Breaside Prep vs Bromley High for Primary/Junior School

[aMusingMum]

Mums,

Any insights on Breaside Prep vs Bromley High for Reception to Y6? My DD is due in Reception in Sept 2023. We have been to open days for both schools. I personally really liked Breaside for their approach and students seemed very confident but Bromley High is obviously much bigger and spread out with amazing infrastructure. Downside being its a through school so no prep for 11+.

But just in terms of the school, academic results, extra curriculars, pastoral and wraparound care - any thoughts, advice would be extremely helpful!

Also - waiting lists for Breaside seem very long for pre-prep and reception and wouldnt know about admissions until much closer to time. With Bromley its only reception start and completely assessment based.

I am probably getting ahead of myself here as I dont even know where and if in any we will get in but would be great to have any thoughts from current, past and prospective parents.

Many Thanks!

@aMusingMum any kind of Sen provision is £££ on top, just something to be aware of

OP to answer your question about extra-curricular activities - whilst private schools do have more after-school clubs, they are just for 'fun'. If you want your dcs to do music, sport, drama, dance etc at a high level you'll need to do this outside of any school you choose. Be aware that private schools wheel all the good musicians and sportspeople out for open days etc but that skill has not come from the school, it has come from the parents spending time and money in the evenings/weekends on a good club/conservatiore/class etc. This really annoyed my dh when one of our dcs was put on display at open events 😁

@MsFogi thank you for that insight. I can imagine why DH was annoyed and understand that aspect. However, having been to state open days and hearing from people around it sounds like they will focus more on kids who are at the lower end of bar and average pupils and the brighter ones are left to their own means with not much attention to push it further. And given the limited resources this sounds like it could be true? As opposed to smaller classes, specialist subject teachers etc in privates?

@TrophyWifey interesting.. would you elaborate why you made the decision and what's working? Any aspects that you wonder if they would be better if DC had gone to breaside?

Sorry for extremely detailed questions both. It just feels like such a heavy decision to make!

Thanks a ton everyone for all responses as well!

Hi @aMusingMum extra-curricular activities really depends on the school. Some private schools have a good range of activities on offer and some don’t. So I do agree with the comment above. A club at a high level is outside the school not part of the school.
It is true there are some fantastic state schools in Bromley however depending on the child they may benefit from smaller classes / more 1-1 learning. I moved my child from what is considered by many as a “great” state school however they were lost in their class (31) and they were not getting the support they needed. By the way this was not SEN, they were considered average for their class. They are now in a class of 16 and flourishing. I would say when they started and had an assessment they were below average and no where near their peers in cursive writing, reading, maths etc. It took a lot of work and within a year they are in line with their peers and in some areas (Maths) excelling.
Their best friend is still at the state school and is doing well too. So i believe it really depends on the child and your expectations of what you would like a school to be (if that makes sense?!)
We have friends at Braeside they heavily tutor as do many of the other local prep schools it’s just a thing most do to give their child the best possible chance of passing the 11+. Have friends at Bromley High junior too. Heard lots of good things about juniors, I’m not sure about seniors?

Thank you @TrophyWifey and @Qualified for your feedback! Do appreciate and I will take it all
on board.

Wow, as a parent there (6 years) I don't recognise that description at all!

It's true you pay extra for SEN support at private schools. Of course you do. But you do actually get the support and it's one to one. The school has been fantastic with my SEN child.

About 1/3 of the kids go on to a grammar so it's important to many but not the be-all and end-all.

I would always suggest parents visit and make their own mind up. But spell the name right (e then a) or you'll have difficulty with emails etc.

P.S. Ofsted inspect state schools and the top grade is Outstanding.

ISI inspect independent schools and the top grade is Excellent.

You can't be downgraded from Outstanding to Excellent, that's nonsense.

You don’t need to go private in Bromley. There are loads of excellent state primary schools. There are also amazing extra curricular activities on offer, for example, music at the Bromley Youth Music Trust (and their teachers go into state schools - actually into some state schools from Year 1 whereas some private schools won’t let the kids have lessons in school until Year 3 - always ask that question!).

