Private / prep schools in twickenham

[Twickkmum]

Hi there

I’ve read some previous threads on private and prep options in Twickenham and have found them really helpful. I was hoping for some more recent experiences or advice if possible.

We have been looking at Jack & Jill school & Twickenham Prep for our DD. I am leaning towards one at the moment, but we don’t know anyone at the schools currently to ask advice.

my impression is that J&J is a much more academically driven school with focus on exams and securing the next school, but very supportive of girls and STEM. I’ve not looked around it yet, but given the small sites I’m concerned about outdoor space, time in nature, facilities etc.

TPS seems less academically driven, more friendly and supportive (for SEN, for example) and has some impressive grounds with outdoor facilities and subject specific rooms etc.

do these impressions seem fair? I’ve no experience with attending an all girls school, is this something to factor in?

any thoughts on attitudes to diversity & inclusion from either school? (I realise the irony of asking for this in a private school, we have our reasons for looking at private)

thanks for any experiences in advance.

Are you talking about prep or pre-prep schools? The J&J prep school facilities are state of the art, you should visit asap.

Where are you going to be living? As both of those schools aren’t actually in Twickenham. J&J mostly Hampton and Twick prep nearly in Molesey it’s that close to the river.
I think you’ve got the gist of both schools though. You have other options like Newland House or the Mall which has changed to co Ed this year.

thanks - pre-prep from reception entry.

Thanks FiloPasty, we’ll be in Hampton hill so both would potentially be in walking distance (maybe not reception for J&J though). Haven’t looked at newland house due to not quite being walkable, but probably should as I see it mentioned a lot!

Yes visit them all if you aren't at reception stage yet. They will all welcome you with open arms because the birth rate is falling and they all have spaces. Ask The Mall about financial incentives for girls joining The Mall (it's an amazing package).
Even Kings House in Richmond is going co-Ed, you have so much choice.

J&J is a fabulous school. If I lived in Twickenham it would be my top choice. The Mall is interesting but I'd go for it only if I had a boy would be be a potential candidate and make logistics easier for me. IME girls do better in girls only school. If you go mixed the ratio should be 50:50 which it typically isn't as it tends to be boy heavy.

thanks hockeygrass, that’s great info! Hadn’t looked at the Mall as I always worry a bit about being the “first” when something changes, but that’s definitely worth looking into.

Thanks jobchangesoon, it seems really impressive. My reservation about J&J is that our DD seems to love sports and being active, doesn’t love sitting down with books, so worry that an overly academic approach might not be the best fit for her. But how much can you know at 3/4 really!! I’m also a bit unsure about the push for next school (seems LEH is popular one), but I’m also aware when the time comes she’ll have her own thoughts and likely will want to go where her friends go.

Really helpful advice everyone, glad I asked here.

@Twickkmum , re LEHi juniors, it's very rare now to have a girls only school that starts at year 3, LEH juniors is almost unique and it slightly distorts the prep school options in the area because it takes 48 girls out of the primary/prep cohort at the year 3 point. It's not a prep for everyone but if your dd gets a place it's a fantastic learning environment. If you understand LEH juniors then it much easier to understand what you are looking for in a prep school, ie for many parents it's not an option they would consider because they know their dd won't be ready for an entrance exam process at age 6/7 but will probably be fine by age 10/11.

Wouldn’t be fair to say much but I know that JJ prep seems much more academic than the others

In case it's helpful, I've understood from some mums that perhaps J&J isn't as focussed on LEH now they continue to 11 (which I guess is understandable).......

@hockeygrass hi can u plz pm me. (I don't know how to from app). I would love to hear ur thoughts on primary preps.

@Twickkmum what did u choose eventually? How did it go for u?