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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

Coworth Flexlands vs Marist vs State

18 replies

LiLemon263 · 02/10/2022 08:15

Hi All,

We are just starting to tour local Prep and state schools for my DD, who will be starting reception in September 2023. We are based in Sunningdale and our favourites so far are Coworth Flexlands and Sunningdale Holy Trinity but wondered if anyone with children at either of these two schools or others in the local area, including the Marist or other state schools, could give some insights please. TIA x

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lemony1234 · 05/10/2022 00:27

Hi I'm a Coworth parent. To be fair, we are about to move our daughter elsewhere but it is really good for girls (and boys now as it announced it's going coed at the end of last term) who aren't particularly academic and need a nurturing environment. Feel free to PM me.

Lolly2803 · 17/10/2022 20:56

Why are you about to move her? Interested in this thread!
Holy Trinity Sunningdale is an average school. Not amazing just fine. Have you looked at Hall Grove?

lemony1234 · 18/10/2022 00:29

We're moving her for a variety of reasons, some positive and some negative and it's Hall Grove that we're moving her to. We feel her personality is now more suited to there than to Coworth. As someone far wiser than me once said, "there is no such thing as a perfect school but there is the right school".

Original poster

LiLemon263 · 18/10/2022 07:45

Thanks both! Yes Hall Grove is now a firm favourite and we have my DD registered. If there are any other local schools which you would recommend please let me know x

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MammaD1 · 21/03/2023 17:53

Hi! I’m starting my search for local prep schools. Where did you choose in the end? I like the look of Bishopsgate too. My daughter is academic so feel cautious after what has been written here about Coworth. There is Halstead school for girls also to consider. I liked Hall Grove but felt the equipment was all very old and some members of staff were not even qualified teachers.

lemony1234 · 21/03/2023 21:16

We've been at Hall Grove for a term now and it was absolutely the best decision we've made. It's an amazing school (for us at least). Our daughter is really engaged and excited by what she is learning and is progressing quickly. She is academic too and I particularly like that this has been identified and she is being stretched but it is done discretely and effort and enthusiasm is more rewarded.

To be honest, I'm not sure who you are thinking of as not being qualified teachers (except the head but that's not a teaching role). I haven't particularly noticed the equipment being old either but, to be honest, that just isn't one of my priorities so I probably wasn't looking very hard. I do know that the dance studio and the cookery room are lovely and the art facilities are fabulous. If you're looking for amazing facilities, Lambrook might be worth a look? Another Coworth girl is moving there next term and the competition can be quite stiff but Hall Grove is also in the lucky to position of being able to be selective now too.

There were a couple of girls at Coworth who had moved from Bishopsgate mid year 1 and it sounded like it was reasonably academic.

Lolly2803 · 21/03/2023 21:17

Coworth isn’t selective so you have a mix but if she’s academic she’ll get pushed and if she needs a bit of help she’ll get it as numbers are small. So it’s a very good nurturing small school.
Bishopsgate is pushy and academic and big! Bigger classes and more classes. It’s also a great school. I think it personally depends on what your daughter is like. Hall Grove is a wonderful school but essentially to me still feels like a boys school with girls in it.

lemony1234 · 22/03/2023 08:06

Lolly2803 is absolutely right. They are both great schools but very different. Interestingly, we chose Coworth over Hall Grove 5 years ago exactly because it felt like a boys school that "tolerated girls to get the fees" (I believe these were my words at the time!) but having fully transitioned to co - ed now, it doesn't feel like that even though my daughter is in one of the only boy heavy years. They all do dance as PE and the boys are really comfortable and normal around girls! My daughter even gets to pretend to be a dog at breaktime although sometimes as a sidekick to a policeman in cops and robbers!

I completely agree about Bishopsgate (I was trying to avoid saying that 😂). And Coworth is absolutely without equal if your child needs help. I know one of the years has over half with the Senco and traditionally you wouldn't get anywhere near that level of proactive support at Hall Grove (there are signs that's changing slightly but I would absolute not recommend if for a child he may need intervention).

Also, Lolly2803 is completely right about the non selective nature of Coworth. There are always spaces so you will definitely be able to get in. By the way, it's easier to get into Hall Grove if you are girl apparently!

