Thomas Fulham, Garden house, Falkner house or eton house?

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Lily7050 · 14/08/2021 08:14

Sorry, no answer here, but watching with interest. My DS is registered for the same schools except Eaton House. He is just two so won't have interviews/assessments until autumn 2022.
Thanks for feedback about Garden House and Falkner House.
Have you got offers in all four schools?
What do you think of Thomas's Fulham?

Original poster

Sonia16 · 14/08/2021 21:59

Hi, overall all good. At the tour the headmaster of Garden house disclosed that they will not help pupils who want to leave before the end, so this may be tricky. This school was on top of hour list before the tour, but I did not have a very good feeling after the tour as the headmaster seemed bored, he answered the questions in a unhelpful way and the rooms are very small.
At Falkner house you will be impressed by the owners, they really show care and interest for the pupils. The school is small as well, but there is a very warm environment. No clubs, no tutoring as they believe they have to take care of both. I liked everything except a tiny detail, as they do not have mother tongue second language teacher as they think at an early age there is no difference, when I believe, having a bilingual kid, that is better not to learn a language if it is not from a mother tongue.
But beside this the feeling is that they know well every kids and they care about leaver destination to give the same quality girl school have.
Thomas’s Fulham (in this case zoom) meeting shown a very nice headmaster, very enthusiastic, caring and answering properly all parents questions. Big rooms, lot of outdoor space, but I have read on another mums net chat that leaver destinations are unimpressive.
We have the assessment granted in all if them, except thomas Fulham as I registered the kid there only couple of years ago, but with bee it and lot of people moving to the countryside they told me there are good chances.
Why did you go fir these schools?

OP posts:

Lily7050 · 27/08/2021 16:03

I have chosen the schools based on proximity to our house. Thomas's Fulham is the closest but I do not really like it.
Their video tour had sound problems (maybe fixed now, cannot check ATM).
All other schools, except Thomas's, have already published their 2021 leavers destinations.
I understand Thomas's still offer zoom meetings only to parents of prospective pupils while many other schools are doing open days, allowing parents visit schools' facilities.

Ladylibra16 · 27/08/2021 19:41

Thsnk you for your feedback. Why did you not like the school?

MMmomDD · 29/08/2021 16:12

These are quite different schools.
Eaton House, and Falkner are considered more ‘academic’.
Thomases generally is a ‘happy’ and more relaxed school, especially given that they have a senior school.
Garden House is in between.

It all depends on what you want for your boy. If you want him to do 7/8+ and try for the top secondaries - go with the first two.
If you want to have less of that exam pressure - Thomas’ is great for that.

(As to non-native language teacher - don’t worry about that. They won’t be learning that much of the languages anyway. And non-native teachers happen even in the top secondary schools here. It’s how it is here)

Spago · 15/10/2021 14:49

I am a parent of a boy who spent 4 years at FH. In a few words, our son was very happy there (which is what we think every parent wants ultimately). We found that there is balance at school.
Teachers and staff are extremely professional and caring. Teaching is very much tailored to the child and at no point did we feel our son was overwhelmed or not challenged enough. The boys are very active physically, they practise sports in the various parks nearby (Battersea park, Holland Park, etc..).
They are encouraged to be courteous, independent and kind, discipline ensues but there are also so many fun moments for them to be had!
Mrs Griggs and Mrs Dixon always find the time for parents (however small or trivial their question might be).

Now, our son has moved on to a different school following the 8+, we were naturally observant around the transition. In the first weeks at his new school his teachers reported how well and quickly he adapted and settled in. A testament to how well FH prepared him, and not only academically.

Ladylibra16 · 15/10/2021 15:18

Thank you so much for your feedback. My worry is that the assessments goes well and then they are very pushy and cannot help if a pupil is struggling. Beside this it now seems clear to me that FH offers more successful results. Garden house does not prepare students for 7+ and 8+ anymore, and I am not sure if students are prepared well for 11+ as it is not clear their leaver boys destination, as well I hear lot if kids from GH need tutoring. May I ask you which school your boy move to?

Lily7050 · 01/12/2021 10:13

@Sonia16

Does anyone have some advise about these schools and which one do you think it is better in term of leavers destinations? We have a boy and logistically all work. Garden house told us that the new policy is to make hard for the pupils to leave before the end. We did not like the headmaster, rather supponent and cold. Falkner house owner gave us a very good vibe, Lavinia seems loveley and really caring for the pupils, but being new it is difficult to understand the leavers destination. They do not seems to have a lot outdoor space. Any advise or feedback is very welcome!

