Putney High Junior or Merton Park Primary? Which one would you choose?

[JuliaAndJulia]

So we are potentially going to end up with these 2 options for DD2.

Putney High Junior appeals due to academic focus, direct entry into secondary and possible movement to other GDST schools in the future - if we want it. Challenge is the fees (quite high compared to Prep schools) and commute (4+ miles in moderate/heavy traffic).

Merton Park is really close for us, community feel, outstanding school. Challenge is we feel (at this point) that we are likely to go private from year3 as DD is quite sharp & autumn born & if she isn't adequately stretched, we will move her. So likely complications of sitting 7+ and all the associated hassles.

DD1 has been to private prep all through (not in this area) & now goes to a girls grammar. Ideally we want DD2 to go to grammar but we don't want to decide that right now. She's very artistically inclined so might choose to go into an art specialist school which we would be happy with too.

Money is a consideration (i would have to return to full time work if Putney High) but want to choose the right 'path' for DD2. What would you wise mums choose?

I would value local friends and practicality over academic rigour at this stage. You might well find the state school meets all her needs.

@NumbersLetters thank you, that's my gut feel too.

Part of me wants to avoid 7+ and 11+ having been through them with DD1. Wondering if I may regret having to do these if we choose state now.

Why Putney and not Sutton or Wimbledon?

@ChristopherTracy moved to the area too late to register for Wimbledon. Hadn't heard of Sutton as we've moved from west London.

There’s no “movement between GDST” except at the usual points by the same entry methods... which are super competitive, particularly at 11. You also have very limited 7+ options close by in the area - in particular the very academic 7+ schools are quite far.
I think personally I’d take the local primary over a long commute at 4 and having fees dictate my working situation. Also GDST fees are generally seen as very good value compared to other options so surprised by your views there.

@eponine8 thank you for your detailed reply. GDST fees are competitive at secondary level but quite steep for primary esp when I compare to prep schools in the area.

When you say 'no movement between GDST schools' - can I ask how do you know? Have you experienced this? I was specifically told about this by someone close to the school although I have no means to verify this. Hoping I will get some input (either way) here..

I would agree that there isnt very much movement between GDST schools as they are all slightly different and so you pick one according to locale and that slight difference.

I think the GDST prep depts are expensive compared to stand alone schools but this is fair because they get to use the senior facilities which are obvs superior to tiny prep schools.

Shame about Sutton -that could have suited you very well. But fees there from recption to Y6 are £4420 where at a tiny prep school like Seaton House (also in Sutton and academic) they are £3396.

Just about the question you asked me OP - have a look at the Wimbledon HS 11+ FAQ and it addresses this question. I don’t know about less competitive GDST schools to be fair but I’ve never heard of it between Putney and Wimbledon and the reverse. Even 6th form girls are treated the same. I’ve also seen many threads where girls have been given places at one and not the other and this has failed to give the parents any leverage with the school that didn’t give a place.

I would save your money for private education at 11+, should the grammar school not come off. Invest in a good tutor at the appropriate time. Register for an occasional place at WHS, The Study prep etc, and/or 7+ in case the state primary turns out to be a bad decision. I know lots of people who have been very happy with Merton Park. For what it’s worth however, my bright autumn born DD has been mostly bored stupid at our very average state primary school (or well below average if judging by recent SATS results), since around year 4, but going private at primary level was not an option for us and I’m sure other schools are better at stretching bright kids than our school. I couldnt face a commute to Putney High for seven years though!

I agree with @Jimjam68 - MP is a good school and if it's local you will save yourself and your DD a lot of stress in these early years.

Most of the Merton primaries are pretty good and certainly good enough to ease passage at 11+ to private secondaries and grammars (although you will need to tutor).

DD was at a local state primary and went on to achieve a grammar place and scholarships. As did one of her best friends. DS1 and DS2 both did the 7+ from the same state primary. I would honestly save your money and do the 7+ or 11+ and pick a school you really want.

