshine5050 @LovingMum22 @Orange20 @belgel where did u all end up going? How were ur respective experiences? Pray tell plz I'm in the Same boat now and struggling a lot

Hi @Razzmata we went with Staines prep and if I’m brutally honest we weren’t impressed and I wouldn’t recommend it- much like many parents across the school we left for another prep and are much more happier. I wouldn’t recommend sadly

@Mummymode Thanku! Can I ask where did u go then that u were much happier with? I'm sensing it's Clarence. What was Staines prep academics like? What were you not happy with their? I ask so I know what's mutual in our views and y / how I shud I end up narrowing my list

@Razzmata we went to school in Egham. No school is perfect but we did not regret for a second leaving staines prep.

@blablamummy do u feel you could have done as well had u stayed in a state school in Staines or nearby? What’s the value add u experienced that u could not imagine getting in state? I’m in Feltham and am looking at Clarence House. Bushopsgate I hear v good things about, any thoughts on Clarence?

@Razzmata i hardly can imagine my child in a state because the child easily copies behaviours (either positive or negative) of other children, so it is very important to see lots of positives around which we find more in the private sector. The class size is 15 children at the moment and concentration of my child may be very poor in the class when there are 30 children around. there are lots and lots opportunities beyond academics inc museums visits etc. sports and music opportunities can't be compared with the state sector. There is a lot of healthy competition between children - i can see that the kids (not all of course but certainly mine) are inspired by the achievements of their peers and also want to do better or achieve a higher result.

We joined SPS in 2018 and left a couple of years later. Terrible school and terrible management. They really don't care what you think. Your child is just another number and management have a bullish nature of making you doubt yourself as a parent. You speak up and they throw hidden terms and conditions at you to quieten you down - as far as threatening to exclude your children if you raise concerns again. Education standard I would say worse than state schools as the teachers don'f follow their own makring standard let alone national standards, and they cover this up with Covid excuses. Most parents are there either becuase this is the school that works location wise (as not many independent schools in the area) + fees are cheaper. Honestly, either go for state school or pay a little more for a school that values your childs mental and phyical health. We went for Clarence House in Twickenham for girls and the Mall school for boys. And I wish I had moved the kids earlier and not wasted my money on SPS. Clarence House is so far best school i have coe across - smaller classes (8 girls in my daughters class) and my daughter is coming out the other end more confident and academcially brighter then what she was at SPS. The boys are doing amazing too, where one of my boys is now able to try for schools such as St Pauls and Hampton (being invited back to the second stages), whereas when at SPS, he would have been just lucky enough to get in to Hallifords!