Shrewsbury House School Surbiton

[Lyns7]

I’m considering Shrewsbury House pre-prep for my son, as I really liked it at a recent visit and thought it was very nurturing. My only concern is about Shrewsbury House prep where most seem to go on to at age 7. Is it the case that the current Head is still an issue? Do they also have to stay on to do the 13+, or can they do the 11+ and leave then? Do they prepare them for the 11+? Any other recommendations for the area if not SH? Thank you!

Hi there!
My DS went from Shrewsbury House Pre-prep to Shrewsbury House School and is loving it! There are so many activities for him and everyone is really caring. The leadership team are great so not sure why you have heard there is an issue- have you been for a visit and met the Head? For 11+/13+, I know they prepare the boys really well but not many people choose to leave early. We have had Heads from senior schools come to give talks to parents about this and I found that really useful. My DS will definitely be staying until Y8! There are lots of great prep schools in the area but I'm delighted we chose SHS and would definitely suggest you go and visit. Good luck!

Hi @justwalkingthedog , thanks so much for your reply. I’m so pleased that you speak highly of Shrewsbury House. I will visit it next week, so I hope to find out more about staying until 13. I’ve just read a few comments here on MN about the new Head, but sounds like it’s not true. I’m not really familiar with the 13+, but my understanding is that not all schools do it and there are less places available at 13 than 11, so does that mean that they could miss out? If they do the 13+, do they also sit one at 11 (and get a conditional offer) and then sit another one at 13? Would the boys be sufficiently prepared for the 11+ if it is felt that this is a better option, or since they are focused on the 13+, they wouldn’t be? Sorry for all the questions, I’m just trying to get my head around it. I really did like the pre-prep (I hope my feeling was right about it), so I really want to like the prep too!

@Lyns7 , you need to look at the leavers destinations for a prep like Surbiton Boys and the compare it to Shrewsbury House leavers destinations to see the difference. For example if your destination secondary school was Kingston Grammar then Surbiton Boys may be a better route as their main entry point is at 11. Of course it's impossible to know when your ds js young and there are so many secondary options in this area.

I hope you enjoy meeting the head who is an experienced leader and can make up your own opinion about her.

That’s a good point, thank you.

Just to echo everything the other reply has said. Our son has been at SHPP since nursery and we have simply loved the school and have no complaints whatsoever. They have an ability to challenge the children but do so in a creative and nurturing way. I feel my son has developed at the right pace and skips into school each day. He’s had more focus than some of my friends kids at some of the large co-Ed’s in Oxshott / cobham whilst not the hot house. Mr Akhurst is a brilliant hm and we’ve been pleased with all the teaching staff. They are very proactive and communications with parents is excellent. We are very sad to be leaving the school.

The vast majority of his year are going onto the house which I hear excellent things about.

Hi @Lyns7 In case it helps, the 11+ pre-test and 13+ scholarships results have just been shared and SHS boys have done brilliantly! Best ever I think. If your DS is interested in music, they held a simply outstanding concert this week where the standard of music was exceptional. I hope you get a good flavour of all that the school offers when you visit. It seems to be going from strength to strength!

Can you share? They don’t seem to put them on the website?

Hi. Just bumped to this thread while was searching any newly posted opinions about SHS as it is in our list for my son entry 2024. We have been to the school and found it very nurturing and engaging. However, we have not found many positive feedbacks from the head. Apparently headmistress is not easy to approach and holds kind of selfish attitude in decision making and that she doesn't keep a robust positive relationship with her teachers and teachers were on strike at some points. I am definitely Not saying these are true. Surely those parents who have kids present in the school can provide precise information regarding this, but that's what I found out from other parents in MN.
Also the school is famous for its sport curriculum and apparently they are really strong in that field. I would like to dig a bit more to understand how do they nurture a non-sporty child equally in that very sporty environment?
Frankly speaking, these issues are not something that you would be able to realise by a simple tour visit of the school and 15 mins speech of the head! But in general, we liked SHS and still it hasn't been ruled out from our list.

Forgot to mention that the headmistress of SHS made it clear in the school visit speech that she truely thinks boys are doing better at 13+ than 11+ and she didnt show any ideas of supports for 11+ exam. Moreover, she explained about the "conditional acceptance" at 11+ in super selective senior schools like SPJ and KCS. Meaning that boys can take the 11+ exam and if they pass the exam, their offered place will be hold for them (depends on their results in their own schools) till 13+ entry when they enter to accepted senior schools. First we thought she only says that for the sake of school business but then reading in SPJ website (I put the link below) saying that they accept 176 pupils at 13+ entry and 36 at 11+ and also that you can't take both exams (you either choose to take 11+ or 13+), support SHS's headmistress statement. Not sure about KCS or others.

https://www.stpaulsschool.org.uk/admissions/entry-to-st-pauls-11/

@Funskill ,
2 points
Yes for all private secondary schools you can only take 1 route - 11 or 13+ so you have decide before you register for a secondary by start of year 6. It's the opposite if you were trying for Kingston grammar, most places in year 7 not year 9 so it depends what type of secondary school you are aiming for.

The strike was related to the withdrawal of the Teachers's pension, its a common issue in prep schools. Last year GDST schools including Wimbledon high and Putney High had strikes over it. RGS in Guildford had strikes last month.

Also if you are aiming for the likes of St Paul's I would be interested in the other schools on your list - Rokeby, Miilbourne Lodge? They are all sport mad too, it's the common feature of an all boys prep school with a strong 13plus track record.

