Vinehall Marlborough vs. Dulwich Cranbrook

[user1469825393]

Hi all, due to the recent merger bringing MHS to the Vinehall site in Robertsbridge and a subsequent journey increase, we are considering Dulwich Cranbrook for our children. We know it has the reputation of being pushy and walking around, it can feel a bit 'perfect'. I really want the joy of childhood to be celebrated, and there to be plenty of silliness / muddiness and imperfection, while they learn. Could anyone give me insight? Vinehall MHS isn't out of the question, but it will be over 20 mins to get there vs. Dulwich, which is very near us. Preparation for Cranbrook is also important, and we are unsure whether Marlborough House Vinehall will provide sufficient help given they are now out of catchment. We loved Marlborough - nurturing, relaxed and fun - with the ability to focus on the individual and figure out and celebrate each unique child (Saint Ronans not an option, before that's raised!)

Would love to find out more about Claremont too!

It’s such a personal thing, and obviously no one at MHS would have chosen the merger, but first indication suggests quite a few are moving across. We are very sad to leave the community - it’s been terrific. For what it’s worth, we’ve done a 360 and will be joining St Ronans (having initially ruled it out).

Intriguing @user1469825393 - what changed your mind?

Been watching this thread and very much intrigued on what changed your mind on Saint Ronan's @user1469825393 ...we had a lovely private tour and first impressions' at Saint Ronan's was quite good, but finally opted to go for Dulwich Cranbrook...a few of my DD's friends in rugby, football, and cricket all go to Dulwich so that def swayed more and the distance to Saint Ronan's was going to add 10mins more on the journey time.

@OneHeart can I ask what the parents are like at DC? I know this sounds slightly ridiculous! But having joined a private prep for my other child, it was SO cliquey and made it very difficult to bed in well..

Both communities are entitled to feel how they feel. I should think any emotion is relative to what is most important to that community. Time will tell how things pan out.

@RealBeaker sorry, no. Your original post said that retaining the MHS headmaster was ‘short-sighted’.

This thread started by someone (me) who has to move my DC because the new site is unfeasibly far away. Anyone with Google should realise that the avg headship is around 6 years, and it isn’t unusual for heads to change during your child’s time at school. Conversely, no one would expect or hope for their entire school site to close & to move schools as a direct consequence. To attempt to draw any equivalence of our experiences lacks self awareness.

I get that it’s just Mumsnet, but it was quite tone deaf.

Agreed - arguably it would be more short sighted to keep the current VH Head just to maintain the status quo, instead of picking the more experienced one to run the operation through a transition period

@kikiandgigi Honestly, it’s a number of things and hard to put on Mumsnet. The only 2 options for us were Dulwich or St Ronans. I feel that I’ll get more ‘bang for my buck’ at SR. I have one shot at giving the children a magical childhood, and I felt SR gave me a better chance of delivering on that hope. I was originally nervous about the whole “old money” vibe - and what it meant for grammar school. But with the VAT introduced, new heads at both schools and Dulwich going to 16… there’s really no way to predict what school will be more helpful in that respect. It’s a brave new world! So I’d rather choose the one that I feel is the most impressive / magical / fun / memorable and work on the rest as I go. Honestly, I spoke to a child (now at grammar) who had left SR. He said SR was the best years of his life. That was hard to argue with! Obvs all so personal, and really no bad option.