Pre-Prep or 4-13?

[Jossina]

What do you think about sending a boy to a pre-prep in London versus a school that starts at the same age as the pre-prep but goes to 11+ or 13+? What are the arguments for a pre-prep if you're not choosing to board at 8+ and any day schools you're looking at have do take children at the earlier age?

Well if you choose the Pre prep I assume he would have to do 7 plus entrance?

It depends what is in the future.

My priority would be reducing the number of times you have to go through entrance tests.

If you have a right through 7-18 in mind (Cranleigh?) a pre-prep is fine. What you don't want to end up with IMO is 7+ and 11+/ 13+

Personally I think 4-13, then 13-18 is perfect. I think pre-prep should be a relaxed time spent in forest school, putting on plays and listening to stories. However, we are in the countryside using laid back schools and I have no time for the rat race style education.

Focus in just Pre-Preps in London is on passing the 7+, possibly at the expense of having a bit of fun and a wider curriculum. I’d far rather leave that to 11/13+!

What schools were you thinking of?