Gloucestershire Prep Schools (Wycliffe, Hopelands & Westonbirt) - honest opinions / experiences please☺️

[Musicalmummy95]

Hi all, just looking for some insight into the following Prep schools in Gloucestershire:

• Wycliffe College
• Hopelands Prep
• Westonbirt School

We're currently looking at pre-school options for our son, with the view that he may then progress into the main school of one of the above. We've visited all 3 - but would really appreciate honest opinions from those who have children currently attending / have recently attended. Any thoughts very much appreciated, but keen to gain an insight into pastoral care / extra-curricular opportunities and 11+ preparation.

Thanks ☺️

Hopelands is small but check on numbers for all of the schools. Drill down into how many they have in each year group. With VAT rises I would want to understand how viable schools are and if they are at risk of going under. I'd also want to know the classes are big enough for a good social mix.

Hopelands will prepare well for the 11+ and get good results but the others have a vested interest in your child staying on until the senior school and thus won't prep for the 11+. Good grounding, sure but cramming for the 11+ whilst at school. If your absolute goal is 11+, then definitely Hopelands. If you want a thriving 'traditional prep' school with all the bells and whistles and are happy to stay private for secondary school, the others are a better fit. They have the facilities and the sports etc.

However, don't rule out the local state schools with tutoring for the 11+, most have small classes and many are under subscribed because they just don't have the populations in the villages to fill them. There are lots of very good options in that area and many parents will do state till 8/11 in this area as there isn't a need to fork out for prep from 4+.

I don’t know about these three from an educational viewpoint. However, if I were you I would be having a good look at their published accounts and ownership/charitable status to check viability. Find out the stats on their roll, year on year, and whether they have a falling roll or not. Some nearby schools that I’m aware of are near to going under, though I don’t know about these three in particular. It’s amazing how many independent schools want to promote themselves as ‘small, nurturing’, and ‘a few places left only’ when really they are struggling like anything for bums on seats.

HI - not sure if you are still looking, but have you considered Rendcomb College? They have a great preschool and Prep division, so may be worth a look.