Suggestions in London/South/SW

[Marmunia10667]

Hi, best friend is in the early stages of planning a move to London/South of England. She wants to send DD (4) to private school/prep and is looking for suggestions. A caring ethos, excellent standard of education, and importantly, a picturesque setting with pretty architecture, so nothing too city-ish or in a built-up area. She would prefer to be within 100 miles of London for an occasional office visit.

Many thanks in advance for any help!

Have a look at Stormont School in Potters Bar. Lovely grounds and extremely caring. I went there (a million years ago) and still have such fond memories of it. I know someone whose DD just left Stormont for secondary school and from what I hear, it's still as wonderful as I remember it. It's surrounded by nice places to live - Brookmans Park, Hadley Wood, Barnet etc. It's always had a good reputation for strong leavers' destinations, even though it's not as academically selective as other prep schools. Hopefully some other MN users will have more recent experience. Good luck to your friend!

Thank you! That looks pretty on Google Street View!

I'm not sure pretty architecture is the way to chose a school.

Firstly she will have so much choice, the combination of the falling birth rate and vat on school fees, apart from central London (see the 4+ thread in the primary education section) she has the choice of pretty much any pre prep school. She should subscribe to the good schools guide and work out where she wants to live but a couple that come to mind architecture wise are
Claremont Fan Court School in Esher and Beechwood Park School in Herts.

Thank you. That's helpful.

Claremont Fan Court school

Thank you to everyone who responded. My friend says Claremont is a strong contender!

Esher is on a fast train to Waterloo too plus a range of housing in the area.

@Marmunia10667 There is a huge choice! Does she want a through school or a prep then choice of senior school?

Oxford has a range of schools. Great architecture guaranteed! Bath could also be another place to look.

One top class prep for DDs is Godstowe at High Wycombe. The town is not wonderful but she could live in Marlow or in the Chilterns. Plenty of gorgeous villages within easy reach of Godstowe. Godstowe girls go to a range of senior schools and if she lives in Bucks, there are grammar options too.

For preps, Tatler actually does a great list. I’d start there and look at where the schools are situated, if she wants co Ed or girls’ schools and how far from London. My DDs went to a school near Stormont for senior school. Not great architecture there and houses are costly. If money matters, there are better value places in the SW and plenty of choice of schools.

Bath- take your pick. Stunning city and lots of good private schools.

But if it's a kind and welcoming school in a beautiful setting I'd go for Kingswood Prep or Monkton.

But the Royal High (girls) also good and King Edward's (bit focussed more on academics and less on pastoral/extracurricular)

Danes Hill in Surrey fits the description pretty well.
Dragon school in Oxford or Headington if your friend prefers that direction.