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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

4+: UCS pre-prep vs. The Hall

23 replies

netjunkie · 03/02/2022 13:44

Hi Folks, my DS has received offers from both UCS pre-prep and the Hall, and we are trying to decide which one to pick. On one hand, we are influenced by Hall's leaver destinations (50% of the class leaves to STP and Westminster), but question if we should be putting our DS through a prep school to keep optionality for these schools. On the other hand, UCS pre-prep is a warm and caring school with good academics and facilities, but feel if we are, for the sake of avoiding 11/13+ exams, underselling his potential. Distance is not a concern as we are locals and both would fit us well.

Have others been in this situation before?

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primrosemum86 · 03/02/2022 18:28

We are in a similar situation. I think we will take UCS. I realised I have been focusing on the wrong objective I.e. Westminster/St Paul. Try to visit the junior branch of UCS and see the boys for yourself. I have been impressed and most importantly they were so happy and excited to go to the senior school next door without anxieties! They did not look bored or not challenged. In fact I would say the contrary. Good luck and please PM if you end up choosing UCS!

newmummycwharf1 · 03/02/2022 18:40

Both good schools. Our son is at the Hall and couldnt be happier. Very buzzy, vibrant junior school. For my daughter, we purposefully chose to go with a Prep and not an all-through school as I am not convinced one can tell what will be suitable by the time she is 11. And an all-through school will provide no help to switch if that is what is required. She will learn to manage change, opportunity to reinvent herself etc. You cant go wrong with either school. However with regards to destinations - there is more choice and support to make that choice at a stage where you know precisely what environment will best suit your son at the Hall

Mama5554 · 03/02/2022 19:12

How do you have an offer for the hall? I thought they weren’t out until next week?

primrosemum86 · 03/02/2022 19:13

New mummy - yes absolutely it is much better to decide later on. But I am worried all the effort and time lost to prep to go to Westminster / St Paul adds very little to the personal development of the child. It is such a difficult decision though.

Question on the hall: is it true they split the classes based on ability at some point in the senior years? Do lots of kids get tutored for the senior schools?

newmummycwharf1 · 03/02/2022 19:38

@primrosemum86 Westminster and SPJ no longer have the common entrance so the current system of a pretest in Year 6 and interviews means the boys can go off piste with their learning and development for much of senior school. And despite the results, the school isnt full of people fixated on those 2 schools. We certainly arent - but I do love the idea of my son coming into his own over 8 years at prep, including being one of the most senior boys in school at 13ish before heading off to the most appropriate school for him, hopefully with a bunch of similarly-minded friends.

7plus11plus · 03/02/2022 22:27

@primrosemum86 Many prep (if not all) stream kids from the beginning of year 5. At least 3 sets(sometimes more): top, middle and bottom. Different teacher teaches different sets at a different level. You have to be at top sets for both Maths and English to go to a super selective senior school.

newmummycwharf1 · 03/02/2022 22:50

@primrosemum86 Yes - they do differentiate/stream. And I believe there is a scholarship group/class. In general, the range between the sets at the Hall is quite narrow (based on what friends with kids in upper years and the Head has said) and most of the kids go to top schools including UCS. Not sure what superselective refers to but if you look at the destinations 75% or so each year head to SPJ/Westminster/City, UCS, Eton and Harrow with MTS, Habs also starting to feature. Who knows which would suit your son best at 13?

Original poster

netjunkie · 04/02/2022 16:00

I think we are leaning towards UCS pre-prep, and couple of things (based on speaking to parents at both schools) that have helped us with this:

UCS has recently completed its UCS Pre-Prep integration (2017 onwards), while eliminating the 13+ entrance exams. This has helped the school take in kids at an earlier stage, who, at that age, would have typically landed at The Hall, Arnold House or the likes. Not a guarantee, but feels like the quality of intake generally is improving (from an already good standard).
Options to switch: I understand speaking to few parents that there is a small but consistent cohort of kids who leave at 7+ and at 11+ to STP or WM. Feels incremental at 7+ given the kids in pre-prep have to take the 7+ exam anyway to move into junior school. As a disclaimer, kids are not trained for these external exams or are expected to move to another school. Some resort to coaching (in various formats) while at a traditional prep school this is mainstream, I would however suspect that some coaching will be required even if you go to a prep school.

