Academic primary near Fulham for a boy

[Lily7050]

We live on the border between Fulham-Chelsea-Wandsworth.
So far I registered DS with Thomas's Fulham (closest to home, just 15 minutes walk), Fulham prep, Falkner House, Garden House and the Roche School. Basically I registered with the schools I liked that are within half an hour walking distance.
DS has just turned two but he is ahead of his peers in talking and numbers/counting. He is also very outgoing and happy chappy.
If I understood correctly the only academic school from my list is Falkner House which seems to have very peculiar environment.
I wonder whether it is worth to register for at least one more academic primary.
I have read good things on MM about Newton prep, but it is in Battersea, one hour walking and driving can take 40 minutes depending on traffic.
Is there another academic primary MM would recommend which is with easy commute from Fulham?
I am tempted to register with Newton though.

Is Falkner House co-ed now then? It was all girls when I was child, and a bit excessively academic even then. I took the test for it aged 4, and then my parents decided anywhere that would make a four year old sit an entrance test was not for them...

Falkner house started taking boys about 3-4 years ago.
In a similar position to op and we opted for the Merlin School (though we are in north Fulham so it’s a 30/40 min door to door journey by tube)

Thank you Nothing77, will look at Merlin.
Yes, Falkner was girls only until a few year ago, same as Garden House.

Lily7050 “...Falkner House which seems to have very peculiar environment”

I hear this a lot. It also isn’t as academic as the Wetherbys - about the same as Garden House. The atmosphere seems to be a bit “off”. No talking on the bus, having to stand up for a punishment (not on the bus!) and all very seen and not heard. A reward is being allowed to tell other boys to be quiet.

Read the threads on here, they seem to come and defend themselves. That gives you a flavour!

Do think seriously about Newton - it is the most wonderful school!

We managed it from Fulham - started off with one of those Wheelbarrow bikes and then moved onto a tagalong.

A couple of my DC's friends used to do bus along New Kings Road to Albert Bridge, then walk over the Bridge and through the park.

Thank you KingscoteStaff. Yes, I do consider Newton seriously. I have already registered my son with Newton.
With wheelbarrow bike the commute should be around 15-20 minutes.
The more I read about Newton the more I like it.

DD (currently in Lower 6th) sat opposite Mrs Fleming in the train last week. She remembered her (FROM FIVE YEARS AGO), knew which 2ndary she'd gone to, asked after her bro and us. The woman is extraordinary.

There will probably be comments saying "you see they have come up to defend the school.. ". Well yes of course, I am a "Falkner House" mum (boy and girl) and personally I love it and could not recommend it more. Wouldn't you do the same for your school ?

On the academic results side, I am not sure where the information above comes from. The school publishes their results on the website. This year for example at the boys' school, out of 24 kids in Y2 , 6 boys presented Kings, and 6 got an offer (ie 25% of the class). 7 sat SPJ and 4 got an offer which seems pretty good to me? Not sure how it compares to Wetherby or other prep and not sure I care about it TBH but I think the main difference with other prep is the way they approach 7+ and 8+. They won't push your child to sit those exams. There is no special prep (before school, after school club). Each child is challenged individually and is given work tailored to his abilities, the more able ending up intrinsically prepared for those exams.
The school tells you openly and honestly at the end of year 1/year 2 if they think your child stand a chance or if it would be better to wait. It is then up to the parents to decide what they want to do. Note that tutoring is not well seen at all..

On the nurturing side well clearly you have to experience it.. It is like a second home.. teacher / staff always have a kind word for each child. Everyone knows everybody's and children are confident to express their feelings. The school teaches kindness and respect.
So of course no shouting and no wandering in the coach is allowed but the children are allowed to talk!
Bullying is not tolerated and you can be sure that staff will act as soon as they feel something is going on.

But what I want to stress and what people probably don't see from the outside is how much fun the children are having at school. Yes the school is very academic and teaches values but they are also always going the extra mile to ensure the children enjoy those years of primary school and have, well, a childhood.. Some sports lessons are spent at the playground just for the boys to have fun. Other recent examples are pet day (where everyone could bring their animal or soft toy and parade with the whole school watching), Founders' day (where the theme was musical and children could dress and there were people from the circus coming to school to perform tricks), and so on..

