From State school to Highly selective Private school

[deeib]

Hi ! Does anyone know if it's possible to enter highly selective schools like UCS , Highgate or Westminster if a child was in pre prep at a state school. We are considering Primrose Hill School , but we are worried that pupils who were in private schools will have priority for 7+ entrance for these very selective schools , any opinion would be useful , if your child was in the primrose hill school , what schools do pupil enter after?

Have you looked into the selection process, attended open days etc?

Thank you for your reply! My son is currently 3 yo , and we were considering state school for reception and then transfer him to selective private school for year 1 , there is no selection criteria except 7+ test , but I heard that these highly selective private schools prefer students from private schools rather then public. For example if two children have the same test result , but one of them is from state school , and one from Habs or the Hall, they would prefer a child from private school. Is it right ? I don't have any experience on that because it's my first child , that's why I wanted to ask for opinion of other parents. If it's the case we would rather go to private school , but if it's not true and they only select by academic knowledge, we would save some money and go to public school and hire a tutor.

Just phone their admissions team and ask them.

I think children with the same test result would be treated equally by the school. The issue may be that the private schools prepare children for these tests so they are more likely to do well.

I would say it’s not Private schools preparing specifically for tests (although some do) their overall level of teaching and expectations of children is much much higher than at State. I say that as I had kids in State til 8 moved at year 3 and the gap was huge, taken both kids a good couple of years to catch up. With a lot of hard work!

Agree with @SaracensMavericks the admissions will be guided by performance/assessable potential of child. Some of this can be tutored some not.

Thank you disputeinsurance , did they go to an "outstanding" ranked public school ? Do you have anyone in Primrose Hill , their curriculum looks good, with a lot of extra activities.

Yes @DisputeInsurance is right my child was top of the class in state and bottom of a not very selective school at private. Expectations were different, cohort obvious made a difference too.

Thank you @spartanrunnergirl , this was very helpful, my DS is still taking a 4+ assessment on November for selective schools , but just as a backup I was considering Northbridge, but then i thought that it's not good enough for that price , and wondered if Primrose Hill would give the same academic result as other private but non selective schools.

Why would you take a state place up just for a year?

@Cigarettesandbooze Primrose Hill School has only pre prep and prep. I haven't taken any place yet.

Hello no I’m based in the Midlands, our state school was an outstanding Primary school, super cohort (wealthy parents etc).

My eldest actually did go into the top set at the prep when she joined but i my youngest who was middle to upper went into bottom.

My eldest has caught up quicker than my youngest. There are very high expectations of children from a pre-prep level throughout the prep years. Not just the academics but the co-curricular and homework. Honestly the standards are worlds apart. Academically children can catch up. What I’ve noticed is on the sporting side etc the state kids just can’t catch up with their Private peers. For example the only State schools we play at rugby/hockey are state Grammar schools but we’d never field our A or B teams against their A or B teams. We send our C, D and E teams.

Thank you @DisputeInsurance that was very helpful , which private school did you choose eventually ?

Oldest DD went from local CofE primary to CLSG in year 7. It’s all about the entrance exam and interview. They want kids who have the aptitude to gets 9s at GCSE and A*s at A level.

Thank you @GreyGreyGrey ! Your DD did a great job!

It is possible to be offered a place at highly selective schools from state school. in our case Kings College Juniors and St Paul’s Juniors but what my DS did at his outstanding school was a world away from what he did to prep for 7+. So ImHO - tutor or very involved parent (better both) is a must.

Just for clarity OP, you use the terms "state" school and "public" school interchangeably, but in the UK, public school is generally understood to mean the most prestigious of private schools.

My DD was in the top 5-10% of her Ofsted Outstanding state primary class and she didn’t stand a chance at the 7+ for Highgate etc. She’s now at a non-selective independent prep and I can see why, they are working at a much higher level, plus many of the kids who moved to the selective preps will have had extra tutoring.

I find this a little offensive. What do you mean 'not good enough for the price'. I had two children at Northbridge Prep and my youngest has just been offered a place at City of London at 13+. He has friends going to Westminster, Highgate, UCS and more.

Don't be mislead and assume that any schools guarantee results. Equally if your child is bright and well prepared for the entrance exams they will absolutely not be disadvantaged by being at a state school.

Also, assuming they are 3 or 4 put schools like Westminster completely out of your mind at the moment and find an environment - State or Private - that will nurture your child and bring out the best in them. You can't possibly know at that age how academic they are likely to be or how well suited to they will be to different types of schools as they mature.

The differences between state and private are substantial.
My sons’ non selective prep had the year 6 curriculum finished by mid year 4. Now (year 6) they are well init year 7, plus exam prep and loads of art/sport/music.
Year 1 ends with mid year 2 curriculum finished. And that is a non- selective prep with a nurturing ethos and virtually no pressure , they just have enough staff to look after all the kids and tailor learning.

From observation it seems quite common for the 11+ entrance but not at 13.

My wife works for a major private school and knows many teachers, heads, etc in the field and can honestly say state school applicants are 100% welcome. She knows staff at all 3 schools you mentioned in your post. On no level is there a preference for private pre-prep school intake over state at 7+. (Or prep over primary at 11+ or private senior over state secondary at 16+)!!

One must still pass the entrance exams, and perform well in interview of course.

OP, a bright, confident Y2 state primary child who has been prepped for the 7+ either through private tutor or by parents using Bond books, past exam papers, etc , should have a good shot at any selective private school.

I back what others have said here, like @2minutesplease

It’s also pointless comparing state and private, offensive even, the difference in spending per pupil makes any comparison meaningless, like sport provision, class sizes, etc.

Many parents have gone the state till 7+ route with great success, as others have said, you must do the prep yourself, but even the best private pre-prep schools in London won’t do everything for you anyway. Keep in mind many parents find this a selfish route as it blocks 4+ places at the best state primary schools for wealthy parents who up and leave in Y3.

Eh? Primrose Hill goes up to age 11 ie end of y6 and also has nursery, not just reception and y1. In your previous post you said you’d move for y1…

@LondonMummer I didn't mean to offend anyone. I can explain what I meant:
Northbridge house is the same price as excellent very selective schools like UCS and Highgate. But in the ofsted report is says that it's GOOD school , not even outstanding, also I have seen their report about where students end up after graduating , and half of them continue till high school , half of them leave , yes some of them manage to enter highly selective schools, like for 2022 5% of students managed to get a place at Highgate. My point was that for its price the GOOD rated school is a bit overcharged.
Of course I would still prepare my DC for any exams with tutors and on my own , I am NOT saying that school should make everything for me , but choosing the right school with tutors who support and guide is very important. Again I am not saying that Northbridge is not academic or anything , but in my opinion it shouldn't charge as for example UCL