Caldicott or Papplewick?

[Koala16]

Help! We’ve been living in Asia for 7 years - looking to move back to London next Summer. DS has been offered a place at Caldicott and Papplewick to start in Y6 next September. We loved Papplewick and the intimate feel and the HM but DS was totally taken with Caldicott when he spent the morning there.
Would love to hear from parents of both schools regarding any pros and cons?
Thanks in advance.

I don't think you have a bad choice there - they're similar schools with similar leaving destinations and parents I've met from both schools don't have a bad word to say.

I would say that there is a bit more movement with boys leaving at 11+ from Caldicot than there is at Papplewick eg. to grammars which is probably a function of its intake and its location in Bucks - it's also (slightly) larger. I know a couple of boys who were at Caldicot who are delightful, the commonality is they all seem to be very sporty.

Papplewick has the reputation of being more eccentric, a wider international intake/diversity and has really outstanding music provision that's head and shoulders above other prep schools in the area. It also is potentially more stretching at the top end, eg. gets a KS at Eton every couple of years or so, I don't think Caldicot have had one in recent years (or at least not since 2015 when I started paying attention!)

I would say as your son is older I'd go with his gut feel, since they are so similar, but if he got a good feeling then that's a very good sign!

Thank you Xiaoxiong.

Agree with Xiaoxiong. The only other thing I'd say would be I think flexi boarding is quite new at Caldicott so if your DS was planning to ease his way into the Yr 7 weekly boarding by doing flexi in Yr 6, I would check the number of Yr 6s doing it. Flexi is very established at Papplewick with lots of boys from Yr 3-6 doing it regularly. Personally, I prefer the location of Papplewick too but that's probably not relevant to you/your DS if he's bussing from London. Ultimately if he loved Caldicott so much then that would probably seal it for me. Has he spent some time at Papplewick too?

Thanks Legoninjago1. Funnily enough the bus pick up does matter. We can walk to the pick up for Papplewick but it’s a drive to the Caldicott pick up. P bent over backwards to have DS back for a morning after he had such fun at C. He enjoyed it but I think it was bowled over by the sausage rolls at C so still preferred it!
The feeling I got, which may be wrong, was that he would be better looked at P but more of a number at C and that as parents we know better so we should be choosing for him! Also the focus on rugby at C worries me.
Appreciate any further thoughts you may have.

Hi Koala16,
I just want to find out at the end where is your son going?
My son will be joining Papplewick for year 7 this September 2023.

Hey @Reyma have PMed you!

Thank you