Some schools like Bromley High have a pool but the private school kids don’t get to use it until a certain school year and then only once a week when they eventually start. Lots of parents who have paid up massively complain about these things. Much cheaper to take the kid there one evening or Saturday or Sunday for a lesson through a private swim school.
Locally, there are great football, netball, hockey, gymnastics, ballet etc etc opportunities.

Everyone tutors in Bromley for grammars so either way you have to tutor, even a bright child.

State schools such as St Nicholas in Chislehurst and St James and Crofton in Petts Wood outperform the private schools on grammar entry. Because the kids and parents in state schools can put more effort into their child’s schooling, contrary to popular belief.

At the end of the day the child’s IQ and parental input dominate not a school.

There have been lots of rumours about Bickley Park and the recent head suddenly leaving and parents not being happy etc so I would look into that @IMissThe80s

Private schools also have a ton of extra holidays so extra childcare payments required. Essentially people buy an educationally invested and motivated parent group. But you can get that mostly in the sought after state schools. That is also essentially why grammar schools are so pocular - less disruptive and motivated kids and pushy/invested parents.

Please could you share a bit more about La Fontaine. Hope to move to the area and go for a French school.

It’s a state school, and is relatively new. I think it only started about eight years ago, and moved to the current location four years ago.

They are in what I think was previously a senior school, so it has more facilities than most primaries, including a very nice sports hall. What we very much liked too is the reception classes play area is in the quadrangle in the middle of the school, separate from the older children.

It covers French from Reception, but I suspect at nothing like the level of the Lycee in Kensington, so ours also go to a “proper” French school on a Saturday morning.

The pupils (well, at least the parents) seem to come from quite a mixture of backgrounds and nations, with quite a high proportion being in professional careers; bankers, hedge funds, accountants, GPs etc, but it’s by no means all.

So far it seems competent, friendly, safe, and our boy is very happy to go every day.

BYMT provide the individual music lessons at Breaside.

The problem with Bromley's fantastic state primaries is the tiny catchments. Although I think things are easing a little now (birth rate peak was 2012).

BYMT provide the individual music lessons at Breaside.

The problem with Bromley's fantastic state primaries is the tiny catchments. Although I think things are easing a little now (birth rate peak was 2012).

BYMT provide the individual music lessons at Breaside.

The problem with Bromley's fantastic state primaries is the tiny catchments. Although I think things are easing a little now (birth rate peak was 2012).

Sorry! Mumsnet server malfunctioning.

Thank you @Phineyj ! Sent you a PM with sone questions if you don't mind.

Im DS is also at Braeside (Prep prep) and older DD in an Ofsted 'outstanding' state school. She has recently taken the entry exam to Breaside and waiting for the results. We are torn between sending her there or keeping her in the state school. If she stays, we will transfer our DS over to the state school as well. Overall, the state school is great. They have an excellent SEN service and extracurricular after-school activities (for which you pay extra). We wanted to transfer our DD to breaside is that we want there to go to good grammar, and they are academically ahead of state school by 1 year, I believe. However, I love the state school as they care for the kids and the lovely teachers. My DS is very introverted and doesn't make friends easily, so I thought a smaller setting would be better for her....I am so confused - not sure what to do....

Sorry loads of typos there!

My DS is also at Braeside (Prep prep) and my DD is at an Ofsted 'outstanding' state school. She has recently taken the entry exam to Breaside and waiting for the results. We are torn between sending her there or keeping her in the state school. If she stays, we will also transfer our DS to the state school. Overall, the state school is great. They have an excellent SEN service and extracurricular after-school activities (for which you pay extra). We wanted to transfer our DD to breaside because we want her to attend a good grammar school. breaside is academically ahead of state schools by one year, I believe. However, I love the state school as they care for the kids and the teachers are lovely. My DS is very introverted and doesn't make friends easily, so I thought a smaller setting would be better for her....I am so confused - not sure what to do....

@Smile4me178 are you happy with how your son is getting on at Breaside? I don’t understand why you would move him if your daughter doesn’t get in?
I would choose the school you are happy with, your children are happy with, regardless of anything else!

@BettyBerri I want both siblings to stay together and not attend separate schools. I am happy with my son's progress at Breaside, but my daughter is in State school. So, I will either trabsfer my DD to DS's school or the other way around. If that makes sense? Just to add my DS will more than likely get in to breaside, and my DS will have a place at the state school.. (priority for siblings).