Help Needed - Falkner House School / Garden House School / Eaton House School

[Greenjacket]

Hi

If your little boy had offers from the following three schools for entry into Year 1 in September 2019, which would you choose? Goal is Westminster or St Paul’s in a couple of years.

Falkner House School
Garden House School
Eaton House School

Many thanks.

Bump

hmmm we had those same offers (not Garden House) this year but declined as we changed our mind about the 7+/8+. However, we would have picked Garden House (if we had it) or Eaton House as Faulkner is super new. But it's splitting hairs - all 3 are amazing.

I read on here that Eaton House were bought out and having problems.

What I’m looking for is a school that differentiates well and really gets to know the boys.

Eaton House did have loads of changes to management and head between 2015 and 2017 but things have been stable since 2017 and the results are as good as ever. Garden House is also a very safe bet - but not sure about how they differentiate etc - we never considered it.

Thank you!

Any more opinions? TIA

You need to think what your backups are as SPJ and W aren't guaranteed and what relationships the schools have with your preferred backups.

Thank you. I suppose I would take school advice on that, and of course if they say there is no chance of getting into our preferred schools.

FH boys is really new, I don't think many people would have an opinion yet. in terms of backup for 7/8, you can always have the option to stay in EH or GH until 13. So they can be your fallback options.

What did you decide finally? My son will go to FH in September.

We chose EH because of their results. I’m told the teachers tutor after hours. I don’t know if this is true, I suppose I’ll find out soon!

Garden House seems more suited to girls (everything is geared up for them - ballet, arts - boys aren’t put in for competitions...) and the boys seem an afterthought.

FH do not support pupils they don’t think will get through. They were quite sarcastic about parents that had put their children in for the 7+ last year who they said shouldn’t have!

Actually, FH are doing the right thing. It is miserable to see the children turning up for 7+ exams at WUS who clearly shouldn't be there and I imagine that most parents would have been told so by their schools and ignored it. Such an unhappy experience for a child - every year there are a few sobbing st their desks because they have no idea what to do (they are rescued and taken out, sometimes to the parents' fury).

7+ is in part a test of maturity and if they aren't ready, no amount of preparation will help.

I understand that but for those that want to try the 7+ (and not all children treat it as a torture, some kids could care less whether they pass or fail) it’s an extra hurdle you don’t need. The OP wants the 7+. Some schools however don’t want the “fails” on their books...

EH kids are bit cookie cutter, I'll be damned for saying this but said it now. EH Manor House much better though. GHS kids not cookie cutter, but need massive amounts of extra tuition to catch-up on what they haven't learnt in school- a lot of churn in the girls school because of this and hard for them to keep a Head of Girls school. GHS paretns way more chilled over all (though sometimes too chilled and a lot of nannies at school gates). EH parents feel a bit more 2nd gen.. something to prove... Obviously I have experience of both. London schools all the same. It's nonsense anyway, they're 5-7 when you start the tutoring and all kids catch-up around 11 so save the tears and £££s. Have faith in your kids and faking it til you make it with a battery of tutors doesn't pay-off. They're all good at something - just look around you and your friends.

Hi Greenjacket,

Which school did you choose?

We have similar offers and looking for feedback please.

Thanks in advance