Beyond all this, we as a family feel the UCS atmosphere is great and matches our vibe. Dr. Dunn is excellent and just fills us with confidence.

No doubt The Hall is a good school and I am sure will provide a good outcome, but its now time to decide & confirm; have agonised enough with this! We might very well come back to regret it, but for now, looking forward to the weekend!

OP posts:

newmummycwharf1 · 04/02/2022 16:06

I think you have made a good choice for your family. Vibe/parental instinct is very important. Both are great schools and I am sure UCS will be great for your son. Enjoy your weekend and well done on your decision!

primrosemum86 · 04/02/2022 16:56

Thanks for sharing netjunkie. We also got another offer today which is The Hall. It got me confused again but I think we will stick to UCS. Hopefully we can connect if we end up both at UCS. All the best and enjoy your week end. Going to have a glass of wine!

Mama5554 · 04/02/2022 18:04

Still trying to work out how netjunkie got an offer from The Hall a day before everyone else…!

primrosemum86 · 04/02/2022 18:53

I think they may have not given all the offers in 1 day. I heard other people got offers earlier. The school told me they were still doing play dates on Wednesday so if someone with the same birth month as your son was going on that day, I guess the outcome may be delayed.

ppmd · 04/02/2022 23:01

we are also choosing between ucs and hall this weekend, it's tough.
did anyone do this in the last couple of years and with hindsight would have made a different choice ?

Goosethemoose · 05/02/2022 07:33

The Hall sent offers yesterday- earlier than they originally said.

SnoopyForever · 05/02/2022 19:17

@ppmd They are both great. UCS pre-prep is absolutely amazing. I've been surprised at how academic it is and importantly it is a very happy school which provides a well-rounded education. The Hall is much more focused on the academics (it has to be, because it is preparing boys for the very competitive and tough exams at 11/13). What do you prefer for your son? I know which one I'd choose for better mental health :-)

anxiousdecision · 02/02/2023 10:42

sorry to revive this thread. Keen to hear any recent opinions on UCS vs the Hall for 4+...

mumof2northwestlondon · 02/02/2023 10:56

We had exactly the same dilemma last year and I am so glad we went for UCS. The school is amazing, the teachers are so enthusiastic and all the activities they do are so inspiring for the boys. Going off site twice a week to the senior school is so stimulating, it absolutely offset the terrible location they have at the pre-prep. No other school i think does forest school and swimming weekly. They also read with the senior boys every Tuesday. My son feels he is part of a bigger community.

If you are aiming for Westminster and St Paul though The Hall is best. We decided not to go that route. UCS is good enough, and also bright kids flourish. He will have mainly local friends until 18 and you avoid all the anxious parents that need to sit the 11 plus and start tutoring super early.

PM if you need more info and good luck with your decision.

Esgcrowd · 02/02/2023 20:34

We have a boy at The Hall in reception. Can’t compare with other schools, but we’re delighted so far. School seems really nurturing, very keen to work with parents and families for the children’s benefit. Boys have weekly IT and music lessons, sports twice a week. Lots of creativity is encouraged, LOADS of reading. Also happy to answer questions.

SherryM · 03/02/2023 13:54

@netjunkie - this is so informative. We have to make the same decision by next week and are agonising over it. Can I PM you please?

FlawlessSquid · 04/02/2023 16:02

Both great schools!

SWTutor · 04/02/2023 18:08

Can anyone share what the class sizes are in UCS pre-prep please?

Londonmum1923 · 11/01/2024 05:43

Hi there, my son has second round ucs int next week. Any chance you remember what your little one was tested on? Thanks so much.

Londonmum1923 · 11/01/2024 05:43

Hi there, my son has second round ucs int next week. Any chance you remember what your little one was tested on? Thanks so much.

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