Private prep - Has any one had experience of children in Keble, Vita et pax, salcombe or St Johns prep

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

ScalesAreOff · 18/02/2022 08:59

Bumping

LizziesTwin · 18/02/2022 09:01

Not from N London but my friend with a son who went to Keble was v happy & the boys went on to a range of secondary schools.

TempsPerdu · 18/02/2022 10:52

I’m local and know most of those schools, although I don’t have much direct experience. Personally I’d avoid St John’s - lots of bad reports; neighbours of ours looked round recently for their DS and weren’t impressed, and another friend’s grandsons were recently taken out and sent elsewhere as they weren’t happy there.

I used to teach locally and used to work with someone who’s now at Salcombe - according to her it’s now improved a lot after a turbulent period a few years ago. There were lots of negative reports (and several threads on here) about Vita et Pax a few years back, but not sure what’s going on there now. And I’ve heard generally good accounts of Keble, but again no first hand experience.

I do have several good friends with DCs at Grange Park Prep and they’re all very happy with it - worth a look perhaps? It’s a small school but very nurturing by all accounts

Also, as a former teacher whose DD will soon be starting Reception I personally wouldn’t discount local state schools for only being Ofsted ‘Good’ - achieving Outstanding status can often be more about paperwork and matching up to Ofsted’s favoured policies du jour than anything to do with the quality of teaching and learning. And all of the teachers I know working in ‘Outstanding’ schools are stressed to the max trying to maintain that standing, with lots looking to leave.

Caps0218 · 20/02/2022 14:57

No idea why people have negative reports on St Johns Wood Pre-Prep? Our DS is at the nursery there and he loves it. We think it’s a great school and small classes and they have great exit results to top schools including SPJS and WUS.

itsgettingweird · 20/02/2022 15:05

I'd chose an ofsted good school over an outstanding one any day of the week.

Often the outstanding schools have very poor actual pastoral support but are just great at paperwork and schmoozing ofsted with buzz words!

I have no idea about those indi preps but I'd look at all state and indis, ask the questions about what matters most to you for your D.C. and make decisions based on the replies.

regularbutpanickingabit · 20/02/2022 15:10

@Caps0218

No idea why people have negative reports on St Johns Wood Pre-Prep? Our DS is at the nursery there and he loves it. We think it’s a great school and small classes and they have great exit results to top schools including SPJS and WUS.

Not the same school. The St Johns mentioned here is just off junction 25 of the M25. Nowhere near St Johns Wood. It is a privately owned and run school that has had all sorts of horror stories over the years.

Braveheart35 · 22/02/2022 06:15

@Winchmoreparents

We are looking for primary prep schools for my 2 year old. Visited Lochinver House but not too sure about the long journey. Vita et pax seemed lovely and nurturing. We have seen a lot of dated negative comments about St Johns prep on here. Not sure which direction to go. Closest state schools to us are only awarded OFSTED 'good' rankings. Would love for him to get into Eversley primary (state) school but we may not make it into the catchment area next year. Any comments from parents who are currently sending their children to the above schools would be much appreciated.

Keble has just been 'taken over' by the Mill Hill school foundation.

XelaM · 24/02/2022 21:37

What are/were the horror stories at St Johns? I know loads of people there and all were/are happy. They have beautiful grounds. I would avoid Salcombe. Not worth the money

C1nders · 09/03/2022 11:34

Son had a tough time at Keble. Out of control bullying. Academically strong but he absolutely hated the culture.

Pizzain60s · 08/01/2023 15:40

Vita et Pax can be a good school if you would like your child to plod through at the same level they came in at and float through to year 6. They recently had a child expelled for bullying, also no SEN knowledge or resources.
They offer prep for secondary school entrance exams however its basic and you would need to tutor your child at home to top up their chances of entry to a selective school.

Ericaequites · 09/01/2023 01:52

Choose a school without a long journey, if possible. Walking/ scooting to school is healthy. A well exercised child is less fidgety and ready to learn. Convenient play dates are fun.

Original poster

Winchmoreparents · 19/04/2023 20:20

Hi everyone. My son received an offer for a place St Pauls C E primary in Winchmore Hills a couple of days ago which was quite surprising. As we did not think we would get a place at a good state school for the past year we have been considering private preps and have viewed many schools not being able to find one we were 100% about. Having heard that Keble is becoming co-ed we booked a viewing of the school. However now that we have a place at St Pauls I feel like I have a very hard decision to make. My son is the youngest in his class and will be starting reception. I do not know if he will benefit more from a private prep education where the class would be max 10-20 children. I really do not know how to go about this. Any feedback on these schools will be much appreciated. Private v state primary education is a hard one especially as there are not many good private preps locally in enfield

OP posts:

LizziesTwin · 20/04/2023 22:42

i suggest you start a new thread