Good Preps for Rebellious Children?

[Jossina]

What are some good preps (5-11/13) in London for boys and girls that are a bit rebellious. Not badly behaved or spoiled, just outspoken, questioning and intelligent? Both single sex and co-ed suggestions are welcome.

Where do you fit into this scenario, op? It sounds as weird as all get out. These kids are already damaged by inadequate parenting, so you (plural?) are choosing schools that will rectify this?
Have the parents sanctioned your apparent over involvement?!

The Unicorn school in Richmond might be exactly what you're looking for. Could be tricky to get spaces though.

Also have a look at the Hall school in Wimbledon. It's a marmite school, with a reputation for children exactly as you describe (!) and a very specific philosophy, driven by its founder. Very child-centric, with a no-technology policy and a rural retreat for the children in Wales which sounds quite magical.

They sound like little children who need firm but loving boundaries, rather than more freedoms........

Indeed BertrandRussell, indeed.

Very true, BertrandRussell, and the OP does say that she is trying to find a school which won't do any more damage!

But even good school schools which lovingly enforce boundaries can be very different from each other - and since the family can choose, it makes sense to try to find a good fit.

How can a 6 yo know that he doesn't like any sports at all? and is it unusual to want to be a pop star at that age? I wouldn't have thought so.

These children need some support. It is rude to look for a chink in anyone's reasoning or to gather evidence against someone, assuming you're not literally the police. You can choose to tolerate that at home but a teacher with a whole class can't.

Struggling to see where you fit in or what the wider dynamic is. Do you have children? Would you be pleased with this behaviour?

Sorry I misread I think you're saying doesn't want to be a pop star. Apologies.

These robot children sound great. Where do you get one of those? Do they need charging?

OP seems to have some quite odd ideas about what schools are like!

Start by looking at some schools - any in the rough area where the family are likely to settle - just to bust your myths.

That's me doomed then - it's rude to look for a chink in anyone's reasoning??
Isn't that just learning to think?
The only issue with that and children ( or adults) is teaching them when to stop when it is inappropriate in the situation that they are in.
But none of what you describe sounds particularly unusual for a child of that age.
No reason why boys should like any sport btw...
And I don't know any child who wanted to be a pop star or a sports star at any age (mainly state education here)

Yes it is in front of a class of 15/20/30! Though I wouldn't do it to anyone (the other side at work excepted otherwise I wouldn't be paid...). I can think perfectly well without making anyone else feel wrong or stupid.

And I have apologised- the pop star thing is "normal" children not these ones. I've obviously had to sit through more painful "concerts" than you have

My 5 year old doesn’t know what a pop star is!

Lucky you! Though I'm sure he/she is not also tone deaf and uncoordinated

'The only issue with that and children ( or adults) is teaching them when to stop'

So most people want a school,that does that!

Unchecked, it's terribly disruptive to everyone's learning.

So these children are 6 and 7, but three weeks ago you were looking for a good prep for a girl and boy aged 3.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/primary/a3549785-Girls-Football#86051177

Are these the same children?

What on earth is going on?

It really sounds like you don’t understand children and you have quite unusual expectations of them.

If you do get a “professional” in, what kind would it be??

Gosh the op does seem to have many friends and relatives with very unusual school requirements, one wonders at the chances of that. Football schools for American 3 year olds and libertarian schools for obnoxious 6-7 year olds.what are the chances.....

Chances are that it's a US MNetter, who has stereotypes rather than direct experience of Britain, with a sense of responsibility towards these DC, whose age has been modified in the way that identifying details are often changed.

It does sound as if pretty much any preprep wouid be fine, as they're not robot factories and the DC sound typical

Is David Walliams writing a new book maybe and his researcher is doing their job?

Assuming you're the agent, OP? Why don't you go to a schools' fair and have a look? I get that you want "real" views not just marketing bumpy (fair enough) but if you could tell us which country you/they are coming from and any schools you're already considering for mumsnetter reviews that would be good. Otherwise you're just asking us to do your job for you! (If you aren't an agent, maybe consider getting one?)

Funny, OP is also worried about whether a housemaster is single or married

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3565877-Married-With-Children-Housemaster-or-Single-Housemaster

What next? A day school where they play polo on unicorns?

A specialist gardening college that only accepts triplets?

From the multiple threads I suspect OP is either a commercial guardian for overseas students, or an overseas agent who arranges school admissions for international students.

Okay so I think that the OP and the parents are from overseas. They may think that all British schools are like the ones in Boy.

It may be worth getting hold of a copy of the Good Schools Guide for north London - this separates schools into different areas.

Are the parents planning to settle in London forever or is this a temporary move? If temporary, they may like one of the international schools - I know people with children at ASL and Southbank but there are quite a few others.

Re British prep schools, it may be that the parents end up only having two or three schools with spaces for children this age so there may be less choice than you’d think.

www.londonpreprep.com/2013/11/relocating-to-london-with-children/

I think they sound like they need The Chalet School, no?

If this is your job, placing children in schools, I think you'd also it better if you had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the schools in your area
You won't have many satisfied clients otherwise.