Lady Barn House School

[GaryWilmotsWedding]

Hello all! I’m considering Lady Barn for my two children. I visited not expecting much as I’d heard it is a bit of a hothouse and very academic. I’m not against that but my children being happy and supported is my main driver. I really liked it and it didn’t ‘feel’ like a hothouse during my thorough tour, but the reputation persists. Does anyone have personal experience you could share with me? I’m concerned it might be too much of a stretch for them. They are both bright but not academically gifted!

Hello! Also considering it for my two children. I had a tour very recently and I loved it! I want an academically rigourous environment for them, so I am happy with that side of things, but I was also really impressed with the sporting and drama facilities.

Hi! Agree, I was really impressed with what I saw. Do you mind me asking what has promoted you to look at Lady Barn? Are your children currently at school elsewhere or yet to start? Thanks!

You will be paying for a school expected to get them into top selective high schools. So yes it has a reputation for pushing them very hard.

It's fabulous! My kids had the best ever time there. It doesn't feel like a hot house at all, The new Head is lovely and the pupils are happy and successful, lots of great extracurricular things on offer too. And holiday care!

@GaryWilmotsWedding my eldest would be starting Reception in September and the youngest would be going into nursery.

Eldest is in kindergarten at another prep but we aren't that happy with it, and it's a long drive every day.

Lady Barn is a ten minute drive and has much better facilities.

I heard about it just through researching prep schools.

@PandasAreBlackAndWhite it's so good to hear positive reports about the school because it's such a massive decision.

Could I ask where your children, and those in their class, went for secondary? Did most carry on with private or did you go grammar?
If grammar, are you in or out of catchment?

Most continue in private. SGS, CHS, MGS, WGS and MH. Most are too far for boys Trafford grammars. Girls might get into AGS

Mine went to MGS. An increasing number go on to Trafford Grammars now.

It's a wonderful place for children to learn. Music is excellent too, Forest School and so many trips on offer. Staff are lovely people!

Are an increasing number travelling from Trafford to attend LBHS? People near me go there but wouldn't get into Trafford grammars

We are in Didsbury and hope to get at least one child into one of the Altrincham grammars when the time comes.
I've checked with online distance tools and we are only 5.something miles from the girls' school. According to their admissions data, we'd be in the catchment they've drawn from in the last five or six years.
The boys' is less likely because that's done on postcode and we aren't in it. There's a chance if he got a really high score but unlikely.

@GaryWilmotsWedding what year would your children be in?
Maybe we'll see each other at drop off! We'll be making a final decision over Christmas.

@FrodisCapering yes a few girls from Didsbury go to Alty every year but the commute is a bit of a killer & their mates are generally miles away. I've seen the impact of this on them and they aren't always convinced it's worth it.

@FrodisCapering I've seen families move when they realise that admissions for boys is totally different. I wonder often if at some point they'll all align

@belowfrozen my kids are at a pre-prep and nursery (two different settings) in the Knutsford area, so we are used to commuting! They also go to another setting near Altrincham once a week.
Altrincham Grammar wouldn't phase us in terms of distance, although you're right...we are considering moving if necessary

Gosh that's a long way from Didsbury unless you work in Knutsford. LBHS will seem an easy commute. I do hear it's a great school and people I know have been happy there with one exception (Autistic child). It's all a juggle as the value of local friends and independence is also huge later for DC.

It is a really lovely school with a wide and diverse range of subjects areas and specialists. Yes, it is rigorous....but in a good way! Each child is given the chance to reach their potential in addition to having a broad experience of sports, arts etc. There is a wider range of abilities than you might imagine and it is a school where more alternative children can thrive. I would definitely go for it.

OP, my DS has just moved to LBHS from an "outstanding" state primary. So far we are very happy with our choice.
Our main reason for moving him was the poor performance of our local secondary, so we had to consider the 11+ route and they don't prepare that at state primary.

We found LBHS more structured, has better communication and much richer curriculum. DS got more attention from the teacher and they were not afraid of stretching him in a good way. There are more events as well as extra curriculum activities. There is a stronger sense of community at LBHS.

Re hothouse comment, if you send your child to LBHS then you need to prepared to support their learning at home. DS is in year 2 and he gets daily homework. Tbh it's not much more than his state primary, but they do expect you to complete and return every day. At his state school they are much more relaxed if you don't do it or miss the deadline.

@Nboo are you in Trafford or hoping to get an out of catchment grammar school place?

We're in Didsbury and not happy with the state options either, both primary and secondary.

@FrodisCapering no we are not in Trafford. We did look at Trafford years ago when buying house but found the house we loved south of Stockport. The local state primary are all "outstanding " and we hoped the secondary would catch up. 6 years past and it hadn't.
TBF my DS's state primary was as good as state primary could be. It had excellent SATs results and loads of extra curriculum activities. Kids and parents were all really nice and DS had loads of friends there. But it was just not stretching enough if you are thinking about 11+.
We were always planning for a selective secondary school. Not sure exactly which one as DS is a few years away from 11+. We wanted the right school for his personality hence LBHS was our choice. We didn't want to tie him to an all through just in case.

@Nboo we thought the same. We thought an all through would have no reason to prep them for anywhere else.

My children will be going into Reception and nursery in September. I am so impressed by everything I've seen of the school so far.

Thanks for your comments. It's good to hear from those with experience of it.

Just popping up here (after a long hiatus, sorry!) to say that we went for it and I’m so pleased we did. As you say @Nboo, there is a level of commitment needed from you as a parent but I’m happy to do that so it works ok for us. It might not for everyone. Teachers etc have been fantastic but I’m most impressed with the children - unbelievably welcoming and kind. So far, so good! Thanks for advice given, everyone. 👍

@GaryWilmotsWedding amazing! So glad to hear it's all working well.
What year are your kids in? Mine will be starting pre prep and Reception in September but we are actually going there on Thursday and Friday for forest school sessions.

I don't think you will regret your decision. How did you find the forest sessions/tours?

@Wisenotboring great, thanks! The kids really enjoyed themselves. It seems like a wonderful school

Hi, just jumping into this thread as my LG is joining LBHS nursery in September and it’s great to read such positive reviews. Even though we’d been for a few tours and got a really good feel about it, you can never be 100%.
The only part I’m not convinced about is the drive from Heaton Moor, but that is what it is!!