Garden House vs Wetherby Kensington vs Falkner House

[Ladylibra16]

Struggling to decide between Garden House / Falkner House and Wetherby Kensington
We are looking for good academic results and great teaching without too much pressure

We also got an offer from Eton House Belgravia, but the building is kept in so bed conditions that we were turned down by the premise.

• Falkner house for great teachers and better leaver results from the school assistance.
• Garden House if you just want a cute environment, and are willing to pay for a tutor on top of your school fees to get your child into the next school.
• Wetherby if you want to stay with the school brand all the way upto senior school and the location is better for you

Reposting from a similar thread.

FH 7+ and 8+ results are not that good really given the selective nature of the school and the widespread tutoring.

It also doesn't even have 11+ result out. It may be more established and an academically stronger school in the future with a track record. But it has a long way to go especially compared to GH, Wetherby or it's sister school.

We were in similar shoes last year and this was the advice we received from 2 x school consultants who used to be head or deputy head in the nearby preps.

Not sure what the previous poster means by disappointing leaver results at FH, but to me they look pretty outstanding:

www.falknerhouse.co.uk/penywern-road/about-us/after-falkner-house/

This last year, 100% of those sitting the relevant exam got into Kings and 60% into St Paul’s at 7+. Previous years and 8+ also strong. The sample is small and the the track record short, for sure, but it is no doubt a very strong school.

No personal experience of the boys, but my daughter is at the girls school - we are delighted with it and so is the overwhelming majority of other parents we know. I’m not sure where these comments come from about it being overly pressured and cold - we have found the exact opposite and the size and family feel truly make it stand out. They care passionately about the children and the atmosphere amongst the girls is very supportive, including across year groups. The parents we know with boys at FHB speak very highly of it and the headmistress seems a complete gem.

All to say, go with your gut and don’t be too swayed (one way or another) by hard data when at the end of the day it’s about the right school for the right child - only you can know which atmosphere suits your boy and which individuals you can see yourself entrusting with guiding him through these crucial years not just academically but, most importantly, emotionally.

Good luck!

Agree with @Walvis01 about the girls school. My eldest was there recently.

But the boys school is not comparable to the girls, or other long established boys schools in many senses.

Yes a large proportion of the boys who sit 7+ and 8+ may have got offers. But they are very selective about who sit the exam (I have friends with DSs there). For example last year 7 boys (out of 24 boys) sit (allowed to sit) for St. Paul at 7+ and 4 had offers. That's about 15% of the cohort. Im not saying that this is bad at all. But given the cohort, all highly selected and many highly tutored, you'd expect the result to be at least that.

Definitely go with your gut and find the place you think suits your DS best. Those early years are precious and kids learn (and achieve) best when happy.

@Frenchmummy27 summed it up best.
Good luck deciding, @Ladylibra16