The prep school North london/Herts with the best facilities

[mumsqna]

Hi, first gen Nigerian immigrant here, I went to a top primary school there and I would like the same for my children.

I can see which prep schools have good leavers destinations.

What I’m looking for is which schools also have the best facilities.

Large field for the children to play
a pool for them to swim in
Great science, music and tech labs
lots of after school clubs (sports, drama, tech, art, science)

We also had a farm where we grew things but that’s a bit of a stretch.

@mumsqna Orley Farm is very good, but I don’t think it sends more to boarding school than Manor Lodge for example?

DS is at a local boys prep 4-13 and will go to Habs/MT/Watford Grammar hopefully.

If you are desperate to get shot of your kids at 13 then it might not be the best place - I don't see a single full boarding school on their leavers destination list......

www.orleyfarm.harrow.sch.uk/about/future-schools/

@Twilightstarbright ahh probably not but it does seem to send a few to Westminster/Eton/Harrow. I just like the fact that it goes upto 13 and ticks all my requirements. Manor lodge looks good but it doesn’t go up to 13

It’s a lovely school, too long a commute for me but I know people who have been happy with it.

@passport123 See here: express.adobe.com/page/pDUlOqXoTDFej/

you will see Eton, Harrow & Westminster (25% boarding). If they have students going into those 3, I can’t imagine they will struggle with any of the others.

I think the lower number of boarding school places is a function of the schools demographic.

professional class Asians and other ethnic minorities families may not be able to afford to send multiple children to public school (2 in public school with a good house in the orley farm area will need about £400k/year) but can do 2 in day school (about £225k/year). That being said a lot can comfortably afford it and some can do it through sacrifice (Asian family in my cousins year at Eton sold their house to pay for the school)

Also highly religious and conservative families may not want their kids at boarding school during their formative years

@Twilightstarbright oh yes that’s the vibe I’m getting. Haha yes, has really made me evaluate where I settle. Previously I was targeting mill hill (if stars align Hadley wood).

Now I’m looking at Harrow on the hill, Stanmore and Edgware.

I must say there’s some lovely 2 bed period cottages in Harrow (not for when you’ve got a family). One of my biggest regrets was that I wouldn’t get to live in a house like that because I prefer the suburbs of NW london. Now I may be able to eat my cake and have it

I also don’t call mainly Asian, which Orley farm is, very diverse. I would argue it’s extremely undiverse, just not white. Manor Lodge or Edgegrove are much more diverse with a mix that reflects the local community much more. The Harrow prep schools are vast majority Asian.

@passport123 can also see charterhouse if you scroll further down

Aldenham.

They can also board there if they want. It has amazing facilities

RMS for girls. Potential for boarding and a good few Nigerian families. Wonderful grounds and facilities.

@XelaM ahhh thank you.

@JackiePeralta ohh that’s good to hear, I’ll definitely check them out. I imagine that the families are in the Watford area

RMS is a day school with boarders, not a boarding school as such. It’s also an all through school with girls in Cadogan House automatically being allocated a place at the secondary school - no prep for other secondary schools.

Indeed, so “potential for boarding” is just that.
And many of the Cadogan girls go to local grammars and some to other schools, despite places being available for the senior school. No prep school does grammar specific prep. You sound like you’re disagreeing but with facts that confirm?

@mumsqna - not too many from Watford as far as I know, but lots from Harrow / Pinner / Northwood areas of N London as well as S. Bucks, Chorleywood etc.

RMS does not prepare girls for entrance to public boarding schools which is what the OP has asked for.

Neither is it a boarding school, it just has some girls who board. In fact only 82 boarders in total across a school of over 1,000 students.

I’m not saying it’s not a great school, it’s just not what the OP has asked for in terms of leaver destinations. In fact, Cadogan House doesn’t even list leaver destinations on their website as most girls stay on at RMS.

@JackiePeralta ahh thank you very much. That’s good to know

Every now and then when I think I have made a poor parenting decision, I remember that some parents have decided in early primary school that their kids have to board whether they want to or not, and I feel better about myself. I hope your decisions make you and your children happy and I hope that as they grow you listen a bit to what they want to do.

Habs Girls is a wonderful school and has excellent Pastoral Care. They now work more closely with the boys school. If your children were there you might change your mind about sending them to boarding school.

@BookwormButNoTime I have read this thread with great interest and hope the OP has found a suitable school.

We are looking at moving our sons to Pre-Prep and Prep in the near future and Lockers Park is on our short list. Unfortunately we don't know any families with children at LP and am interested in any information including this recent 'wobble'. Happy to receive a PM! Thank you!