Falkner House vs Kensington Prep vs North London Collegiate vs Putney High - advice needed pls

[lovevegs]

DD was offered places at Falkner House, Kensington Prep, North London Collegiate, and Putney High for 4+ entry. I am leaning towards Falkner House for its warm atmosphere, happy students, and wonderful headmistresses, but encountering differing opinions from close friends. Seeking outside advice and perspectives. Thanks in advance for your help!

Go to the one with the shortest commute. She’s only little.

Hello not sure where you are base? Falkner house, friends are super happy and moved to secondary schools with great preparation and guidances. Putney is less pressure since 11+ or 13+ options but with senior place in their senior school. NLC, great but location is further North. So where you are based and travel time or school bus options.

Yes you are very right. Commute is our top priority. We are flexible on the location as we are planning to move anyway.

Thank you, HawaiiWake! Location wise we are flexible as we're planning to move anyway. Your comments about the schools are very helpful - thank you!

NLC, top academic, super selective school, so do check if junior goes straight to senior or do you need to do 11+.

Very good point - will go and check it. Thanks xx

Great choices.
I think as a family you need to decide where the adults would like to spend the next 10years.
Central London Vs suburbs. Less / more space? Flat Vs house. Etc.

These are very different lifestyles and it needs to work for you as a family.
Your daughter will do well in either of those schools - but you already have the choice of top school on either end of the spectrum.

At Falkner - she will have to do 11+, but the school prepares girls well for it. And she’ll have a choice of 3 great secondaries in Hammersmith.
At NLCS - entry to senior school, while not technically automatic - is pretty guaranteed if your daughter is doing OK in primary. Avoiding 11+ isn’t a reason to chose a school at 4, in my opinion. And there are + and - for staying in the same school from 4-18, but it’s a great school, no matter how you look at it

@lovevegs Congrats on a great set of offers.

I think the key questions for you are a) which culture did you like best? (Imho, those four schools are VERY different culturally!) and b) Do you want your DD to do the 11+?

We had a similar dilemma a few years back, and decided to go for a prep school. Children change so much between 4 and 11, we wanted the option to change at 11, with the full support of the school. (Obviously children do move at 11 from through schools too, but the preparation for 11+ in that case has to come from parents as school obviously won't be doing it). That said, the 11+ IS stressful and I completely understand why many parents think the sensible option is a through-school.

Do you know where you sit on either of those questions yet?

Please review other posts on 11+ and London prep schools in MN search, some prep schools kids are tutored to get to the top 11+ schools so parents involvement are crucial

Can’t recommend Falkner highly enough. Fantastic results but choose it for a truly kind and family-oriented atmosphere and very happy girls (and no tutoring required!).

@Lindtnotlint , agree with you from friends and their daughters in different year group and at secondary schools.