How hard is it to get into a great school in London - moving, exceptional children

[Anotherschoolthread]

No name down at birth, no entrance exams taken... we’ll be moving over the summer. Unexpected due to husband’s job. Two boys 5 and 7. Both exceptionally bright (have been told they would easily pass entrance tests) but will we even get to take the tests?

Eaton House? Westminster? Do they ever take anyone at unusual entry points?

I would contact Gabbitas. We went through them when first moving to London and finding a prep for our (then only) son. It was definitely worth it, we talked through what we wanted, they made a shortlist and arranged visits, they pulled all the reports, communicated with the heads etc.

For us, at the time, our shortlist was Garden House, Hill House and Eton Square. We visited all of them at least twice before deciding, and many other schools we ruled out after the first visit.

They also suggested hanging about around drop-off and pick-up, to get a sense of the parents and the mood. It sounds a bit absurd, but was actually really helpful advice, as I could see that at some schools the kids just came out bubbling and happy, and at certain schools they just looked exhausted, and not in a good way. I also liked seeing what schools were 90% nannies and which were the parents picking up etc.

What do you mean it’s not good for friendships or academic work??

If you want good academic enviornment, you could visit eaton house, hill house, newton prep, whetherby (if you are lucky), garden house (maybe), thomas group. then decide on which head you like the most. :)

OP, if you don’t mind me saying this, it’s probably not the best idea to announce your DC as “exceptionally bright” when contacting the prep schools. Find a school first and then let them assess how “exceptional” they are. Please be warned, these schools are full to the brim with pupils whose parents are all utterly convinced of their DC’s “exceptional” abilities , still very few will get into the likes of Westminster or St Paul’s. Be prepared for a shock.

If your eldest is now 7, he has missed the 7+ entry to St Paul’s (Colet Court) or KCJ. These are considered the “top” boys preps in London because they feed directly into St Paul’s and KCS. If you’re living in South Bank though, these would be a nightmare commute for you anyway.

I think St Paul’s and Kings Juniors (KCJ) May still have a small 8+ intake (maybe a handful of places) but you would be looking at your eldest doing the exams next Jan for entry Sept 2020. No matter how bright he may or may not be, he will need preparation. Make no mistake about this.

As your younger one is still only reception age, I would think it was easier to put them both together in a good prep that will prepare them either for 11 plus entry or 13 plus.

At 11 plus your “top” options would be - City London Boys School, Latymer Upper, Kings College Wimbledon, Highgate, Hampton, etc. St Paul’s and Westminster have a very small 11+ intake, they are more geared to 13+. All good schools, in different areas of London, but you can move accordingly then.

At 13+ (known as Commin Entrance) you have KCS again (smaller 13+ intake these days), St Paul’s and Westminster. Or Hampton. Otherwise it’s occasional places elsewhere. Be warned, many boys from 13+ preps end up boarding.

Have a look at the preps in the area you’ll be living in. Please be warned though, if you waltz in with a 5 year old and announce he is “exceptional” in reception, you run the risk of making yourself and your child into something of a laughing stock. I don’t wish to be unkind, but this kind of thing is naive at best.

1ndig0 I think you are the naive one. Places are always found for children with exceptional skills . We moved to London when my eldest was 5 and he walked into one of the beat prepreps in the city because of his school record (of one year ). If all parents were like you no one would get anywhere. If there OP’s boys are in any of the national G&T clubs, she’ll know the score.

“he walked into one of the beat prepreps in the city “

Which super-selective pre-prep was this then?

My DC have been all the way through the system and ended up at Latymer Upper and St Paul’s. Many of the self-proclaimed “gifted” children at 5 , simply had deluded parents. Any child can more or less “walk into” any pre-prep fgs, as long as they have the space and you pay up. Some of the GDST girls schools have so-called “selection” at 3, but what a load of nonsense, frankly. The odds of a place are about 1 in 4 - that’s not “gifted”, that’s just being reasonably verbal for your age, confident and having a good day.

Yes, there considerable churn in London prepreps and preps, and most will have a few leavers and joiners every year.

It will be possible to find places, especially if you don't mind waiting until the start of the new term before they join (standard T&Cs mean parents have to give a full term's notice to quit, so they'll have idea of number of ad hoc vacancies for September by the last week in April, and will be seeking to fill them on after that, and certainly before the end of term in early July). But vacancies do sometimes occur at other times, if a family is suddenly relocated and they/their employer decide to pay the school fees in lieu of notice.

Have you visited the area you currently propose to live in? And checked DH's commuting time? What is the maximum commuting time you'd be happy with? And do you expect to remain in London longterm?

Where are you coming from? If abroad be aware that the standards can be very different. My bright but high average dd left a UK primary to go to a selective primary in another country and they are convinced she is exceptional- she is not working as hard as she was before and we are trying desperately to make sure she keeps up the skills she gained at primary.

Coming from elsewhere in the U.K. but husband is American.

We visited the other day but there was a taxi protest so we didn’t get to see much! Commuting time at present can be 30 minutes so anything less than that is a bonus!

Look at St Paul's Juniors and Kings Wimbledon as well as Westminster Under.

National G&T clubs

What did you do in the end?

@anotherschoolthread
If you haven't decide yet, I would recommend Dulwich Prep London - an excellent boys school and a relatively easy commute to the Southbank.

The school sends boys to Alleyn's, Dulwich College (both local), Westminster, St. Paul's, Eton, Harrow, Tonbridge etc and if yours are super bright then they will easily manage scholarships.

Hi OP

This site may be helpful. Realistically you’ll have to ring a bunch of schools - some don’t have an entry point at 7 or 8 but may have occasional places. The reference from the head will be very important.

Ah, I've just spotted that this is a zombie - didn't check the year.

I do my eldest was there and my youngest is there , you are most prob there too now ?

5 years old you are in year 1

Here here

“he walked into one of the beat prepreps in the city “ ... bet that will open a lot of doors when he is looking for a job.

I wonder how they are all doing today? And which is the best characteristic to have, being super bright, sorry exceptional, or emotionally resilient.

Ohhhhh you sound very bitter ! I bet you are doing fabulous mentally !

It did for my son 👍

@Arnold106

Ohhhhh you sound very bitter ! I bet you are doing fabulous mentally !

Don’t understand your post. This is a zombie thread, so I am wondering what happened. My mental health is excellent thank you, I feel so much better since I stopped overdosing on exclamation marks.