St Faith's or King's College School in Cambridge

[confusedreschool]

Having narrowed down the options, we are struggling with our final decision and would appreciate any insight/advice others may have. Looking at 4+ entry for both schools.

We have a summer boy who seems reasonably bright, but can lack confidence in new situations. He seems to enjoy activities that would ultimately lead to science, music and art.

We are an academic family but not at all religious. Dad is an atheist and we want a school where our son would have the option of holding this view at a young age if he chooses (or not, either is fine, we just want him to have the freedom to choose). We both work full time so out of hours care (inc holiday clubs) is important but we also want to feel part of the school community as much as possible.

We are also aware of the very limited options in Cambridge for independent secondaries for boys - either a tough assessment for a place at the Perse or he would need to get a scholarship for us to afford the Leys. As he is so young we have no idea what would suit him at that age.

We want him to be happy and learn to love learning at school as well as achieving academically.

Any advice?

Hi!
If you believe your son will need a scholarship to pay for the Leys, and so you are looking either to the Perse or to further afield for secondary schools (schools like Eton have such great bursary schemes that if your son gets a place then you needn’t worry about whether you get the bursary as much as whether you can fill in the paperwork!) then it is certainly the case that sending your DS to St Faith’s would be a bit of a gamble, as that is where most of its pupils go. I have heard from friends within the area that it does have a tendency to be hard on those going for schools outside the local area, but it is a good school, large as far as prep schools go, and the largest in Cambridge, I believe. Therefore it has very good facilities and uses many of the Leys facilities, which are obviously advanced compared to most Prep Schools.
On the King’s front, I must admit a far deeper knowledge as of my DSs having gone there. It sends lots of pupils to the Leys, the Perse, and King’s Ely, among with smaller yet relatively sizeable and very consistent amounts to Eton, Uppingham, Oundle, and the Stephen Perse. It is the smallest of the big fish prep schools in Cambridge and very much has a family feel, with an increasing amount of inter-parental and pta occasions giving it an even greater feel of family. It has its new sports hall, which is something that will be of very much use for both sports and other functions. The school has recently excelled in sports, especially considering its small nature compared to the schools it plays and beats. Looking at the figures, hockey is it’s best major sport, with frequent visitations to the nationals by its teams, but it dominates in squash where it has been IAPS champions for three consecutive years. Musically, King’s seems unparalleled in Cambridge on scholarships and opportunities, with many pupil ensembles and orchestras, a strong departmental push for pupils to try their hand at it and see if they like it, and a very large music block, this ethos is proved successful in the many scholarships awarded in the field each year to secondary schools, and that is excluding the choristers. Academically, it is very strong, with several academic scholarships a year to schools in the local area and further afield, like Eton last year. I know you are probably thinking that I have said Eton a lot, and that is no coincidence. The school has strong ties with it and many other large prep schools around the country, and is active in looking for the best school for your pupil, if you go and make it clear that is what you want. There is also a schools’ fair in which most major schools nationally and all major local schools are represented, where you can survey the opportunities of schools without having to trip all the way to them.
Also you mentioned of your DS’s late birthday. This is nothing to fear as most schools you will apply to will take this into account, and there will be no discrimination against him at the school for that. I certainly struggled to tell who was born at what time of year by the end of my DSs’ time at King’s, and I expect the same at any good prep school. My sons also say the school’s food is the best when they nowcompare it to their friends from the other Cambridge schools they know.
I fear I will bore you if I continue and have likely just repeated a lot of what you have been told, so please feel free to PM me about anything you are wondering, especially over other prep/lower schools in the area and I will collate as much information as I can.

I wholeheartedly recommend the Stephen Perse Foundation. It is not religiously zealous (unlike St Faiths and the Leys). Cambridge has very good primary schools. I suggest you save your money and go for a year four entry point at an independent.

Have you not looked at Perse Pelican/Perse Prep too?

Thank you everyone. We've decided on St Faith's. Clearly lots of very good schools in Cambridge.

Hi @confusedreschool,
I stumbled upon this post, while deciding between St. Faiths and Kings. Could you please provide some more insight about why you chose St Faith's and how your experience has been ?

In St.Faith's, is there a good music environment among students? Do they organise concerts/ensembles etc, and also allow school children who are being trained by external teacher, to participate ?

I understand King's is very musical. How would St Faiths (or Perse) compare with it in music ?

St Faiths has a reputation of more sporty school. Does this mean academics, literature and music are not celebrated so much.
I got such an impression from the newsletters - www.stfaiths.co.uk/news-media/headmasters-newsletter/#lent-term-2022, which highly appreciates sporting results, but rarely found anything about music or literature.

Also, because it's a prep school that goes till year 8, does the emphasis on academics increase in 7/8th year and not so much till year 6? We are not sure what will be the right senior school for my DD - may be perse-upper, or may be a renowned school outside Cambridge. Does the school help with right level of preparation for common entrance at y8 ?

Thanks in advance !