Private schools in Putney- thoughts, views, comments??

[tvfriend]

We're hoping our DCs will get into the local (church) primary school but it's a slim chance so considering private as well.
Anyone have children at the Roche, Lion House, Hurlingham etc? Are your children happy there? Just after any info really. Thanks

DS and his cohort will be starting in September 2012, so these are just impressions from having visited the schools our ourselves and having compared notes with other parents

Hurlingham -- lovely, very nurturing, has the park next door which is great for sports or games (if you wander down to the park mid-afternoon one day you'll get to see some of their games lessons, which may give you a bit of a feel for the place). They don't prepare children for 7+ or 8+ entry to other prep schools, which may or may not be an issue for you.

Merlin -- also lovely, more geared towards outgoing children so the more sensitive child might feel a bit overwhelmed. Facilities not as great as Hurlingham but has a more homely feel. Lots of male teachers. Only goes up to 7+/8+, which is fine for boys but may leave you looking around for places for girls (all their girls seem to go on to places they are very happy with, but one or two to each school rather than moving on in a block)

Prospect House -- also lovely(!) and nurturing. The easiest way to get in (still not precisely easy) is to go for a nursery place the year before starting Reception as there are very few places over and above those awarded to the nursery children.

Putney Park -- good for girls, boys (only to 7-8) tend to be hangers-on younger brothers. By repute you need to get your name down very early.

Putney High (junior department) -- (girls only) Entrance by assessment/interview in the December/January before entry (which is, helpfully, after you've had to accept or turn down any non-selective private places you're holding). Academic. Is a GDST school so cheaper than any of the others.

No direct personal experience but know someone with a child at the Roche who loves it and says she wants to find a secondary school that is exactly the same. Also know people who have had boys at Putney Park and speak highly of it as a pre-prep - but it is very much geared to getting your little boy into a top prep at 7 or 8, so they work them hard!

Thanks- DD will be going in 2011 and DS in 2013 and quite keen for them to go to the same school. DD is down for Hurlingham, so we'll see. Have heard from a couple of people that it is a 'bit posh and pretencious' but from others that it is lovely. I'll also put her in for Putney High.

She also has a place in the nursery at Lion House for next year but they want a deposit next week- heard anything about it?

Have heard lots of good things about about Merlin but when phoned up the woman who answered was really rude and it put me off a bit! I'd also like DD to stay at the same school till she's 11.

God, I hate having to make all these decisions!

Singersgirl- Have had lovely things about the Roche as well. It's that little bit too far to walk to but dooable. Am going to their open day soon

My niece went to the Merlin but a long time ago now - she is now 19 and at Cambridge (so perhaps the Merlin started her off well!) My sister in law still raves about it all these years later - she thought it was a wonderful and creative environment. Don't have any more recent feedback though.

Hurlingham has that pretty powder blue uniform, doesn't it?

Yes- I like the uniform- not sure if that should influence my decision though!

The thing that impressed us initially about Merlin was that it was first mentioned to us by people whose children hadn't gone there (their children went to Putney Park) -- they said that when they'd encountered children who'd been to Merlin at their own children's schools at 8-13 they had all been confident, articulate and independent-minded, and so actually suggested it to us on that basis.

The Hurlingham uniform is very cute (and would really suit DD, although she wouldn't be starting until 2012) but that is shallow (FWIW, the Merlin uniform is also cute, especially the girls' uniform although most of the girls just wear the same as the boys. Putney Park is yellow and not everyone can carry off yellow well ))

I don't think Hurlingham is particularly pretentious. It makes a big deal out of being a "local" school, and when you pass it at going-home time some of the children have quite poncey names, admittedly (this is not particularly a criticism; I like many poncey names and my own children have poncey names by MN standards).

Couldn't do Putney Park then- DD has definate ginger tinge and don't think yellow is quite her colour .
I quite like the fact the Hurlingham considers itself 'local'. I will wait and see if she gets a place there and also look round the Roche School.
Most people I know who have gone to Merlin seems to have boys.
First choice is still St Mary's/All Saints but not very hopeful!

Personally, I'm a huge Putney Park fan - and the uniform is mainly grey, with just yellow touches so don't let that deter you!

It turns out delightful children, they have tons of fun, the staff are really experienced and dedicated and cater precisely to your children's needs - ie if they're academic they'll prep them for an academic secondary, if they're not they'll take things at a gentler place. It seems to bring out the best in everybody. All the children I know who've gone there or are there now are delightful, good mannered etc etc

Merlin I personally find a bit Sloaney and smug but that's just me

P High, to my mind, is too much of a hothouse have met little girls there who say things like "If I don't work hard I'm going to have to leave." Not my kinda atmosphere but again it's purely subjective.

Have a look round them all, talk to the staff, go with your gut instinct for what you like and if you're lucky as payback for your diligence you'll get the state primary place after all

Tvfriend - what is it about St Marys All Saints that you like over and above the private schools.