Another example I have of how nurturing the school is with my daughter. She joined last year (at the beginning of year 4) from another well-known prep school in Fulham. And I was very anxious about the move: it is not easy to move at that point when friendship have been made and children are settled. But the school, the girls and their families have been so welcoming to her. They have all made sure she will just fit in, inviting her to playdates during the summer holidays before she joined to ensure she knows her classmates in September, calling me to welcome me and answering my questions etc. I could not have wished for more and neither she nor me have the slightest regret about the move.

Well that was long but wanted to share..

@Lolakath19: many thanks for sharing your experience. Tbh, Falkner House would be our first choice if they accept my son. I like that they prepare for 7+ but at the same time there is a choice to stay longer, unlike Merlin.
I like Newton Prep (based on website and Alison Fleming's video) but the commute to Falkner House would be easier for us and Newton does not prepare for 7+ exams.

Thank you KindleAddict1!
We have visited the Roche recently and were underwhelmed. Yes, we ruled out the Roche.

I'd be very cautious about sending your DS to Newton if (I'm making the assumption) you live in Fulham. Prep school life is very local, and being able to walk to school is a big bonus. Children's parties will be a nightmare for you, and to be blunt, parents won't want to trek all the way over the bridge from Battersea to Fulham to go to your DS's parties. You really need local friends for him and for you. I can see how Falkner House might work if you are near Imperial Wharf station, but it's still a long way for other parents to drive. If the local schools were awful, then it might be worth it, but Fulham Prep and Thomas's Fulham are both good schools. We were given this advice when we were considering a school about 30 minutes drive away by friends with slightly older children (their response was are you fucking crazy), and it was absolutely right .

@themanwithnoname: Thank you!
We did not have a chance to visit Thomas's Fulham but we liked Fulham Pre-Prep. I think children at Fulham Pre-Prep looked happier and more carefree than any other schools we visited.
Btw, do you know that Fulham Prep at Fulham High Street has three years only: Reception to Y2? For Y3 pupils move to Greyhound Road, W14 9SD, which is 36 minutes walk.
We were told to drop Garden House because of commuting distance but found out that they have a bus taking children from Parsons Green to Garden House.

Forgot to mention I was looking for academic schools so that DS does not get bored. He is 2,5 but his speech, numbers and letters knowledge is at the level of 4 yo. If he continues to stay ahead of his age he will get bored at Reception.
I registered with Newton because they claim they teach one year ahead of national curriculum.

You say he's very advanced but someone must be teaching him. His peers aren't being taught yet.
At 2,5 he'd be best in a great EYFS setting l.

@bluetowers: Mainly nursery. He is full time in nursery. The nursery teaches all children. For those who pick up faster they design special program. We live close to Kensington Prep. Girls from this nursery get into Kensington Prep.
What do you mean "His peers aren't being taught yet."?

@Lily7050 our DS is a school year or two older than yours so starting reception in 2022, but we applied to very similar schools (minus Newton as a bit too far for us) but we have decided to go with Wetherby Kensington as it is easily commutable and

@Lily7050 (sorry about my fat fingers)

It's easily commutable and the head and teachers we met were great, boys seemed very happy and confident. There is also automatic entry into their Prep in Marylebone which has amazing results (plenty of entries into Eton Harrow Winchester and all the familiar London day schools). The only thing letting it down a tad for us is that it's owned by private equity and also some of the parents seem a little ostentatious...but we are willing to overlook those things for great teaching and convenient commute.

From my research there are 3 'academic' schools for boys near-ish SW6: WK, Falkner House and Eaton House Belgravia. (By academic I mean schools that will actively prepare for 7/8+ and routinely has entries into WUS SPJS etc.)

Out of these three, we felt Eaton House Belgravia was quite old fashioned and distance-wise too far for us.

Falkner House we really liked but the boys school has only been around for a few years and Mrs Dixon and Mrs Griggs, although lovely and run a formidable girls school, doesn't have a lot of hands on experience with teaching boys, which are VERY different to girls in how they learn. They are also very selective about who they put forward for 7/8+ preparations and most of the boys would end up staying at FH until 11. Which is fine but then they would need to go elsewhere from 11-13 if boarding is in consideration.

WK on the other hand, start teaching with 7/8+ in mind right from the get go, the head was deputy at the NH branch for years and I heard great things about her and she was knowledgeable and answered all my questions with great detail in person.

