Help with London prep schools!!

[lndmum]

Have name changed as this is rather outing.

Can someone reassure me... DD is 5 months old and we've registered her at the following schools:

At 3 months old:
Finton House
Hornsby House
Thomas' Battersea

And last week:
Broomwood Hall
Eaton House

We are waitlisted for all of them. I'm worried I've left it too late. Can someone reassure me that she will get an offer from at least one of these schools?!

I know it seems ridiculous that she's only 5 months old but London prep schools are notoriously competitive.

Are there any other schools in SW London I should consider?

I should add that this is for reception class

Wow, this has opened my eyes! Do they not ballot, otherwise, it would be very unfair on summer born children? Our local preps do that, once the application s have closed at the end of September , for each year.

I was told it depends on how close you've made the application from their date of birth. So yeh it doesn't discriminate against summer born babies and spreads the birthdays out throughout the year, but loads of parents would have got in before me in the month DD was born.

You have a mixture there of first-come-first served and those where you register for assessment nearer the time. For the former type, yes you will have to see if the waiting list moves (and you can expect that it will, both because parents register for multiple schools and because people move house, or they're hedging a state school offer from Belleville, Honeywell or Macauley). So don't despair!

Other schools to consider are Parkgate House, Thomas Clapham, Putney High School and Newton Prep.

I live in the same area as you and just want to assure you that it will all be ok. We moved to the area when DS was two and spent six months phaffing before making any school applications. I had no idea how competitive it was, and when I started to look around I was in complete despair. He is now at Newton Prep (our first choice) and had offers from other schools listed above.

Another vote (waves at AnotherNewt) for Newton Prep.

Are the schools saying you are only on their reserve list or that you are registered?

Sibling number can vary a lot each year

Thanks everyone, you've reassured me somewhat!

@AveEldon Thomas' said we were on a reserve waiting list as their main waiting list was already full (I assume they have a reserve list as it's selective). Finton house we are on the waiting list as they do first come first serve and we missed the boat! The others I can't remember off the top of my head, will have to check our correspondence letters.

Prep or preprep?

It's not uncommon that parents register for 5 or more pre prep schools. So when it's time to pay depsoit (usually 1 term fee ish for many London schools), spaces will be freed up. So don't worry at all, just relax and offers will come.

@soapboxmum preprep, DD will start reception in 2022

Right. I think you’ve done enough but keep an eye on the schools, staff leave, things change, and go to all the opendays you can.

We had a few schools and one by one narrowed it down for various reasons.

Have you thought of nurseries?

We've done similar for thomases, eaton, Newton, and parkgate.

Could the newton parents possibly shed some light on why it over thomases? I've visited both and found them so tricky to choose between (if indeed we get the choice).

Another vote for Newton prep. I had very happy relatives attend.

Culture and management. It's a happy, relaxed environment with good outdoor facilities and good results.

Hornsby and Finton you may squeak a place, you may not, depends on sibling numbers and people moving out. For Hornsby 2017 entry I believe 3 months from birth would have got an offer in the end, but not in first round of offers. They ask siblings for deposits about 1.5 yrs in advance (April) so suggest asking again around then.

The others do assessment so depends on how your DD turns out - Thomas's reputedly looks for confidence and probably some academic achievement (so a nursery that does phonics may help), Broomwood looks for "school readiness" which I suspect means good behaviour, ability to participate in a group, separate from parent ok etc. Keenness also plays a part, if you make it clear you love X school then that may help.

Agree Thomas's Clapham looks like an obvious omission from your list. Unless you are only allowed to register for one of Thomas's Battersea and Thomas's Clapham?

It might be an idea to register for something less competitive eg Parkgate, White House, Roche, Evelina as a back up. I don't know much about these schools.

That's so helpful thank you @minipie !!!

@soapboxmum haven't thought of nurseries at all! Should I have? I'll be a SAHM so childcare isn't something I had seriously thought about. Is it worth her going when she's 3 for a day or two a week? I didn't grow up in this country so still not 100% on the schooling system here!

@cakeandteajustforme also for reception 2022 ?

And sorry yes @minipie I could only register for 1 Thomas's

And thanks to the mums who recommended Newton prep. Hadn't given the school any thought so will have a look!

I'd vote for it any day over Thomas' tbh.

lndmum - Hiya DS6 attend to one of the prep schools that you mentioned in your opening post, we applied for five schools within the SW & W2 were offered GHS (Garden House School) Wetherby & Newton Prep, so 4/5. Please stop worrying

*attends one

sorry typos

Have you thought as far ahead as secondary school? Some preps do 'feed' (unofficially) into secondary schools.

Yes do think about nurseries. Will you be working? If so will you use a nanny or daycare nursery?

@MrsHappyAndMrCool I actually have a Garden House registration form sitting on my desk! I've heard mixed reviews.

@AsAProfessionalFekko kind of. How can you choose though?! There is so much choice. DH and I are in two minds... either a lovely public school (Marlborough, Roedean, Cheltenham Ladies, etc), or an academic day school in London (Wimbledon, Putney, JAGS, Alleyns). I think we have to wait till she is a little older to understand her strengths, whether she's arty or sporty, and her academic ability. I went to a girls day school (not in UK) and DH went to a major public here in the UK and we both enjoyed our schooling life.

@minipie No plans to work