Cookham Dean Primary or Herries Prep?

[Mugglybuggly]

Hi, my 3.5 yr dd will be starting school in Sept 2019 in the Cookham Dean area. We are looking to buy there while currently renting in Marlow. The logical choice is Cookham Dean Primary but at the moment we are out of catchment and unlikely to relocate in time for applications. Also I loved Herries when I visited and can envisage my dd there as she is advanced for her age and very confident & friendly. I want to keep it that way as at her local preschool she is under- challenged and has few friends as the older ones she can relate to have left to go to school already! Any advice gratefully received!

Whilst lovely and nurturing, I’m not sure Herries is known as an academic powerhouse? I would also have thought the numbers would be too small for high standard music/ drama/ sport etc.

How many preps have you looked round? I really suggest you go and have a look at somewhere like Lambrook if you haven’t already.

In your position I would buy a bit further south to bring the Windsor/ Berkshire preps into reach.

Thanks Harken. We are tied to the local area in terms of buying a house as we want to live near my mother who is newly on her own. I had a look at Lambrook online and, wow! It looks wonderful. I think it would be too long a commute though, sadly.
I’m not looking for an academic powerhouse so much as a school that caters to different individual personalities and bring out the best in them, maximise their talents and skills etc. Anyone else have experience of the schools mentioned?

Hopeful bump

I have a daughter at Herries and have found it be very academically ambitious. They don't do tutoring as such for 11+ but they cover all the elements of 11+ through the curriculum and a few extra lessons on vocab building and things like that to help them along their way. They have a new head who seems to be doing a good job and there is a really extensive after school programme - 'school of rock' club, cookery, dance, bands, art, netball etc. I'm always amazed local people sometimes overlook it. We have been absolutely delighted with the school and my daughter skips in every day! In my opinion a real hidden gem.

Hi my children attend Herries and it’s a wonderful school, both nurturing and acedemic - which can be achieved with one class per year group, experienced teachers and a broad curriculum with enrichment lessons. Herries is also a LAMDA centre (London Acedemy Music and Dramatic Art) and over half of the students received distinctions in the last set of exams. Every term there is a big production which is always a very high standard. The children also do sports at Bisham Abbey the National Sports Centre near Marlow and have regular tournaments against other schools. We also have children at school who are competing at a national level in a range of sports. I believe over half of the children at the school learn a musical instrument and there are various school bands, the school choir, school of rock etc. In fact there is a charity music concert on next week, with pupils raising money for the Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice. One of the boys music teachers from Herries has also just composed the music for an upcoming regional schools music festival which Herries are singing at. My children are very happy at Herries and their confidence has really grown. The PTA is also very active and we are very lucky to be part of such a lovely school.

Herries has been rated excellent in all areas in their recent ISI inspection report in 2022. Most of the children after Y6 go onto Sir William Borlase Grammar School in Marlow. They offer timetabled study skills and are now part of ISA so there are weekly sporting fixtures from year 3 upwards. Herries recently won the football plate at a local private school out of thirty schools and have numerous county level sports pupils. Also pupils playing for Tottenham and Chelsea football academies. They have also had runners in the ISA nationals etc. Unlike larger schools every child has the opportunity to take part in all the fixtures. The added bonus at Herries is being able to use the National Sports Centre at Bisham Abbey. The drama and music is also a very high standard, as all pupils have the opportunity to shine at termly drama and music productions. Many pupils have one to one LAMDA or music lessons as well as the timetabled drama and music lessons from Nursery upwards. Having one class per year group means there is a strong family ethos. The older children set a shining example to the younger children through their roles of responsibility. A small school with one class per year group means all children have a voice and teaching is tailored for each child. Our eldest child has left Herries a confident, happy and well rounded individual who is embracing every opportunity at senior school with confidence.

My youngest daughter was at Herries until the end of year 5, when I moved her into mainstream education.
We will always be thankful to Mrs Castell for her amazing drama classes and LAMDA exam success.
My daughter has appeared in numerous Netflix series, HBO, Paramount, Sky movies and Apple TV programmes since the age of 11.
Sadly I think Mrs C has now retired from teaching
More’s the pity.
She was the best teacher