Independent and Prep Schools in London (Ideally Camden or Central London)

[LeoOliver]

I would be very grateful if I could have some advice from the parents on this site. I am consider sending my child (girl) to an independent/prep school. The primary reason why I considering this route is because I want my child to be fluent in French, Spanish and Mandarin. I would prefer a catholic school but open to other schools. I would be open to state school if the language provision is good. I want my child to have a good foundation and well-rounded education thus I am keen to choose a school that will provide my child a good solid ground in STEAM subjects as well as an appreciation for the art. Sports and extra-curricular activities are also importance. I want to send my child to a school that will put in good stead for secondary school. It probably too early to state what secondary school would be right for her, however I am hoping to that she will go a grammar school. I am hoping that St Michael’s Grammar would be suitable for her but will also consider HBS. My daughter is mixed race so I hoping to send her to school as diverse as possible as I don’t want her to feel the odd one out.

Please can I have feedback on the language provision and the overall quality of education in the following schools. Additionally, please can you comment how diverse the school is:

St Mary’s Hampstead
Sarum Hall
The Village School
Hampstead Hill
Cavendish
South Hampstead
Channing
Highgate
Devonshire House
City of London
The Gower schools
Charter House
The lyceum

Please feel free to provide any suggestions.

I know a few children who speak 3 languages. Without exception, they learnt one from each parent, who only spoke that language at home with them. Then learnt the third as a native language at school.

For example: Friend one - dad spoke Korean at home, Mum spoke Danish and spoke English at school, they moved to Switzerland and then he learnt/spoke Swiss German at school.
Friend 2: Parent only spoke Mandarin at home, Nanny only spoke French at home, attended school spoke English.
Friend 3: Parent 1 spoke German at home, Parent 2 english and attended French speaking school.

All my children learnt French and/or spanish at their prep schools from age 4 and they are still at a beginner level several years later.

I’d recommend JAGs in Dulwich- it’s very diverse and it’s full French emersion at 4- the kids learn French, music and PE all in French. It’s very academic though isn’t a prep but a few children in the area go to the Orpington Grammars for secondary

@underneaththeash

I know a few children who speak 3 languages. Without exception, they learnt one from each parent, who only spoke that language at home with them. Then learnt the third as a native language at school.

For example: Friend one - dad spoke Korean at home, Mum spoke Danish and spoke English at school, they moved to Switzerland and then he learnt/spoke Swiss German at school.
Friend 2: Parent only spoke Mandarin at home, Nanny only spoke French at home, attended school spoke English.
Friend 3: Parent 1 spoke German at home, Parent 2 english and attended French speaking school.

All my children learnt French and/or spanish at their prep schools from age 4 and they are still at a beginner level several years later.

Thanks for suggestions.

@LondonGirl83

I’d recommend JAGs in Dulwich- it’s very diverse and it’s full French emersion at 4- the kids learn French, music and PE all in French. It’s very academic though isn’t a prep but a few children in the area go to the Orpington Grammars for secondary

Thanks for this. I will look at this school.

I’ll add St Christina’s School to your list. It’s catholic but your daughter will probably only be learning Spanish.

whay about somewhere completely different, like UCL Academy in swiss cottage.
it prides itself on STEAM credentials and has a very diverse intake.
the language problem will arise at any school i think, whether state or private.
i doubt any of them offer what you are imagining.
could she get that through staying with relatives perhaps, and joining fun cultural clubs at the weekend ?
i hope you find something suitable.

I honestly think you will be disappointed with language teaching at any school state or private - except possibly a specialist full immersion.

I went to a very hot-housing prep school and did French and Latin from age 7, then added Ancient Greek at 10.

Super-selective grammar school after that and I did GCSEs in French, German and Latin.

I'm bilingual in English and Italian (learned in Italy post-university), but even after all the years of French and German (with mainly native speaker teachers), my German was only adequate to buy train tickets and book a hotel. My French was fluent, but not mother tongue standard, but only because my parents sent me to stay with my French pen-enemy on numerous holidays.

If you want fluency, you will need to put in the hard graft yourself outside school hours and during the holidays - no school is going to do that for you.

The same goes for anything at which you really want to excel - DD is on a music scholarship at a secondary that really specialises in music, but she still does another 4 hours of classes outside school every week as well as all the practice and extra work that needs to be put in.

Also, do your children want to do languages? I assumed mine would find them as easy and fun as I did... turns out DD is severely dyslexic and hates languages with a passion. She's not even taking one MFL at GCSE - to the relief of all involved.

Hi @LeoOliver,

If you can't get what you want from your selection of private schools - maybe consider getting a tutor in some of the languages you'd like your daughter to excel in? Having the 1:1 support can be ideal for progressing quickly with a language!

My daughter learns Spanish virtually with Gifted Thinkers and she loves it - her tutor is amazing! (www.giftedthinkers.co.uk)

Alison

Thank you - I am consider just getting a private tutor.

A friend got a French nanny so their children would speak French. Would that be an option?

Why not go for bilingual eg Collège Français Bilingue de Londres provides French-English bilingual education to 700 students aged 3 to 15 years old nw5

At regular school gcse level is very limited
If child gets the language at home they easily passis gcse with no lessons maybe just a few sessions to practice the exam technique . My dds did this for their second language.

Thanks for the suggestion.