Is prep (Godstowe) worth it from Reception- Year 2?

[Headintheclouds212]

WA is fairly close to us so I would like to send my daughter there at 11 if possible...a tall order, I know!

So working backwards, Godstowe would be a great prep for WA.

Shall I send her to Godstowe from Reception onwards or the local state village until Year 2, and Godstowe from Year 3?

Thanks all for your tips!

I wouldn’t be using a desire for WA to be your main driving point for choosing a prep for a child not even of school age yet.

WA selects only the very brightest girls. It doesn’t matter what school you send them to if they are never going to meet the required academic standards. You can’t possibly know this at your DDs age.

Choose a school based on best fit. For example, a lot of Godstowe girls stay on to 13 and then head to boarding school. Is this what you want for your daughter? Might you consider grammar at 11? If so do they provide preparation for it?

Do you want exposure to a broad curriculum including lots of sport, music, art etc or are you just after academics? How is the commute? Are the school values aligned to yours and do you feel you fit in?

Yes Godstowe sends several girls to WA each year and does very well with other schools too. It’s a lovely school, but don’t make WA the sole reason for choosing it.

Agree with PP, please do not settle your heart on WA at your DC’s age. You have no idea if that is the right school for them, if they’ll get in, your opinions may change later on etc. WA is the type of school that you should only send your DD to if they are the right fit for it. It’s a school that can be quite detrimental if they are not the right type of girl to flourish there. There are girls who go there who are extremely bright but would still flourish better at other schools.
IMO early years education is crucial to giving a child a great foundation for their education and learning and I would send to a decent Prep from the start.
Godstowe isn’t the only school to send children to WA. They normally go at 13 from Godstowe but the main intake at WA is 11, so I wouldn’t discount other nearby Preps. Depending where you live, I’d look at Maltmans Green too.

It sounds like your child is still very young. Don’t try and force her to be very academic and fit a certain mould if she isn’t that sort of child naturally. I’ve got a bright 7yo. I don’t know yet which secondary she’ll be right for yet. Shes got the potential to get into the most academic schools but I think she might suit a slightly less pressured atmosphere where she’s nearer the top rather than the bottom of a crazily bright bunch of kids. Music is also emerging as a strength over sport so would want to factor that in as well. It’s those sort of factors you’ll want to think about as your daughter grows up and changes.

@Headintheclouds212 I agree it’s best not to set your heart on WA. However Godstowe is the best prep to give it a shot. It has the best of everything but at its core, it’s a school for girls who will board at senior school at 13. My DD and others left at 11 to board but it’s not their usp. . So you work with the school about what’s best for DC. It’s the best prep though!

Forgot to say, my DD joined in y3. Check if they will have vacancies though. Go earlier if you are concerned. Do make sure Godstowe fits your overall plans? If no WA, is DD going to board? If another day school, which one? Grammar?

Is your village school an infant school or one of the bigger ones?
Some of the village schools (especially Coleshill) are a popular pre Godstowe / Maltmans / High March options whereas others are less so.
You need to know where the school you are considering sends its pupils on to.

Thanks for your responses everyone. Can I ask if going from Godstowe to Beaconsfield High is a good alternative route than WA? I don't want her to be boarding far away from us, so would have considered WA as it is has Day places, but I accept its quite hard to get into. I just bet Godstowe will see it as a wasted prep education if we exited at 11 for a state grammar? Its our catchment grammar school. If she didn't get into grammar, then we would look for alternatives like St Mary's or Pipers (not that they are in any way any 'less' academic!). @TizerorFizz

Maltmans Green might be a better option - they prep girls for the Bucks 11+ as well as independent day and boarding schools.

Most Godstowe girls will head to boarding schools.

In fact, according to the Maltmans website, in the 2022/23 school year, they had an 85% success rate at the Bucks 11+ and saw 5 offers from Wycombe Abbey. Not to be sniffed at!!

@Headintheclouds212 Other senior schools are not WA are they? Some go from Godstowe to grammars. You would have to check with them on policy. However you can leave at 11 but most don’t.

Have you looked into the criteria for Day Boarding at WA? I believe as it currently stands, you have to reside within no more than 11 miles.

I don’t believe Pipers is as academically high achieving by any means but am happy to be corrected.

Many all girl senior schools have a significant intake at 11 rather than 13. In fact WA has it's largest intake at 11.

You could have your daughter sit both the common entrance exam and the 11+. Many people do this. Note, WA has it's own entrance exam that godstowe will no doubt prepare your daughter for if it's an option for her.

With respect to whether or not godstowe is worth it from reception to year 2: Keep in mind that the school only allows students to make use of the coach service starting year 3 so you will have to arrange for transportation yourself from R-y2. It's up to you if that's a commute you're willing to deal with every morning.

Godstowe has good links with major girls boarding schools and Godstowe girls often go at 13. Mainly because they can delay starting full time boarding, parents like it, and they stay with friends destined for co Ed schools eg Rugby, Charterhouse, Stowe, Oundle. There’s always been a lot who go to Downe House or CLC at 13. It’s up to you about what you prefer. My DD left at 11 but most of her closer friends were leaving too. Sometimes relatively few leave at 11.

Godstowe don’t like WA girls to leave at 11. They normally stay until 13 as the two schools have that relationship and Godstowe prepare the girls for common entrance at WA, not 11+. However the main intake at WA is at 11.

@Fretfulmum Yes. It’s always been like that. One DD from my DDs year group did go as a day pupil to WA at 11, but the others went at 13.