SW (Balham/Clapham) prep schools

[Cl86]

We are trying to decide on a private primary for our son for entry in 2024. We live in Balham and have our eyes on Thomas's Clapham, Broomwood and Hornsby House. We have been to open days at all of them but are struggling to make a decision.

We want to send him to a London day school for secondary and are keen on an academic, yet nurturing school.

I would love to get thoughts and experiences around these schools to help us make a decision.

Thanks in advance.

We are looking at options as well and were very impressed with Newton Prep, but it’s in Battersea so maybe too far out of your way.

My grandchildren are very happy at Hornsby House and get masses of encouragement and positive feedback. It seems to be a very nurturing environment.

Thomas's- very large- 4 form entry, suits outgoing children, I think gets children into the right school for them but friends with DC there did say it sometimes doesn't 'get down to it' as much as they'd like when it mattered, support for SEN is a lot of pushing you to pay for extra tutoring with the teachers, wide range of abilities and inclusive, lots of fun, quite shiny/corporate. Their stage productions are incredible but involve a week off timetable and intense rehearsals. Might just be my friend who is there and quite sceptical- I think lots love it and it suits many children really well. We didn't go for it because of size and wanting more support if we were paying all that money. Otherwise we quite liked it and thought it seemed impressive.

Broomwood becomes Northcote for boys after pre prep although I think those schools are restructuring slightly - it's more traditional, nice size, liked the mix of co-Ed and then single sex, liked the support on offer, felt a very happy place

Have you looked at Eaton House the manor, although might be the wrong side of the common for you? It was the perfect balance for us- girls and boys in same place but got the advantages of single sex Ed which as time has gone on, we feel has really worked for our children. We do wish they would mix the boys and girls more for events like plays but they said that is now on the agenda more so hopefully will happen. Mix of traditional and family feel/nurturing but also very supportive and appropriately ambitious on academics. Very strong leavers results. Incredible holiday club which makes life easy for working parents. Children have fun and put on great productions and events without it feeling like their souls have been crushed from over practising. Great facilities. I really trust in the school- they know what they're doing and do it well. Very very happy place.