The summer dresses are definitely yellow -- I narrowly miss running them over see them every morning

Anyway, when I made enquiries when DS was all of 18 months old or so they implied that I'd be lucky to get a place now and that I should have signed him up as a foetus or something. How I was supposed to do that without having had a chance to assess whether yellow would suit him I don't know...

(if your DD is already down for Hurlingham then she'll almost certainly get a place, tvfriend. Now you just have to hope that they don't change the colour of the uniform... )

Zanzibarmum- St Marys /All Saints are current preference because they are free! but they are also good schools and I know lots of people that are very happy with them. Also we live very near to both of them. DH has also got a slight ideological bias against private schools but is coming round to the idea...

Just to prepare you, you'll have to accept your place at any of the private schools (and pay deposit of half a term's fees) in around October 2010, before you find out about the state school places. So if you then get and accept a place at your preferred state school you lose the deposit you paid for the private place.

I have looked at Hurlingham, Lion House, Merlin - due to check out the Roche in June.

I loved the Lion House and the Merlin, I have only heard good things about both of these schools. Was worried that the Lion House is a little small, but current parents seem really happy with it.

Not so impressed with the Hurlingham, did like the facilities, not so convinced about other things. I have also heard some good and not so good things from parents with children there. I did have a place which we turned down. I get the impression that it is very good for "girly girls" which is what I have been told by quite a few people.

My ds is down for the Merlin in 2011.

I chose to go over the bridge for my daughter as she started this academic year.

Also heard only good things about the Roche and it has a fab ofsted, as do Merlin, Lion House and Prospect House.

St Mary's unlikely unless you are an avid churchgoer, although All Saints went to distance this year to fill their places, which is most unusual!

My daughter went to Hurlingham, and loved it. Not sure how academic it is... we moved away after Reception and she went into the GDST system and she wasn't really up to their level. I would go for Putney High if you can get in. The GDST network does protect you from the school changing too much. And if you move away, you can transfer easily to another GDST school without having to give notice or having to do the entrance test!

Thanks away from home- interesting about Hurlingham.

We do go to church but not quite as 'avidly' as some people so not sure. Interesting also to hear about all Saints. Hadn't heard that on the church grapevine! I know that St Mary's had huge numbers of siblings this year.

I should probably brave phoning Merlin again for DS if not for DD (prob too late for her anyway)...

She is also down for Fulham Prep but have heard mixed things about that too.

P&L- I know about losing the deposit for the private school if get a place at the state, but I think it's worth it!

I should organise to look round Hurlingham too- it's trying to organise whilst getting someone too look after DCs.

Calm down P&L, the girl's summer dresses are yellow, I admit, but yellow and white check.

And boys don't have to wear dresses, afaik

Don't know why they told you you should have registered him as a foetus, I know lots of people who got their dcs in there at the last minute. May have been true a year or so ago but definitely not now the recesson has bit

It is very heavily weighted on attending church, so much so that those way outside the catchment area who are regular church goers get in. To be considered for going to church, you apparently have to be active in the parish, this is (I have been told) defined as taking part in 2 activities, such as Sunday school, cleaning pews, gardenening etc over a period of two years before applying!! (We didn't stand a chance as we hadn't lived in Putney for 2 years prior to the application going in!)

I don't know how many siblings there were this year, but last year I was told that they only offered 3 outside spaces!

My dd is at the Fulham Prep - I loved it when I went round it. Very happy with it currently. They seem to be quite good at pushing the more able ones whilst helping those that need a bit extra help.

You might just be in luck for 2011 at the Merlin, although I would be quick about it, we got a place about 4 months ago. you have to attend an open evening to get the application form!!

I rang Merlin this morning- she said for 2011 they have just opened the waiting list but she thought would be fine. No problems for 2013 and DS. Next open evening is in June so going to that.

I'm another Putney Park supporter, know a few people with charming dcs there and parents all speak v highly of it, but it sounds like you're the other side of Putney. Good luck.

No- am in West Putney but until recently I'd never heard of Putney Park! I may give them a ring and see if they laugh at me seeing as DD is nearly 2!

They definitely won't laugh - from everything I've heard they're superlaid back about registration and never have waiting lists (unlike portandlemon's experience - I'm surprised at that.)

You won't have heard of it because P Park seems to deliberately keep a low profile, never advertises etc, which to me is part of its charm. They seem to have none of the attitude of some of the other schools. Parents I know are a very down to earth, friendly bunch and - as I said - it does seem to turn out lovely children. But only you can you know what's right for you and your dcs.

(Ah, but we were discussing tvfriend's redheaded DD (and my DD has my colouring so yellow is definitely out for her; DS actually looks good in yellow but perhaps not in a dress)).

I think PP may have been trying to encourage me to get a completed application and deposit in quickly but it backfired in that I wound up thinking that we stood little to no chance of a place so I wouldn't bother. Parents I know whose DDs go there have been very happy with it, which is why I called them in the first place. Anyway, I'm happy with what we've wound up with for DS, so it's not a huge worry.