Thank you for the excellent input @sandybayley @Jimjam68

@Jimjam68
@sandybayley

do you know anyone who has successfully got into WHS mid-way through primary? The school have told me that from 2020 they no longer have a 7+ process...so its either Reception or occassional vacancies or 11+. I was wondering if waiting for an occasional vacancy is realistic?

We are wait listed at The Study but i guess the commute will be difficult for this school too?

@ChristopherTracy
I have looked up Sutton High but i don't see the point as it is 4 miles away too and less academic than PHS.

Thank you for your opinions, they are very valuable to me as i am new to this area and don't want to get this major decision wrong.

Not sure about these schools but the official line here is no preference is given to the existing students - if they fail the exam at 11+ no place

Yes SHS is x amount of miles away but it is a normal route for SHS girls - lots come from that area of Wimbledon on the school bus and their brothers go to Homefield very close by - not that many girls go from that side of Wimbledon to Putney.

I do know someone who got into WHS via the 11+ but not through an occasional place. I imagine there is some movement particularly in the early years as families move out of London but when I contacted WHS and The Study during year 5 as my daughter was having a terrible time at school they were both full and said they did not expect any places to come up. On a brighter note both my DDs went through the state school system at primary level and got into all 4 selective independents they sat for (with the aid of tutoring). DD2’s friends who also did it also got at least two offers, and some more than that. So I wouldn’t panic too much.

Sorry that should say I know someone who got in via 7+ at WHS.

There is no longer 7+ at WHS; they have increased their 4+ instead. So just occasional places for people moving out/away.

@ChristopherTracy
Thank you, I didn't realise that

@Jimjam68 - this is my worry that we might have to choose a far away school later due to lack of vacancies (or too much competition for the vacancies that do come up) in WHS/PHS.

Getting into private secondary is not too much of a worry having been through it once with DD1. It's not fun but we know our way. I am more keen that DD2 gets the right academic/co-curricular exposure for years 3-6 as I've seen how much it helped DD1.

Can I ask is your DD happy at her private school? Does she find girls who come from private preps to be different to herself?

@eponine8 - yes that's what they told me, even lesser hope there then.

Also for most of the vacancies/7+ there are usually several girls competing, so no guarantee of getting in just because there is a space...

DD1 is happy on the whole. She is now in year 9 and there is no discernible difference between ex prep school girls and state school girls. The biggest (perceived) difference in year 7 was probably between those who came up from the junior school and those who didn’t, but honestly that didn’t last past year 7 and now is just a non issue. If you like PHS and think you might keep your DD there for senior school then that is a great way to avoid the madness that is the SW London 11+ process (see the very long thread in the secondary education section!).

On further reflection possibly the biggest disadvantage coming from a state primary was in sport. Prep schools do sport much more seriously and my DD was definitely behind in terms of skill and experience. As a consequence she more or less gave up trying to compete in year 7, but then her interest is more towards art/drama anyway!

To complicate things further we now have a place at The Study, and Holy Cross Prep too.

MP is a very good school. It's small and everyone knows everyone else and lives within a small catchment area. It is a happy school.

Some children from Merton Park go to grammars and private school at 11+ . This will be with some tutoring, but prep school children often have extra tutoring for those exams too. Every year between 2-6 children get into the Sutton or Tiffin grammar schools. Some children leave Merton Park for private schools in years 2, 3 or 4, but it tends to be for Sutton High or Homefield Prep (these schools always seem to have places). I remember one boy leaving for Kings College School.

The playground is very small, but they also use the local playing field sometimes. The sport won't be the same as a private school.

I wouldn't commute to Putney for school at primary level so The Study would be more convenient. I would choose Merton Park. It's lovely to be able to walk to school and have local friends.

Thank you everyone for providing me with such sound advise. We've not yet made up our minds but we will know on 16th April whether or not we get MP as a choice at all.