Tunbridge Wells Preps

[AC6]

Hello,
I am trying to decide between Holmewood House or Rose Hill for my daughter, I am looking at their Nurseries as she would start at 3 (or rising 3 at HH). I think both schools look great with comparable ethos and facilities. However my concerns about RH are the playground for nursery is very small and attached to the school parking area, whereas HH has two generous playgrounds for nursery with recently renovated swings /slides / wooden gym. However the classrooms at RH seem bigger and a bit brighter.
I was worried hearing that RH take music off the curriculum after year 1 and offer it only as an after school club. Also almost all
after school clubs at HH are included in the fees whereas they are not at RH and are extra.
Do any you have experience with either school starting at nursery?
RH is a 4 minute drive and HH is an 8 minute drive from home..
thank you

I don’t think these two schools are comparable really. Holmewood House is much bigger, more successful on a beautiful site. Rose Hill a bit of an afterthought with uninspiring grounds and more limited facilities and also struggling for numbers from what I’ve heard. I don’t have children at either but I would choose HH every time from what I’ve heard/my limited experience from visiting.

I have two children at Rose Hill and my third has already left and I think the school is absolutely fantastic. I'm not sure why @Alwayssomethingup would suggest the school is an afterthought, it has a fantastic school community and they get great academic results as well as caring deeply for the children.

Kindergarten is a great place to start and the children that join stay on with very few leaving. The playground is used throughout the day by the children and apart from drop off and pick up I wouldn't say the car park is busy. They also play in a multitude of areas from what I can see.

Music is definitely on the curriculum throughout the school with two weekly lessons taught as well as lots of clubs and individual music lessons. My child went on a fantastic choir tour to Belgium as well as singing in a massed choral event on Tuesday evening, it was phenomenal.

90% of the clubs are included fees with just a handful taught by external providers are charged for. It is definitely not something to worry about.

I think ultimately you need to choose the school which best fits your family as they are both lovely, albeit different schools. Be warned though traffic in TW is terrible so the extra drive might make all the difference.

Thank you for your replies. @Twirlywoo2000 thank you for your detailed comments, your experience sounds very positive, which is great. Good to know music is taught all the way through and the tour in Belgium sounds fantastic. I’ll go back for an open day to get a feel for the school/community as I had only been on a private tour

Just here to completely back up everything that @Twirlywoo2000 has just said.

I have two very different children at different stages in the school, and whilst there are always niggles along the way with any school, Rose Hill is a wonderful school. We moved to T Wells when one of mine was in Yr3 so they joined RH at this time whilst my other has been there since KG so we are going all the way through with this one. Both have had a great experience so far.

Kindergarten was the most lovely time. My child skipped in every day and had a wonderful year. There were so many opportunities available within the curriculum and it really set them up for a great start to their school career.

I'm not sure where you heard that Rose Hill takes music off the curriculum in Yr 1. This is so far from the truth. The music provision is truly truly outstanding and they have the most inspirational Director of Music. Year 4 sang in the Primary Schools Singing Festival this week along with 6 other schools and it was a wonderful experience for all the kids (and parents!).
Likewise the choir tour to Belgium and the massed choir that the older children could take part in if they chose was something that is going to be a life-long memory for everyone who took part.
They have a really inclusive orchestra, woodwind group, string group, steel drums group. Hopefully you get my point ;-)

The only after school clubs that are charged are the ones run by external providers (eg ballet) but there is so much available that is included. Another highlight for us - if it something that you are interested in - is that the school has its own Rainbows/Brownies/Cubs and Scout groups in house which is a lovely little historical quirk due to the fact that Baden Powell used to go to Rose Hill.

Grounds are amazing - book a tour and have a look! The woodland facilities that the children have access to are beautiful and although the kindergarten playground you see from the car park is little, this is only the surface of what's available.

Also agree that you might want to factor in journey times a little, although the schools are quite different, which you'll appreciate if you have a look around.

If you're looking for a happy, nuturing school that really tries to draw out the best in every child be it arts or academia then you should really consider.
Sorry - that turned into a bit of an essay!