Garden House / Newton Prep / Faulkner House

[Reception24]

My DS has been offered a place at these 3 schools (v proud of him!) but struggling to choose between them. I wonder if the hive can help us decide!

As a person my DS is smart, needs stimulation, extroverted but sensitive, better in smaller groups with close relationships, pretty active, also into music and quite creative. Whilst I think he'd do better in quite an academic school, I would also love to see his creative side nurtured and have a well rounded education.

My husband and I loved Newton Prep but it is logistically far for us from Parsons Green. Garden house and Faulkner House are easier.

Any opinions / insights esp from parents with children at the schools are gladly welcomed!! Also if anyone has any opinions on a how a long commute impacts on sense of community / social side of school life at these schools.

Thank you!!

We loved GHS for DS and would always recommend it but in your case I would recommend Falkner.

Commute is the most important metric at this stage and a morning walk to pre-prep comes above all.

The commute to GHS might actually end up being easier as they have a bus from Parsons Green and Faulkner is a few stops on the tube (or a 35 min walk). Do you mind me asking what your experience has been at GHS? Do they have a strong sense of community there? I am worried being a bit further out in Parsons Green that we won't be able to be as involved as a family and that his friends might be quite spread out. Thank you for your help!

When we were there not many people lived as close as us. Most were closer to where you were and it seemed fine to us. It actually felt like the community was more in the Fulham area :)

Thank you that’s so helpful!

NP is excellent. Academic without stressing the kids out, v strong on music, very buzzy with lots going on, and great facilities. Wonderful headmistress. Big enough for all personality types to flourish. That said the size (four forms a year) won't suit everyone and as others have said logistics do matter at this stage. People come from all directions though so you won't feel "out of the loop" from Parsons Green.