How does the postcode matter for Bute/Falkner/Glendower/Kensington Prep/PembridgeHall ?

[VeryNewParent]

Hi mums,

Could anyone share some insight on how the address would affect the admission at 4+for these selective prep schools? We live in greater London and would like to try these SW schools.

I hear that Bute would actually prefer the children who live nearby even though they run a ballot for the reception entrance.

I understand why this could make sense from schools' perspective and we will surely move closer if an offer is given. However, if these schools consider the distance before giving an offer, we will then have to move to somewhere close earlier than that. A bit tricky before knowing which school to land (also my daughter could be unlucky to have none of them..)

Is this a valid concern, any thoughts please?

Thanks a lot!

From experience postcodes don't play much of a role but children do tend to live nearby / you don't want to be the only one who lives far away as that really limits the number of playdates your DD will have. Also it is extremely unlikely that you will fail to get into any of these schools, so once you have some actual options, then choose one that is the closest/most convenient.

In my experience it doesn’t matter at all. We got offers from Falkner, Ken Prep and Glendower (didn’t apply to Pembridge and didn’t get Bute ballot so can’t speak for them) with a far away postcode.

Now very happily at Falkner, with classmates living all over - from a few doors down from the school to Chiswick.

Good luck!

Thank you both for sharing the experience! It is reassuring.

@thereslegoeverywhere You mentioned it’s extremely unlikely that one fails to get any of these. Could you please elaborate a bit? Somehow I was under impression they are super difficult to get in. Thanks!

@Controlledzone congrats for getting these 3 your DD must be a little genius!

I know someone who lived in deep , deep Surrey and won the Bute Lottery, they weren't even asked at parents interview if they were moving closer, I understand the interview was more about do you believe in the school ethos, etc, and they were offered a place.

(Which they didn't take up in the end as they couldn't face moving to West London and leaving their DD's current, Prep school). So for Bute at least for this year 4+ entry its the Ballot that dictates nothing to do with postcode. You could in theory live on Mars, if your DD's name is pulled out the hat, she's in.

Also remember thanks to Brexit, Covid, etc, and low birth rates, getting into these schools isn't half as hard as it used to be. None of them will care where you live to be honest. I'd apply for all of them, but bear in mind, my friend had her DD's name down at Bute, Pembridge and Ken Prep at birth , by name down I mean registered , so I wouldn't worry about postcodes, that's just nonsense, just make sure you're registered and know their admissions cut offs.

"Brexit, Covid, etc, and low birth rates, getting into these schools isn't half as hard as it used to be."

The west London Preps marketing machines are trying very hard to generate new demand via illustrations of exclusivity access to some senior schools, of which the brands image are created by scarcity principle for the vanity of the consumers.

Yes agree that these schools all want to appear super difficult to get into and oversubscribed but in reality London families are extremely international and there are huge movements everywhere all through the year