@tennissquare thanks for clarifying. Really helpful.

@tennissquare you mention Kingston Grammar which only does the 11+, and I was unsure whether you could still aim for this school (or any other schools that only do 11+) and if you didn’t get a place then to aim for the 13+ schools? Is it a case that SHS would not support this? Should you only choose SHS if you are aiming for boarding schools or the most elite schools? At this stage (my son is 2) I don’t know how he will flourish, so wanted to keep my options open.

@Lyns7 , it's very difficult to advise when your ds is so young, by the time he is 11 the 13+ concept will be so outdated and if a Labour Govt is on its second term then the possibility of 20vat on school fees will be a reality with all the disturbance that will bring to the private sector. I would focus on the pre prep stage and not discount the local primary schools in Claygate for the first few years with a move to a prep school when you are surer of the day v boarding options for secondary.

@tennissquare that’s very helpful and very right about how things might change. Thank you

@Funskill Maybe I can shed some light on this for you. I have 4 children, 2 currently at SHS and have only positive things to say about the school and Head. The opportunities are boundless. 1 of my DS is very sporty, the other is into music and both are catered for brilliantly. Head is kind, supportive, knows every boy and has been really helpful with future school information. Most parents choose SHS because it is a 13+ prep and we value all that this type of education offers but no one is restricted in their choices. I have other schools to compare with and can honestly say we are delighted with our sons' education. Hope that helps and good luck with your search.

@DvanB4 thanks very much for the detailed comment. It surely helps us to decide easier. Appreciate it.

@Funskill Hi, I am looking forward to visit Shrewsbury this month. Can i ask you a few questions? Which are the schools you compared this with while selecting this one. Asking this as I am visiting Donhead preparatory too. Do parents need to put additional private tuitions or the school takes care of academic excellence for its kids. Do you have to plan for a lot of other school expenses over and above the school fees?

@Rosmin Hi. We are taking 7+ exams this year but as a back up plan, we have Shrewsbury House School and Rokeby in our list which they are the closest to us. From what I have heard from most parents, external tuition is usually a good idea to keep on top of the preparation for 11+ or 13+ depends on your plan. Regarding other school expenses, usually clubs and trips are extra. Some schools even charge for lunches separately. You need to enquire when you visit the school. Hope that helps.

I know this thread is from last year but just updating for anyone who might find it helpful.

Whenever you post a thread about schools you will always find people who love it and people who don’t. It’s important to take on both sides of the argument and look for common voices rather than dismiss those that don’t suit your expectations… in the thread above, OP said all the negative posts about the head must be untrue because one person said they disagreed. Remember that none of us know who is posting on here, it could be a happy parent, an aggrieved parent, it could be someone linked to the school, it could be anyone in between.

Our experience of the school has been mixed and I’m happy to share some of the pros and cons.

Pros are that:

1. Some of the teachers are absolutely superb. I’m not going specify (in the same way as I won’t say who is bad)… but there are a handful who absolutely go the extra mile and make a real difference to kids and staff alike. See cons…
2. The facilities are excellent.
3. Sports provision in school is fantastic, everyone gets a chance to participate in matches and to develop.
4. Our son is musical and has had lots of opportunities to get involved with performances although the overall music provision suffers because the director of music seems to leave every year or two… don’t know if this is normal elsewhere.
5. Lots of opportunity for the boys to develop softer skills around speaking, small group work, extracurricular visits, etc… they enjoy these.
6. Any reports of bullying are dealt with well in our experience although there always seem to be a few repeat offenders. Others might have a different view.

Cons are that:

1. Although lots of the boys go on to great schools and often with scholarships, most of the work comes from home. Those who get in to the top schools are prepared outside schools, many extensively, whether that’s by tutors or over zealous parents of which there are a lot. The school will deny this, as will most of the parents who are doing it. Make what you will of each side but the provision for our year was very poor and without the work at home our son would not have got the offers that he did. Many of those who did not put in the extra work did not get their offers and I know many who are still wait listed.
2. Not all the teachers are amazing to put it politely. Sadly a minority seem to be there because it suits them not because they’re especially bothered about the kids. The strikes were handled woefully by the head and governors and left many staff feeling undervalued and not listened to.
3. There is good reason that there are negative comments on here about the head. There is also reason for the positive ones too. You can see her CV on Linked In to decide for yourself whether she really has much experience or whether she just talks a good game and has a good marketing team. Personally I think she had a very rocky start because looking at her background she’s never been a leader in this kind of school before, came in with very closed ideas on what good looks like, and is not particularly receptive to feedback. Hopefully that will change over time.
4. The note above about hardly anyone leaving in Y7 is not true. Around 25% of the year below us left at Y7, and ours was similar. Whether you think that’s a lot or not is for you to decide. I’ve never met anyone who regretted leaving at Y7. I know a few who have regretted staying. But mostly people are happy with the choice they make for themselves (hence the differences of opinion you see). The school is not supportive of those who want to go, in no small part because it doesn’t suit their business model although this is wrapped up in their “belief” in a 13+ education. You’ll find the same in many prep schools. Do what suits your child and family.

Would we make the same choice again? Probably, on balance, but not definitely.

Should you consider it for your child? Yes, but you need to think about what you want out of it. If you want a top boarding school then it’s a good choice but be prepared to put the work in yourself. Anything else, then you have other options which you shouldn’t discount.

Will we miss it? We’ll miss some of the staff and friends we’ve made, but overall it’s more than time to move on.

Hope that helps anyone looking.