MammaD1 · 22/03/2023 11:16

Thanks ladies. in terms of staff at Hall Grove - the director of sport is not qualified. he is a former pupil so probably how he got the job. other than that, the staff all do seem qualified.

Lolly2803 · 26/03/2023 08:28

I heard Coworth has just been inspected so look out for results and see what comes of that too. Yes Hall Grove were offering discounts to get girls in, not sure if that’s still the case. It is a lovely school just depends on the child. Either would be a good choice.

tylabobs · 23/04/2023 09:31

unless you are rich coworth isn’t the place for you, the girls are all very snobby about how much your parents earn

tylabobs · 23/04/2023 09:35

I’m a recent (2019) previous student of Coworth and i now go back and volunteer. as much as people say cowoth isn’t academic it is very academic and if you aren’t you can struggle quite a bit. The girls can be quite snobby about how much your parents earn however it’s not everyone. However Coworth is a GREAT school for leading on to senior schools, i currently go to the marist. They really prepare you for entrance exams and 11+ (this can be overwhelming for some)

Lily0123 · 26/04/2023 15:10

We've visited Coworth recently as moving to the area, and it was recommended. As tylabobs says, there seems to be a lot of support given for the 11+ - they're not a through school so can focus on where is best for each child. Their inspection report is on their website which is a really impressive read. We got a really good feel and the girls who toured us around were really sweet and obviously very passionate about their school. Also the move to becoming mixed seems to be transitioning up the school so it’s still predominantly girls which appeals to us.

NDParent · 08/06/2023 16:54

Holy Trinity is full for many of the years - don’t know about first year though.

Mumof2atsurrey · 14/09/2023 13:03

Hi, I found the thread very interesting. Our DS goes to Papplewick and we are soon moving to Sunningdale. I have registered my DD for reception (2024 intake) at Coworth, Hall Grove and Lambrook. My DD is independent minded, likes books (thanks to her geeky brother!) and chatty (once she knows the person). Soon it would be decision time. So, I would really welcome some recent feedback on pre-prep provision (academic/ pastoral) on these 3 schools. Happy to do a PM if that is easier.

Lolly2803 · 14/09/2023 16:14

I would say those 3 schools are very different and would depend on the type of DD you have and the kind of environment she goes to.
Lambrook is very flashy these days, big, academic, I’d imagine it’s changed also with the royal element to it. Good facilities. Feels like a true mixed school as always has been.

Hall Grove used to be boys only and now co Ed. A good mix of boys and girls but in my opinion still has that boys school feel. They do shooting etc not that girls can’t do that but it has that boys rough and tumble feel to it. It also goes to year 8 so girls would leave early most probably. It’s bigger with two classes per year in pre prep and facilities are good. A lovely school.

Coworth has also gone co Ed but so far only mixed classes right now are year 1 and reception. Those classes are half and half. But in the same way Hall Grove has the boys feel, Coworth has the girls feel and in my opinion isn’t really set up for boys beyond Year 2. For girls however it’s small, nurturing and is a very supportive environment. Classes are small and it’s only one form per year group. Facilities aren’t as flash or as good as Hall Grove or Lambrook but it’s a much smaller school. If you’ve got a quiet or shy girl it’s a wonderful place and they’ll grow her confidence and really help bring her out of her shell. So depends what your DD is like. Feel free to PM me if you need. x

MammaD1 · 14/09/2023 18:25

We are at the Marist and I am absolutely delighted. It is such a wonderful school. Not pretentious at all. Staff and students are all lovely. The curriculum is excellent. However it is girl only from reception to 6th form. Nursery only takes boys.

lemony1234 · 14/09/2023 20:29

I agree with lolly2803. My daughter was at Coworth until Christmas of year 2 and has now been at Hall Grove for nearly a year and they are totally different schools. Coworth is very small (single digits in some years) and great for shy children who maybe need a lot of encouragement. They have a really great SEN department. Hall Grove has a much more rumbunctious feeling, they are outside as often as possible and the facilities and opportunities are amazing. We have friends at Lambrook and I think the royal link has definitely changed the demographic. Likewise, feel free to PM me.

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