Holmewood House / Windleshan House / Dean Close

[hellofuture]

Hi wise mum,

I'm an oversea mum and thinking to send my 9yrs boy to Prep school for 11+. Holmewood House / Windleshan House / Dean Close are the schools we think suits him after narrowing down. I will move there with him for the first two years while he can be a half border before getting into a senior school. Location isn't the biggest issue but if any of you can share with me about the town of any school would be helpful. I have been to Cheltenham (Dean Close) but not the other two towns.

I tried to search some info about Holmewood House (wondering why) but can't find much comments while Windlesham House has more info. How is the reputations between these three schools?

Any insight of the three schools would be highly appreciated.

My DS is a friendly boy, very easy going and a good team player with a kind heard, sporty and can easily make friends but not very academic and mature.

The reason I wish to send him to Prep is we hope to get him into a suitable senior school in UK. Can anyone help out my biggest question is, whether is a good time to go at 11+ prep as the prep school children are all preparing for the 13+ senior schools exam while my DS has no knowledge about it and the school isn't familiar with my son's ability level in order to give him the best preparation. If you know when will the children have the 13+ exam? When they are 11? Of 12?

Kindly share anything thoughts would be helpful. Thanks so much in advance

Hi I can't be much help as I am not very familiar with Holmewood or Dean Close, but hopefully I can give you some generic advice.

I think you start with your senior school goals and work backwards. Do you have ideas of what school(s) you want for year 9 (age 13?).

Are you aiming for the big public boarding schools (e.g. Eton, Harrow)?

What year of school is your son in currently? Some of the senior schools ask you to register for year 9 entry at the end of year 5. For example Harrow suggests year 5, but a cut off in May of year 6. (There are late registration options but they are much more competitive).

Have you had a look at whether the senior school you want have the ISMB pre-test as a requirement? This is sat in year 6. If I recall right, in autumn term (so quite early). If your son starting his prep in year 7 he will sit this before he goes to his prep. His first set of references will also have to come from his current school.

Common entrance is usually sat in June of year 8 I think. There is more than one sitting a year but I believe May/June is the usual one.

Have you contacted the school about enrolling your son? They will be able to give you good advice, more up to date and in the know than me! (I used to work in boarding but it was a while ago now!).

Is your son currently taught in English?

My understanding is that Dean Close in Cheltenham is a through school (i.e. it a prep school and a senior school). Would you want your son to go to Dean Close senior school as well?

I don't recommend sending him to a through school for year 7 and 8 if you are aiming for a different senior school. They will most likely not prepare boys well for external examinations.

Holmewood House is a prep school only. Have you looked at their leavers' page?

www.holmewoodhouse.co.uk/about-us/school-information/destination-schools/

It is a bit hard to read their pie chart as some of the colours are very similar. Make sure the schools you want are on there AND that they send a decent number each year. E.g. they might say they have sent boys to your preferred senior school but it turns out the last time they managed was one boy four years ago.

Windlesham House has a much easier to read graph: www.windlesham.com/joining/leavers-destinations/

[quote CakesOfVersailles]Hi I can't be much help as I am not very familiar with Holmewood or Dean Close, but hopefully I can give you some generic advice.

I think you start with your senior school goals and work backwards. Do you have ideas of what school(s) you want for year 9 (age 13?).

Are you aiming for the big public boarding schools (e.g. Eton, Harrow)?

What year of school is your son in currently? Some of the senior schools ask you to register for year 9 entry at the end of year 5. For example Harrow suggests year 5, but a cut off in May of year 6. (There are late registration options but they are much more competitive).

Have you had a look at whether the senior school you want have the ISMB pre-test as a requirement? This is sat in year 6. If I recall right, in autumn term (so quite early). If your son starting his prep in year 7 he will sit this before he goes to his prep. His first set of references will also have to come from his current school.

Common entrance is usually sat in June of year 8 I think. There is more than one sitting a year but I believe May/June is the usual one.

Have you contacted the school about enrolling your son? They will be able to give you good advice, more up to date and in the know than me! (I used to work in boarding but it was a while ago now!).

Is your son currently taught in English?

My understanding is that Dean Close in Cheltenham is a through school (i.e. it a prep school and a senior school). Would you want your son to go to Dean Close senior school as well?

I don't recommend sending him to a through school for year 7 and 8 if you are aiming for a different senior school. They will most likely not prepare boys well for external examinations.

Holmewood House is a prep school only. Have you looked at their leavers' page?

www.holmewoodhouse.co.uk/about-us/school-information/destination-schools/

It is a bit hard to read their pie chart as some of the colours are very similar. Make sure the schools you want are on there AND that they send a decent number each year. E.g. they might say they have sent boys to your preferred senior school but it turns out the last time they managed was one boy four years ago.

Windlesham House has a much easier to read graph: www.windlesham.com/joining/leavers-destinations/[/quote]
I can't be more thankful for your useful info and idea. The timeline of 13+ exams are extremely helpful for my research.
May I ask to please share more if you can name some great co-edu 'Through school'? Is that means the children do not need to go through exam and can go to senior school direct?

Thank you for reminding me to look into senior school and think the way back. Hoping to find one through school with great reputation with caring teachers

@hellofuture

May I ask to please share more if you can name some great co-edu 'Through school'? Is that means the children do not need to go through exam and can go to senior school direct?

Many 'through schools' won't require exams to move up to the senior school but you need to check with each school - some do.

Also if you are looking for a year 7 start (for an 11 year old child) you may not need a 'through school,' just a senior school that starts at year 7. Many start at year 7 instead of year 9.

As for a list... I wouldn't know where to start! There are so many good schools that meet your criteria. I would suggest starting a new post in the secondary education board called "nurturing co-ed boarding schools for a year 7" or something like that.

Good luck!

[quote CakesOfVersailles]@hellofuture

May I ask to please share more if you can name some great co-edu 'Through school'? Is that means the children do not need to go through exam and can go to senior school direct?

Many 'through schools' won't require exams to move up to the senior school but you need to check with each school - some do.

Also if you are looking for a year 7 start (for an 11 year old child) you may not need a 'through school,' just a senior school that starts at year 7. Many start at year 7 instead of year 9.

As for a list... I wouldn't know where to start! There are so many good schools that meet your criteria. I would suggest starting a new post in the secondary education board called "nurturing co-ed boarding schools for a year 7" or something like that.

Good luck![/quote]
Thank you sooooo much for the info. Let me open a new topic now. Appreciated all your ideas to get me into a new direction

DS is in Holmewood House Yr 7 this year and we really like the school. It is predominantly non-boarding though. Happy to answer any questions if you PM me.