Devonshire House vs Chepstow House (Nottinghill) or HeathSide Prep?

[HampsterNW3]

Hello,
I a am looking for a co-ed school in NW: any updated feedback about these schools?
Many thanks!

We looked at Devonshire and Chepstow for my DD. Ultimately we chose Chepstow because we felt that headmistress was much stronger and because we valued that it was part of the Alpha Plus group of schools and they are all excellent. We could not have been happier with the choice we made! We feel that the school has the right balance between focusing on academics and actually having quite nurturing teachers and staff. The recent Ofsted report was excellent and the exit results were quite good considering that it was the first year children were taking the 11+/13+. But we also have friends at Devonshire that are happy. Don't know much about HeathSide Prep.

If you are in Hampstead btw (as your name suggests), I would choose based on convenience and I would go with Devonshire (or Heathside Prep based on feedback from others). It will make a difference not just on your daily commute but also for playdates.

Thanks so much braindrain17!

May I ask you if in Chepstow house there is a good balance boys/girls?

They start out exactly 50/50 in reception. And with good spread of birthdays across the years. If a girl leaves, they try to replace her with another girl and vice versa. Not sure how things are further up the school as it is still expanding but my understanding is that they continue to target a good mix.

Friends at Heathside. Not direct experience. Quirky. Headmistress takes all the decisions, Little empowerment of other teaching staff. Nurturing. Non selective. Very international. Facilities quite limited. Used to stop at 11+ & get decent exit results. Recently opened a senior school so could be a good choice if you want through education but a less good choice should you want 11+ prep

@HampsterNW3 please do yourself a favour and void Heathside. Removed our kids from there after catastrophic decline. Two words: sinking ship.