Chigwell Prep vs Forest School

[PrimarySchool1]

Hi all,

DS is currently in LFS Snaresbrook Prep and is really enjoying it. He can't wait to go to school everyday and keeps asking why he can't go to school at the weekends. He is registered to sit the 4+ 'assessment' at Forest and Chigwell. We can't seem to decide which one will fit him better. We are hoping to find a school with good academics and sports. We live in Gants Hill so would have to be driving at least 15mins for either school. We would also consider keeping him at Snaresbrook Prep but worried about the lack of grounds.

Looking to see if there are parents from any of the schools that can speak either way for the schools.

Thank you!

I’d look at Chigwell. Forest is good but they have had teacher strikes, and I wonder if they can cope with their teacher pension obligations.

This is all hearsay and supposition. I’m sure someone will come along to clarify.

In all honesty, unless or until you’re offered places at both a comparison doesn’t really matter. Lots of kids don’t get offered places at either as demand well outstrips supply. obviously you should attend the open days and see what you think.

Both are decent schools and I know plenty of happy kids doing well at both. Parking is difficult with both particularly Forest so think that through carefully.

Forest GCSE and A level results are from memory stronger but a strong child should have a peer group at both. And of course a huge amount can change in 15 years.

One key point t to get clear on is whether you have to sit the 11+ or automatic transfer. Forest I believe is automatic but I had heard Chigwell were sitting everyone which is not something I would want.

If neither works out you could try Bancroft’s for 7+.

Chigwell automatically let children through to high school so they do not need to pass the exam, just sit it. I would say forest as I’m aware of some serious behavioural within Chigwell

I know both.
It's not the case that Forest GCSE and A level results are stronger. There's not that much in it but if anything it's the other way.
Chigwell new senior head is well liked. leadership generally decent. fabulous grounds. brand new leisure facilities.
Forest took out a big loan to finance expansion of the lower school. they then got caught out when interest rates went up. Fees have been put up beyond what the academic results really justify to service the loan. A lot of turnover of staff.
Chigwell is a smaller school. Forest will have the numbers to make up better orchestra & clubs and has the best music facilities.
Forest feels more inner city. a lot of kids are coming out from further into town. Possibly a bit more cosmopolitan. Chigwell is more Essex - a lot of blond haired kids with nouveau riche parents and fancy cars in the car park.
Parking is a right pain for both.
There are behaviour issues in both schools. Anecdotally bullying seems to be the main issue at Chigwell, whereas forest has a "party crowd" where some of the kids from Y10 up are into all the things that go with that. No schools are immune to these issues.
I would be inclined to go with wherever you think your child will be happiest for the next few years (primary), and let secondary sort itself out when you get nearer that. A lot can change in 7 years.

Chigwell has always been slightly ahead in the rankings and generally considered harder to get a place. But both Foress and Chigwell come in behind Bancrofts in terms of Academic prestige.

*serious behavioural issues in Chigwell which the school head overlooks

Thank you so much for the comparison. We decided to keep him at Snaresbrook as he was getting very great care. He has some medical needs which they are managing well. We saw massive improvement in him after the first term. We are now planning to target one of them for 7+. I think I am leaning towards towards Chigwell.

If I had the cash for all 3 of mine, I'd go to Bancrofts. It's very diverse. Parents are also diverse and not all very rich/ Essex types. Chigwell parents are not for me! But I would go to open days and call it for yourself. It's important, I think, to feel you belong as your child will be there for a long time.

@PrincessOfPreschool just to give an alternative viewpoint, it's the most selective on the way in, but almost every family I know with kids there is also employing private tutors. Teaching in English and physics is poor, continuation in foreign languages and arts is near zero, and the A level results are bolstered mainly by maths and economics (but with maths frequently being tutored outside school). So yes, it's the most academic, but in narrow terms, and mainly due to selection on the way in and ongoing external tutoring, not value added by the school.

Do you have DC at Bancrofts?

I do. I don’t recognise your description at all. We find it to be a warm place with great pastoral care.

DC are succeeding in a wide range of academic and artistic fields. They have plenty of sport, but this would be their one weak point in my opinion. My very sporty DC is very happy there and just augments with club sports.

@izzywizzydizzy , my friend's son is there. He took the entrance for fun with zero tuition and got in. She said the school constantly tell them no extra tuition, and he has none. From what I've heard the school is very hot on languages and lots of opportunity in that. They also seem to do lots of musical activities, including parents in that. The Chigwell parents I know are far more 'Rangerover driver'. But I think the OP would need to look round and see where she feels at home, as well as her child.

There shouldn't be a problem leaving a child at Snaresbrook Prep now as Forest will be taken over. They have a great reputation and will quickly reverse the problems that nearly bankrupted the place. It should revert back to the popular school it was when Mr Curl and Ms Chiverrell were in charge.

@LeisurelyLen do you mean taken over by another school or a company? A number of parents were reluctant to put their children in there due to the financial problems the school has had even though it’s a great school.

Letters have been sent to parents informing them that Forest is taking over in September. They are still working out how this will be done etc and we are not sure exactly what will happen. It could be that the current SPS will accommodate infants, freeing up space in the main Forest site which is close by. The school was very good in the past but had gone off the ball and moved away from the Christian ethos it was founded on. There wasn't the same emphasis on academic achievements and they did away with prize giving which is a bit contrary to what most paying parents would want. There was a high turn over of staff which was unsettling and everything combined to reduce confidence in the place. On a positive not though, Forest has an excellent reputation and will counteract the poor management which caused this decline. With reputation already established, Forest's reputation should quickly restore the school to its former glory. If you still have unanswered questions, contact Forest or SPS and ask for further details as to what this amalgamation is going to mean.

To reopen this thread-

How long does it take you to travel from Gants Hill to Snaresbrook during school runs? What time do you leave?

It takes about 25 mins, 30 now with the bus lane on a1400.