Out of the other options, we didn't like Thomas's Fulham as it didn't feel like it has anything outstanding about it. Same with Fulham Prep. Garden House has stopped prepping for 7/8+ so lost its edge somewhat although it seemed like a happy and lovely school.

Anyway I'm sure at the end of the day all of these schools are 'good' in their different ways. It probably comes down to personal feeling/vibe you get and also distance and convenience is a must!

Thank you @jlangthorn.
I understand Wetherby offer places to those who applied first and many people apply straight after the birth of the child. I started applying when DS was almost one year old.
WK now accepts applications for reception 2026-27 for boys born between 1st September 2021 – 31st August 2022. We are too late, so WK is not an option.
Eaton House is too far for us too.

But worth a try as there are lots of movement at London schools with families relocating etc, and it's not as over subscribed as the NH one! Good luck to you whatever you end up choosing!!

Op his pears across the nation are not being taught at that rate in most EYFS settings. They are playing and following the EYFS curriculum.
They are learning physical literacy. They are learning gross & fine motor skills. They are learning to hold a pencil and other items. They are learning to take turns & share. They are often still in nappies.
So you say he's advanced but can he do every thing else at 2.5?
Certain areas of London & the associated private nurseries & preps are very skewed in expectations of kids that aren't even 3 yet. They are babies.

@bluetowers: My DS is still in nappies :) Of course he is taught to hold a pencil and other items. The nursery follows EYFS. He can do everything else 2.5 can do. The nursery has never told us he is behind. He got good memory and learns very fast. He started talking before he leaned walking. Every child is different and learn at different speed. I have not heard EYFS curriculum prohibits to teach a child something beyond or ahead of curriculum.

Thank you very much @jlangthorn. I will contact WK and see what they say

[quote jlangthorn]@Lily7050 (sorry about my fat fingers)

It's easily commutable and the head and teachers we met were great, boys seemed very happy and confident. There is also automatic entry into their Prep in Marylebone which has amazing results (plenty of entries into Eton Harrow Winchester and all the familiar London day schools). The only thing letting it down a tad for us is that it's owned by private equity and also some of the parents seem a little ostentatious...but we are willing to overlook those things for great teaching and convenient commute.

From my research there are 3 'academic' schools for boys near-ish SW6: WK, Falkner House and Eaton House Belgravia. (By academic I mean schools that will actively prepare for 7/8+ and routinely has entries into WUS SPJS etc.)

Out of these three, we felt Eaton House Belgravia was quite old fashioned and distance-wise too far for us.

Falkner House we really liked but the boys school has only been around for a few years and Mrs Dixon and Mrs Griggs, although lovely and run a formidable girls school, doesn't have a lot of hands on experience with teaching boys, which are VERY different to girls in how they learn. They are also very selective about who they put forward for 7/8+ preparations and most of the boys would end up staying at FH until 11. Which is fine but then they would need to go elsewhere from 11-13 if boarding is in consideration.

WK on the other hand, start teaching with 7/8+ in mind right from the get go, the head was deputy at the NH branch for years and I heard great things about her and she was knowledgeable and answered all my questions with great detail in person.

Out of the other options, we didn't like Thomas's Fulham as it didn't feel like it has anything outstanding about it. Same with Fulham Prep. Garden House has stopped prepping for 7/8+ so lost its edge somewhat although it seemed like a happy and lovely school.

Anyway I'm sure at the end of the day all of these schools are 'good' in their different ways. It probably comes down to personal feeling/vibe you get and also distance and convenience is a must!

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I would emphasise the importance of distance and convenience for pre-prep/ prep. You will be taking your DC to parties for several years, and parents won't want to travel to your DCs parties if you're not reasonably close.

Don't forget that for boys the admissions process starts in Y6 but doesn't finish until Y8, so if you are aiming for Eton/Winchester etc or St Paul's/Westminster you probably don't want to be moving to a new school at the end of Y6, when you may be sitting on a waiting list, or facing reserve list exams. The process goes from Y6 pre-tests through to Y8 entrance exams, with possible reserve list tests in between. I'd suggest you either move to a prep at 8 or pick a prep you can stay at until 13 in this case.

Don't underestimate Fulham Prep for boys. In DD's year they sent 4 to Eton, 5 to St Paul's, 2 to Winchester and some to Hampton.

That should be DS's year!