Visited FH and GH and got exactly the same feelings as Sonia16. GH headmaster did not sound very enthusiastic or interested in prospective parents. They got 54 boys in Reception this year. Unfortunately, many pupils were taken out for Christmas rehearsals so it was difficult to see how cramped the school is. It looks like quite a few non-selective schools increased Reception intake this year. GH registrar was much more pleasant and helpful. It is from her we found out that they have a bus picking up pupils from Parsons Green area. Otherwise it would be nit an easy commute for us. The headmaster was banging about specialist teachers but I still struggle to see how GH is better than Fulham Prep. FH is our top choice but if they do not accept my DS then it will be difficult to choose between GH and Fulham Prep. GH headmaster clearly said they would not support 7+ or 8+ preparations and it would be up to parents. The other thing I noticed GH school hours are quite short which is not helpful for working parents. Also GH does not provide lunches to Reception pupils.

Ladylibra16 · 01/12/2021 11:25

Hi Lily7050, at the end we have chosen GH.
We met alice adlard, who is in charge of the boy section and we found her very passionate and professional.
I confirm
About 7+ and 8+, but about Falkner house I found out all the mums whom kids were assessed there went through tutoring for months, which I found nonsense for 4 years old. We did not do it, and also realized that we prefer a more relaxed environment for a preparatory school.
I also talked with other people with kids at Falkner house who were unhappy because FH said their kid was not ready for 8+ so they prepared them on their own. In fact they allow very few kids to be prepared for these exams, probably for the well-being of the kid as well for the reputation of the school.

We are now also considering wetherby kensington, but we registered there very late, any feedback about the school is welcome.

Lily7050 · 01/12/2021 11:48

@Ladylibra16: thank you for your feedback.
We are not planning to tutor our DS for FH assessment.
I am pro natural abilities: if he is up to FH requirements we will be happy, but if he is not, I am not going to make him stressed and miserable trying to meet the requirements.
DS is in nursery (not FH nursery) and the management says he is quite bright.
We are not very keen on 7+ or 8+ but if DS is up to it we would not mind to try. I guess that's how those schools get huge competing at 7+ & 8+: every parent thinks their got a star child who can get into St Paul's and the likes.
FH proudly publishes their 7+ and 8+ results so I assumed they would be interested to continue getting good publicity. I guess they do not want to send someone to sit 7+ or 8+ if they think the boy is not mature. I think in case too many boys sat the exams but too few got offers it may be viewed as the school's incompetence in assessing boys readiness.

Lily7050 · 01/12/2021 11:49

I guess if DS does not make to FH, we will have to revisit GH and Fulham Prep to see which one would suit better for our DS.

themanwithnoname · 01/12/2021 21:54

Garden House has recruited some very good teachers, including the boys' head, from Ken Prep. I'm puzzled to hear that it doesn't prepare boys for the 7+/8+ any more. Traditionally it has sent boys to Sussex House/WUS and other preps at 8+. It can't prepare boys for Eton/St Paul's/Winchester/Westminster 13+, which is where its website says half of the boys have moved onto. This limits boys to schools with an 11+ intake. Fulham Prep is non-selective, but has a very good record of 13+ entry to Eton, Winchester, St Paul's, King's, Hampton etc. Overall, being close to home is very important at prep school. People won't want to come to your child's party if you live a long way from the school. Being within walking distance is a huge benefit.

Ladylibra16 · 01/12/2021 22:10

They are extending the school from 4-11 to to 4-13. Uffucially they say they do not prepare 8+ anymore as they want to give stability to the kids and that they will focuse on 11+, and then being able to offer a place for kids with a deferred entry place for senior school with intake only at 13.
I have heard the same from an educational consultant we hired, new head master is from Ken Prep, very good reputation in the academic environment, and with the aim of improve the academic level, so the new policy seems contradictory

themanwithnoname · 01/12/2021 22:32

OK. Well on the one hand it has recruited some very good teachers, including two from Ken Prep. On the other hand, if you're focussing on Eton/St Paul's/Westminster/Winchester, you're running a risk by staying at a school with no track record of preparing boys for the pre-test at 10 and the subsequent entrance exams. I'd still recommend making proximity to home your first consideration for prep school.

