Falcons Prep

[Cosmicjourney]

Hello there, I’m new posting here so hope I’m posting in the correct area.
I’m hoping to reach current parents at Falcons boys Prep school in Richmond london. We are considering this school for our son to join in year 3 this September. Our son is August born and is currently repeating year 2 due to falling behind at his current academic private primary school. He’s basically working at the expected level now but is maybe lacking in confidence. I’d basically like to know if Falcons Prep is a nurturing school and if the pastoral care is up to standard? I realise that if you’re in the private sector in SW London then you’ll be striving to work towards a certain high standard but I believe and hope this can be achieved without jeopardising my sons mental health and happiness( speaking from experience having already had a child go through the 11+).
Also lastly what are your thoughts on the facilities at Falcons? It’s quite an unusual layout but that aside after meeting with the head teacher I really like her ethos and ideas for the school and it’s given me hope that this could be the solution for our son. Is this the reality?
Thanks in advance.

Anyone??

@Cosmicjourney Hi there. I am a current parent at Falcons Prep and have been with the school since my son was at the Pre-Prep in Chiswick in the nursery year. He is in Year 6 so that's a long time! Our experience of the school has been incredibly positive. You asked about pastoral care. This is something that the school is actually well known for and has always been very strong - we had a new head of pastoral care join the school at the same time as the new Headmistress (18 months ago) and she has developed this even more. But it's not just the senior leadership responsible for pastoral care, it goes right the way through the school and is evident in the rest of the teaching staff, support staff and others around the school. Also, it is not the norm for a prep school to have a full time Matron as an additional layer of support looking after the boys and ensuring their health, wellbeing and general happiness at school is also looked after, yet the Falcons have this role and it is brilliantly staffed as a job share with two former Falcon parents (whose boys left the school a couple of years ago). So I would just like to reassure you that the nurturing and pastoral care side of the school is really very good indeed.

With regards to the school layout. Yes it's a long, thin layout but I don't think my son has ever complained. The classrooms are all good sizes, the new innovation hub is amazing (and required heavy investment from Alpha Plus who own the school and this is therefore a strong sign of their commitment to providing our boys with the best facilities), plus the school boasts amazing facilities on site for music and art (with their own kiln which I'm sure you have seen on your visit). Great library. And my son (who is very sporty) loves having the playing fields across the road for football and rugby (cricket within walking distance too) and the astro area for games and playtime.

As you can see from my reply I really do like the school very much and my husband feels the same. The other thing I would add is that my son is in Year 6 and therefore we are just going through that 11+ / 13+ pre-test phase and I heard from other parents (who have older children that have been and gone through Falcons over the years) that our new head has made sure our boys are better prepared then they were previously and so this is another positive aspect of the school.

If you want to know more then do let me know. Good luck with everything.

Hello @Jlf32, sorry I'm a bit late to this party but I wanted to corroborate what @Cosmicjourney said.

Falcons Prep is an incredibly happy place and the pastoral care is second to none. Furthermore it's a very forward thinking school, with excellent facilities and results. When the time comes, you have the choice whether your son sits 11+ or 13+ and will be supported/guided in your choices.

As you know, it looks like a small school from the outside but inside it's modern, spacious and surprisingly big. As @Cosmicjourney said, they are blessed with the location; surrounded by sports fields and facilities.

All the teaching staff, support staff and leadership team are fantastic, not to mention the lovely boys. It's not just a school, it's a family and I'm sure your son will love it there.

Hello
I am moving to Richmond from Scotland next year and we would like my son to start Y3 in September 2023.
I have been looking at prep schools in the area, and Falcons and Hampton are at the two I like the most.

I wonder if anyone has experience or opinion of any of these two in comparison?

I know Falcons prepares for Y11, but if my son could join Hampton prep right away so we can be less stress about reaching other schools and getting accepted at Y11?, does that sounds like an easier alternative for people?

Does anyone thinks it would be better for him to join Falcons and Hampton later?

any positives or negatives of one route or the other?

I would strongly appreciate opinions, we are new to the prep-school system (we are internationals living in Scotland and here he goes to private school that has junior and senior school so we dont really know much about exams, applications, search for schools etc)

many thanks!!

@Cosmicjourney your son joined Falcons? What is your impression so far?

@Cmamumoftwo We're at Falcons Prep and cannot speak highly enough of the preparation the school provides the boys at both 11+ and 13+. Having spoken to many friends in other schools they were really impressed with the senior school preparation I described that is offered at Falcons - which they said wasn't offered at their respective Preps.

We have friends at Hampton Prep and their boys sit the 11+ process, so there isn't a seamless transition to the Hampton senior school. It is the exact same exam and selection process to gain a place at Hampton senior school as other prep schools go through.

The future schools that Falcons boys join for their senior school include many London & South East day schools (academically selective and non-selective) as well as equivalent Boarding Schools, with Falcons having a really impressive record with boys each year joining Hampton senior school.

I know we would say this wouldn't we... but being a Falcon family since our son was in Pre-Prep aged 3 has been the most rewarding experience and as he is soon departing the school for senior school and he says he feels well prepared for this next chapter.

Good luck with your move and with your final choice of Prep school.

Thanks a lot @Jlf32 for sharing your experience.
The positive side of what you are saying is that the great preparation they receive at Falcons Prep will be useful for applying to Hampton but to me other positive is that they are well prepared for all schools which gives the flexibility in case we decide to send him to a different school when the time comes.

I am considering in getting in touch with them and sending an application, if unsuccessful (hopefully not) we can start looking elsewhere and keep planning the move.

My DS2 is one year old, and is appealing that he could join Falcons at age 3, so only one year in a different nursery and I can drop them at same place :)

Thanks!

Yes they prepare for ALL schools and the system is that they support you in those crucial years when your head is spinning with which school is suitable to your son. The Headmistress is well known at so many of the target senior schools which again is very helpful. With regards to the Pre-Pre years, they recently opened a lovely space called The Nest which is for toddlers (boys and girls) and they run Forest School which is a wonderful outdoor learning space in the Falcons (vast) outdoor playing fields. You should get in touch and arrange a tour or even a zoom call before you come down to Richmond. It is such a friendly place and I'm sure they will happily jump on a call to chat with you. Best wishes!