Squirrels (WCPS) VS Merlin School Pre-Prep

[Wimbymom]

Hello - bit of advice needed! Our three year old son is due to start reception this September (turns 4 in August) and we have a place secured at Merlin School in Putney but now have been invited to interview for Squirrels (Wimbledon Common Prep). We are located right in the middle of the two schools so locations are both convenient. Anyone with sons at either school? Would love to hear your experiences and how the kids enjoy either school from an academic/musical/sports perspective?! Thank you so much in advance!

Both are great schools, merlin co Ed and squirrels single sex. My one observation is they are both focused on 7 plus, with an august born son he will be at a significant disadvantage. They both push hard academically with squirrels focused on getting as many boys into KCS as possible. I would really push both to see the leavers list and ask for outcomes on summer both boys

Thanks @Southwestrunningmum - really good point about asking for summer boys leavers destinations! I will do that.

I had sons at Merlin, leaving last year. It is AMAZING!
We also looked at Squirrels although based on feedback at our (local to both schools) nursery we almost didn’t and it turns out the rumours were right... Squirrels was robotic, unhappy, no English or the usual international mix parents.
Yes they do send a good number to King’s College usually which should be a huge draw but that’s the only selling point of the school as far as I hear.

Merlin on the other hand is a complete joy and loved by all its parents...
Both are completely different schools and I think you do need to visit or at least try to talk to the school as much as you can to get their measure. It might just be that it lacks the well-acknowledged charm of Merlin and I’m sure there are some people who do like Squirrels but I found it odd / interesting that many local parents of many different ‘tribes’ for want of a better word went above and beyond to avoid Squirrels despite ambitions with, for instance, King’s at 7/8.

With regard to summer-borns, my sons are not but several of their friends were and of the boys who went to King’s and St Paul’s (they might not be your interest but it might generally illuminate), off the top of my head going through them now, at least half were April to July birthdays. It depends so much on the boy.

Feel free to DM me with any questions

I do agree with the poster above that the 7+/8+ is a short runway but you can still go to a pre-prep and if he turns out not to be suited to the 7+/8+ for the schools you like when the time comes
you can send him to a prep and try again at 11 or 13 and the pre-prep will have given him a great head start. Many people at the pre-preps prefer the 11/13+ from the beginning anyway but still choose a pre-prep, going onto a prep next as per the traditional system.

Thank you so much @gilson! I did tour both schools back in 2019 (and they both seemed good to me) but the deeper I dug, I really loved Merlin and their seemingly holistic and well rounded approach. Not to oversimplify, but Merlin just seemed like a fun place to learn and thrive. SO nice to hear your boys had a great experience there! We have a place at Merlin, but as I said, a place just popped up at Squirrels so it has me just second guessing a bit! But I can't tell you how valuable it is to hear this from a Merlin parent. None of his nursery friends live in our area so are after different schools. Thank you again!!!

@gilson had two boys through Squirrels and don't recognise your description of it "robotic and unhappy" at all, quite the opposite. Both my boys thrived and the cohort was super international. Great teaching, great trips and clubs, and the head of sport is totally wonderful. I can't think of a better start. People choose between pre prep schools overwhelmingly based on geography as far as I can tell. I'm sure they all have their strengths.

If going to Merlín and you are looking to St Paul’s / KCS / Latymer, you will still need to tutor a lot - if there was any doubt! Merlín covers the curriculum but doesn't mean they fully prepare for the 7+. Comments from Gilson seem a bit over the top, it is not a "perfect" pre prep. Good place, but not perfect and they have been through a lot of changes too, including HM.

Good morning, does anyone have Merlin leavers destination over the last 2/3 years that they could share please? THanks a lot

@Lolakath19 you can ask the school for these direct, they are open to providing this info for any potential new starters

they def do. i seen it recently