Turning down Kensington Prep for Garden House (Girl’s)?

Hicks35 · 2019-02-04T16:08:33+00:00

My daughter has been offered a place at both schools. I know Kensington prep is thought of as more academic with better school leaver destinations. But I preferred the atmosphere and feeling I got at GH. Am I mad to turn down a place at Kensington prep in favour of GH?

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EdwinaMarlow · 04/02/2019 16:30

No, you are very sensible to go with your gut instincts and choose the school you preferred. I did this many years ago with my dc and never regretted it, they've done very well and were very happy at their school(s). Good luck to your dd.

Original poster

Hicks35 · 04/02/2019 16:34

Thank you Edwina, it is so hard as I love GH but from all the feedback and reviews I have read in terms of academic results for day school KP would be a better choice.

OP posts:

Zodlebud · 04/02/2019 16:53

Choose where your daughter and you would be most happy. Both are great schools.

We chose a non selective prep for our children (outside London) instead of sending them to the selective one with an excellent academic reputation literally at the end of our road. My friends thought we had gone mad (and still probably do).

Guess what? My eldest is on track for scholarships at some very high ranking schools. Not once has she been hot housed or had to focus exclusively on academics. She has been given opportunities above and beyond the classroom and can quite often be found up a tree at break time.

You only have one childhood - let it be a memorable one for all the right reasons.

helpmum2003 · 04/02/2019 16:55

Totally agree. A happy child will reach their potential. Mental health is important.

elij · 04/02/2019 17:50

GHS has such a great atmosphere

pinkcardi · 04/02/2019 18:42

You must trust your gut on this. Only you know what is best for your child. No league table is going to tell you what's best for your daughter as an individual.

Also, have you asked her which school she would prefer?

sanam2010 · 04/02/2019 19:40

You should choose the school that feels right for you. I definitely know parents who turned down Glendower for Garden house in the past, you would not be the only one making such a decision.

Original poster

Hicks35 · 04/02/2019 19:50

Thank you for all your responses. Both schools are amazing and I feel very lucky to be in this position but also torn. As on paper I think Kensington Prep would be amazing, but as I have friends at Garden House I feel I know that school more in terms of their caring spirit towards all the girls and how they instil the love of learning. But I don’t know any current or previous Kensington prep girls so can’t work out if this caring atmosphere is also provided.
Unfortunately my daughter hasn’t really seen either apart from assessment day. She is happy to go to either as she has friends going to both.
Just feel am I doing the wrong thing as maybe she will be pushed to her full potential at KP and GH is just because I like it.

OP posts:

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 04/02/2019 19:55

Also think of the commute, any ‘extras’ (sports facilities, library, etc). Did you like the Head - did the children look happy going into school? I found it useful to loiter at drop off/pick up and time and observe how the children act and how the treat their nannies (there will be a high % of these).

I once walked along the street as a child and his nanny walked in front of me (I want stalking, just don’t the same way) and almost wet myself as the little lad complained bitterly (and rudely) about ‘having to go to the house in Switzerland again this weekend’ 😆.

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 04/02/2019 19:55

I wasn’t stalking just waking the same way (fat fingers!)

Marquez35 · 05/02/2019 00:11

Thank you these are really good points. I think its time for school gate watching! :)

MMmomDD · 05/02/2019 09:39

OP - I am with your friends on this one.

Schools like KP are good in picking girls that have a good academic potential. So - your daughter must be mature and ready to learn. And best for her will be to learn at the speed that works for her.
In a school where she’ll be among only a few similar girls - that might or might not happen.

I had that with one of my DD - she was at a good school, but ahead in a few areas and they just couldn’t or wouldn’t challenge her appropriately. So - at times they’ll tell her to sit and read while others completed their tasks.
And the problem with that for me was Not that she wasn’t learning more advanced material - but rather that she was used to everything being easy and wasn’t learning to make an effort and work.
So - my worry was that when she gets to secondary and work picks up - and things would stop being easy - she’d not have learned to work.
So I moved her at 7+ to a school that had more girls like her. And things stopped being easy all the time - but she was so much more interested and happy.

Thing is - your feeling about one school vs another - at this point based on a one (few?) visits. And that is just a Polaroid, one day in a school’s life.
Also - your 4yo will grow and change a lot between now and Y6.

I have friends in both of these schools. And like with any school - you can find a range of opinions.
KP is a great school for a bright child. The girls are bright and confident. And it has facilities to match.
And is a bit more down to earth than GH. Which seems quite precious.

Another point of reference is Bute 7+.... Most schools in the area have their brightest girls try to love there at 7+. Garden house certainly loses a few girls/year. With more trying and not making it.
While KP doesn’t have this issue.

To me - this is one of the best indicator on whether people are happy there.

And I won’t even mention the dreaded 11+. And peace of mind that comes with knowing that your school would do as best for your child. Vs being stressed and having to do a lot of the work yourself because your school can’t do that.
At 4 you think it’s far away.
But it isn’t.

Good luck.

Tigermom79 · 05/02/2019 12:22

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achelseamum · 18/01/2022 12:17

Do you know what time GH school pick up is? For loitering purposes

LondonMum24 · 18/01/2022 21:34

@MMmomDD

OP - I am with your friends on this one.

Schools like KP are good in picking girls that have a good academic potential. So - your daughter must be mature and ready to learn. And best for her will be to learn at the speed that works for her.
In a school where she’ll be among only a few similar girls - that might or might not happen.

I had that with one of my DD - she was at a good school, but ahead in a few areas and they just couldn’t or wouldn’t challenge her appropriately. So - at times they’ll tell her to sit and read while others completed their tasks.
And the problem with that for me was Not that she wasn’t learning more advanced material - but rather that she was used to everything being easy and wasn’t learning to make an effort and work.
So - my worry was that when she gets to secondary and work picks up - and things would stop being easy - she’d not have learned to work.
So I moved her at 7+ to a school that had more girls like her. And things stopped being easy all the time - but she was so much more interested and happy.

Thing is - your feeling about one school vs another - at this point based on a one (few?) visits. And that is just a Polaroid, one day in a school’s life.
Also - your 4yo will grow and change a lot between now and Y6.

I have friends in both of these schools. And like with any school - you can find a range of opinions.
KP is a great school for a bright child. The girls are bright and confident. And it has facilities to match.
And is a bit more down to earth than GH. Which seems quite precious.

Another point of reference is Bute 7+.... Most schools in the area have their brightest girls try to love there at 7+. Garden house certainly loses a few girls/year. With more trying and not making it.
While KP doesn’t have this issue.

To me - this is one of the best indicator on whether people are happy there.

And I won’t even mention the dreaded 11+. And peace of mind that comes with knowing that your school would do as best for your child. Vs being stressed and having to do a lot of the work yourself because your school can’t do that.
At 4 you think it’s far away.
But it isn’t.

Good luck.

Some excellent points here.

Monkeybrains22 · 18/01/2022 22:10

Please Don’t be swayed by Ken Prep exit results. A lot of the excellent staff are no longer there as the new head is not popular and the prep they get for 11+ is non-existent you will have to do the work yourself so please don’t be deluded by the scholarships and offers on the website. It is all very much down to proactive ambitious parents and very bright children not some sort of exceptional teaching or exam technique. I’m not saying this isn’t the case at garden house and I do agree with above posters that the socio- economic mix is much more down-to-earth at Ken Prep but just saying that the academic results shouldn’t be what sways you. Go with your gut.