Norfolk House or The Avenue Pre-Prep?

[EleanorRykener]

Hi everyone. I’m a new poster here. We have put our DS’s name down to start nursery at both of these schools for September 2019. We recently received an offer from the Avenue, no written offer from Norfolk House yet but when we went on a tour earlier this year they said they were confident there would be space for him.

Logistically, Norfolk House is so much easier for us. It’s much closer to our house and starts 40 minutes earlier which makes a big difference as we both work full time. We liked it when we looked around and liked that they wanted to meet our DS whereas the Avenue didn’t. Unless DS got into Highgate at 7+ we would seriously struggle to get him to one of the Hampstead prep schools before work.

So it seems like a no-brainer. BUT. I’ve seen some negative reviews of Norfolk House on here recently. The music on offer at the Avenue is better. This is important to me as music was a huge part of my education and I personally think it’s so beneficial for kids. And the 7+ route feels more “traditional” (says my DH, I am from the US and this whole system is new to me).

So basically - which would you choose in this position (assuming we do have offers from both which I accept we don’t at this moment)?

Hi, I haven't heard great things about Norfolk but then again I don't have any direct experience. I did however work temporarily to cover someone at the Avenue a few years back and thought extremely highly of it! Again, I wasn't there very long, was just for a few weeks in the nursery, but I was really impressed by it. i have experience teaching in other schools and was really happy by what I saw and the kids were v happy and other teachers lovely. But going there does leave you with the worry of 7+. Are there any other options for after if you dont go the hampstead route?

Hi, thanks for getting back to me. What have you heard about Norfolk House that wasn’t great? I’m glad to hear nice things about the Avenue though. There are other options at 7+ but all are a drive (Mill Hill, Belmont etc) as where we live is a sort of black hole for schools it seems like. Thanks again for your input!

NH is said to be very cramped and a real hot-house once the 11+ draws near (though to be fair most prep schools could have that charge levelled at them). It's the lack of space I think that is a huge issue. Are you sitting the 3+ at Highgate?

Hi, no we’re not sitting 3+. He’s a summer baby and I felt a bit weird about him being assessed so young. However DH went to Highgate for senior school so we’d be happy for him to go when he’s older (if he got in).

Interesting about the space issues at NH. We went to see the nursery & pre prep on Prince’s Avenue and I didn’t feel cramped, though it’s tiny compared to Highgate and its grounds. Is the other site smaller?

I guess what I’m ultimately wondering is if the Avenue is so much better that we should go for it and really stress ourselves out logistically, as I have no idea how we’d get him to school anywhere that isn’t Highgate and still get to work before lunchtime!

Really appreciate your responses, thanks!

Can i ask in what area you work? Belmont it great and nurturing but quite far out, but that all depends where you're heading...
As I said my knowledge of Norfolk is more based of what I've seen on here and on the grapevine through friends etc.
Pre-preps like Avenue are specifically geared towards getting your child to a school like Highgate, (only if they are suited though). However, people often talk of pre-preps as over pressurised and obsessed with themselves getting the best results. However with that being said, The Avenue is lovely

We're at Highgate. A lot of HG parents send their kids to Avenue for pre-prep, then to HG for Junior School. You will stand a very good chance of getting into the Junior School from Avenue. There will be no prep at Norfolk until the 11+, which will be a much tougher entry point.

Depending on what direction you go to work, you could also consider Golders Hill or Annemount (anecdotally GH better for boys and AM better for girls)

I don't have kids at either school, but good friends who have. I'd avoid Norfolk House - space is a massive issue, but also even though they are tough on homework early on, it doesn't seem to pay off academically. You stand no better chance getting in at a decent senior school than if you go state. But if academics and space is not of primary concern for you and you like Norfolk House, then I can't see any reason to not go. The Avenue is of a different calibre as I understand it but has the issue with only going to 7.

We left NH as we didn't have a good experience. Space is an issue among other things. The 11+ is far more brutal than the 7+ and NH don't have a good reputation for getting kids into preferred schools. Not in catchment for Rhodes Avenue? RA gets as many if not more into Highgate at 11+. They also have incredible facilities. Annemount is reachable in the morning from MH but the head is um an interesting character and some find her to be quite abrasive. She owns it and is the head. There are no governors so it's her way or no way. She also burns through staff at an alarming rate.

I posted too soon. I take The Avenue any day over your other options. You'll not thank yourself later if you pass it up. Whatever logistical issues you have pale in comparison to the fun of the 11+.