Lily7050 · 02/12/2021 10:59

@themanwithnoname

Garden House has recruited some very good teachers, including the boys' head, from Ken Prep. I'm puzzled to hear that it doesn't prepare boys for the 7+/8+ any more. Traditionally it has sent boys to Sussex House/WUS and other preps at 8+. It can't prepare boys for Eton/St Paul's/Winchester/Westminster 13+, which is where its website says half of the boys have moved onto. This limits boys to schools with an 11+ intake. Fulham Prep is non-selective, but has a very good record of 13+ entry to Eton, Winchester, St Paul's, King's, Hampton etc. Overall, being close to home is very important at prep school. People won't want to come to your child's party if you live a long way from the school. Being within walking distance is a huge benefit.

The Headmaster announced it on our tour that they won't prepare boys for 7+/8+ any more. Closest to our home is Thomas's Fulham but we have not been able to visit them yet. Besides, they are selective on some mysterious criteria. Some say they look for outgoing children. Thomas's have siblings priority policy. I have heard this year in Thomas's Battersea out of 60 Reception places 50 were given to siblings. So very slim chance to get a place in Thomas's. Thomas's Fulham's assessment in Lent term, sometime between January and March, way after other schools require deposit.

Ladylibra16 · 02/12/2021 11:31

Then in our case the closest would be wetherby Kensington. Have anyone feedback about them? They opened in 2017
We are in the waiting list there as we registered our DS only few months ago

Yes, indeed about Thomas's, with the sibling policy the spaces are very few. I have been told the same about numbers this year at Thomas's Battersea

themanwithnoname · 02/12/2021 12:54

Thomas's Fulham easier to get into (no Prince George)!

Lily7050 · 02/12/2021 17:36

@themanwithnoname

Thomas's Fulham easier to get into (no Prince George)!

Maybe, but their assessment dates are so late. I am not prepared to loose £3K-£4K of deposit in another school for a place in Thomas's. If we do not get places in Thomas's it may be too late to get a place in another nearest school.

Lindtnotlint · 03/12/2021 12:02

If you are offered FH, take it. It’s true that if they think your boy will not thrive through the 7/8+ they will advise you not to take. That’s a good thing. Pushing your little boy who is almost certainly not going to get SPJ/WUS through the experience isn’t a good move. On the other hand if your boy has a good chance, FH will help you prepare. So good either way.

It’s a lovely, brilliant school that delivers super happy, academically successful children.

Lily7050 · 03/12/2021 14:21

Thank you @Lindtnotlint! That is our plan!

Grandjany · 28/02/2022 12:46

The reason GH won’t prepare for 7+ or 8+ is because they don’t want to be bothered by it. They need good teachers and they cost more.
I took my daughter out of GH because they were not preparing her for the 11+. The school doesn’t have good enough teaching. It’s run like a cash machine for the owners who are into branding and easy options. After my daughter had spent a week at her new prep, I realised how much we had been robbed. Fees at GH are £1000 more per term: plus they add on extras for EVERYTHING. It would not matter if it was for quality purposes, but it’s not. They milk you for nothing and you end up tutoring on the side, plus having a nervous breakdown. GH wants designer parents who want to be in a social club, it does not care about education. It does not care if it does a disservice to your kid and it ends up at a mediocre secondary; it just wants an easy ride, because that is what keeps the owners happy. They are having the last laugh. Ironic really, given the school motto “not for one for all”

Ladylibra16 · 28/02/2022 13:14

Thank you grandjani. This is our worry for GH.
What do they charge for? Do you know overall which are the extra per term?

Also leavers destinations at GH are not really good. Hopefully the new headmaster will improve the academic skills.

Does anyone have feeds about Wetherby Kensington?

Ladylibra16 · 28/02/2022 15:31

@Grandjani, which prep did you choose?

fallfallfall · 01/03/2022 05:05

I think many very wealthy (people and families) only want their children to have a good and pleasant educational experience. The end goal is happiness vs educational prowess since the need to be a high earner isn’t there.
GH probably markets that aspect very well.

Grandjany · 01/03/2022 14:51

GH charge for any trips, sports or residential even if compulsory. All clubs are charged too.

We are exceptionally wealthy but we didn’t want a bored frustrated child that was being taught things the incorrect way. Also bear in mind that GH does not go to 18. You do have to confront 11+ and it is a shock.