Any thoughts on Brighton College Prep Kensington?

[mommytobe2020]

Does anyone have any insight into Brighton College Prep? They’re opening a new pre-prep and prep in Kensington (formerly Prince’s Garden) and I would love to get some insight into these schools. The building and location is lovely, but was wondering more about pastoral care, hot house?, technology at school, sports and extra curricular. Hard to tell as it’s not established yet and seems it might be quite different from the current Prince’s Garden. Head seems superb from our one meeting. Thanks!

I have a child at Brighton College prep in Brighton. Happy to answer any questions but I think each of the existing BC family prep schools (St Christopher’s & Handcross Park, also in Sussex) operate quite differently so I’m guessing the Kensington one will be the same.

Thank you! I have sent you a PM. Would love to have you're feedback. thanks!

We’ve signed up to Brighton Prep Kensington for our three children for September after visiting for an Open Day and a private tour with the Head (who we also liked very much) All of our children are happy and at well established schools with great reputations. We were just blown away by the offering and very comfortable and confident with what will be in place in September. We have also met their Head of Pastoral / Deputy who is from Handcross and seemed incredible. Happy to answer questions on our experience

I’m a teacher and was going to apply for a job there. That was until I spotted that it’s going to be run by Cognita. I worked as a supply teacher in a Cognita school and they paid their staff there incredibly poorly. Over the past few years employees had a 1% payrise each year.

Also, I know that private schools don’t have to hire qualified teachers but I think many parents would have been shocked to discover their child was being taught by an unqualified teacher, considering how much they were paying in fees.

Obviously Brighton College might be better, but as a teacher I wouldn’t touch a cognita school with a barge pole.

Should have been called Cognita Prep Kensington.

Do they have any association with a right on Prep at all?

I was impressed by the facilities. I introduced a parent of one of my daughter's friends to the school when I was finally granted a tour after they cancelled and failed to rescheduled until I hounded them 5 times only for the same thing to happen again. I've lost count of how many times I've had to chase emails. We were offered a place for my daughter to start in September in their nursery. I confirmed and was repeatedly promised I would have the paperwork emailed that afternoon. I telephoned again to chase on Monday afternoon and had to turn down another offer that I'd been stalling. I then received an email today alerting me to 'internal developments' and a request for a call. I spoke again to the friendly and unreliable admissions officer who regretted to tell me they could no longer honour my daughter's place as someone else had signed a contract and paid the deposit somehow. I was speechless and nearly in tears by the time I could hang up. The irony of as a single disabled mother, paying £150 registration fees at 8-10 nursery schools to then be overlooked or 'mistakes' to have been made with our application that in the most case was made only a month after my daughter's birth is a bitter pill to swallow. This is now the fifth nursery to have somehow made a 'regrettable' admin error resulting in a previously promised place being removed. Facilities look wonderful. Staff seemed impressive. I was happy to advocate for them enough to persuade another family to commit but unfortunately they are not happy to reciprocate or honour my daughter's place. I'm new to this process as of 2.5 years ago so maybe my expectations of administrative competence are too high. If that's the case then excuse the rantings of a naive and desperate mother!

Are you sure you were offered a place as usually this would be in writing and be formal? Sorry, that’s just my experience as a mother of three having moved between various schools in my time.

it seems odd that this has happened to you at 5 schools? Perhaps they were giving you “current availability” rather than offers.

For what it is worth, we have had a wonderful experience at Brighton (starting in September) and I’d be happy to PM anyone who is worried.

Hi, I’m going to take a look at Brighton Prep for my daughter to potentially join in year 3… I’d love to hear how it’s going for your kids and you as a parent. I’m sure I’ll get all the info about facilities etc but I’m dying to get the scoop on the extracurriculars!

Could you tell us why you are taking them out/about your experience of the school?

I’m sorry, but I’m just not sure you’re at the same school as me! (I read your post before you edited it) We were also PGP parents who now have two children at Brighton Prep Kensington. The school has gone from strength to strength. The curriculum, specialist subjects, teachers etc are fantastic. We don’t know of a single teacher who has left since last September except for a maternity. Safeguarding and care of the children is great in our opinion (one child Reception, one Year 5). Also, we haven’t had either of our children have any LGBT content introduced or described to them. I’m aghast at this comment.

Please don’t listen to this poster. Go and see the school for yourself and make up your own mind. We love it and all of our friends do too

Hi Clare,

I just messaged you directly, hope you do not mind as our DD is about to start at PGP.

Thanks
Bilyana

Hi all,

Just moved to London from US this summer and have been looking into Brighton College Prep school in South Kensington for my two kids.

I have received various feedback from friends and neighbours re the Brighton College going from "excellent" and "breathtaking premises" to very impersonal or "too private equity style".

I would really welcome your views as I am confused and getting very really limited information from the school itself. The website does not give any detailed information on average class size, number of classes, teacher/student ratio etc.
I am worried the school is a bit too large so it becomes impersonal.

Particular insights for reception and Year 3 would be appreciated.

thank you so much.

Ki.

Happy to chat via PM but I would say this is the exact opposite of our experience. If anything, I would say one of the main selling points is the warmth, care and nurturing approach of all staff. Yes it’s grown in size, but our children are happier and absolutely thriving.

Have you been to see the school and to meet the teachers / Mrs Gaffney? I would suggest you do that rather than listen to others as I think you’ll get an immediate sense of their approach (not sure if your neighbours / friends have children in the school)

We second what milliemu has said. The school IS excellent does has breathtaking facilities and our children are very happy. We love the school and we’ve seen it go from strength to strength under Mrs Gaffney’s leadership.

I don’t believe anyone who has children there would have described it as impersonal. From my daily interactions, to my girls written reports and conversations at parents evening etc, I know my girls are known as individuals. We couldn’t be happier.

It is owned by private equity, however, I don’t believe that is a negative, and we certainly haven’t experienced that. If anything, we’ve seen a constant investment in new staff (huge list of new teachers for September with only one leaving to go overseas) and lots of upgrades in the buildings / tech etc. Our children have friends who have changed schools twice in two years after nearby school closures, so we are happy with the security of
Private equity, particularly when we don’t see a negative impact at the moment.

Go see it - I’m certain you won’t be disappointed.

Good morning
thank you for your helpful feedback
we are thinking enrolling our DS in September 2025 (year 6)
any thoughts about school preparation/plan for 13+? I mean for year 10 as school finishes at year 9
thank you 🙏

No skin in this game, so to speak, but the website does say ...for girls and boys aged 2 - 13, which is up to the end of year 8, not 9?

Thank you and sorry about confusion!
I meant what next after year 8?
do they prepare children for 13+? Or do they have plans for them
thank you

its a ok school

what's your Childs name