Prep schools near Tonbridge or Sevenoaks (Kent)

[Raspberriesandblueberries]

Hi

We’re looking to move down that way. We’ve got a girl and a boy and are looking for good prep schools that would get them ready for the 11plus if we wanted to consider that option.

We’re after a school that’s good on academics as well as competitive at sport. Could be co-ed but we’d consider single sex too. A very small school wouldn’t appeal.

Any ideas other than Hilden Grange and New Beacon?

thank you very much!

Quite a few of the year 9 intake at DD's school (battle abbey) came from Skippers which I believe has a good reputation but might be a bit too far south for you, it's five ashes.

a little tip - cranbrook for senior school. Our old headmaster, David Clark, very sadly moved there from the abbey and he is much missed, an inspirational head. Several of DDs peers who live closer to Cranbrook have followed him there and rave about the school. I wish we could send Dd there but while shes a music scholar I don't think she's academic enough to get in and it's too far for us.
it's an indie school in all but name, a state boarding school. www.cranbrookschool.co.uk/about-us/heads-welcome/

Cranbrook is a fabulous state grammar option, and yes it is unique in the UK in that it still has a yr 9 13+ entry. However this is being hugely scaled back in line with other grammars/state senior schools to focus on an 11+ yr 7 intake. A number of years ago the comment of it being an 'independent school in all but name' very much rang true. All admissions were then at yr 9 13+ and consequently it was the preserve, almost entirely, of the highly regarded local prep schools who would feed in at 13+. Sadly, with the (probably correct) alignment to 11+ entry, and the rather short sighted admissions criteria (sibling policy, special measures etc) being enforced upon it, it is very much not an independent school in all but name and the academic standards appear to be dropping significantly as a result. The funding is poor and the co curricular threadbare. If one wants a true independent school experience, it has to be paid for and for the top (most selective) independents a high academic and co curricular profile of the child is required for entry.

Thank you! Reading with interest!

Somerhill Independent School. Near Tonbridge
Hilden grange

Sevenoaks has
Granville
Radnor
St Michael's Preparatory School

Several in Tunbridge wells
Rosehill
The mead
Holmewood house

There are others but those are the ones I have known people with children at who liked their school.

So helpful. Thank you!

Solefields, Sevenoaks, boys only
Granville, Sevenoaks, girls only

Both sporty and academic

Solefield is now co-ed in all but the upper years (and is a lovely school), so it depends which years your children are in.

Solefield and Sevenoaks School are coming together to form the Sevenoaks Family of Schools which could develop capacity and provide some of the advantages of an all-through while keeping secondary options open. On Cranbrook, risky to move into catchment if there is doubt your child would pass the Kent Test.

We narrowed down to Hilden Grange, Sevenoaks Prep, Somerhill and The Mead . Granville a maybe as most awkward to get to (we are renting whilst we look to buy so wide area and could move if need be) . We ruled out Holmewood due to several friends moving/thinking of moving/ grumbling about a slide in academic standards - they have become increasingly very progressive which may suit some though. The ISI was also a bit more mixed on consistency in teaching quality which worried me. I think it’s worth asking to see books of work and asking about most common reading levels etc when you go on tours to get a feel. Obviously there will be different priorities for different children and parents.

If anyone has any insight into how Somerhill and Hilden Grange compare it would be very helpful as they are the closest to us at the moment (but we are looking to buy so flexible). Obviously there is a facilities difference but academically? Pastorally? We have a girl and boy and although I think it would work for our boy I was less sure of the experience for girls? When I asked admissions on numbers it seems there are 2:1 boys to girls and I wondered about there being enough for friendship groups for girls etc

We were in a similar predicament @Pip290 and chose Hilden Grange over Somerhill. Whilst the facilities at Somerhill are amazing, we'd heard a few negatives re Somerhill from previous parents and that unless children are very sporty or very academic they can get a bit lost. It's also single sex from year 3 and I think as a result can have a more competitive boys culture at that stage which we weren't keen on. Hilden Grange have a phenomenal success rate for grammar schools and we've only ever heard people rave about it. It feels like a very happy and down to earth prep school but also academic. We've been very happy with our choice so far. Think either school will offer a great experience though all in all!

@CheshireCat89 do you have any insight into what Hilden Grange is like for girls? To be honest I imagine it would suit our quieter boy better, he is definitely a go with the flow kind of chap. However, we also have a very sporty, bubbly girl and I am keen to keep that love of sports alive. My biggest hesitation is are there enough numbers for decent girls teams and enough girls for flexible friendship groups? I went to a very small girls school and sometimes that could feel incredibly intense. Everyone we know with a child at HG sings it’s praises, but they all have boys.

I just wanted to reassure you that Somerhill has been absolutely wonderful for my children, who are all very different and don't fit the stereotypes mentioned about Somerhill above! I don't feel that any of them had or did 'get lost' in the bigger environment and we found the teachers wonderfully caring and nurturing. The sport is fantastic but one of ours is non-sporty and he also enjoyed it and was given lots of opportunities. Academically they are doing well at their next schools but it never felt competitive or pushy when they were in Prep. We found that the bigger site made the transition to secondary much smoother (compared to my own experience of moving from a small prep that made senior school feel terrifying).

All of these schools are what you make them though- they are all similarly successful so I think it's more about which one 'feels' right. Good luck!

Sorry @Pip290 I meant to come back to you. We also have a boy and a girl. Our daughter hasn't started yet but in our son's class there is a true 50/50 mix of boys and girls. He's only been there a short time but we've been amazed at how he is coming on academically already. It's a smaller school than Somerhill, and that might not be for everyone, but we prefer that family feel ultimately. Whichever school you choose will offer a great education and you can always switch if a school turns out not to be the right place for whatever reason! Good luck with the decision.

@ElodieBauer thank you so much for this. Hugely helpful and we had a wonderful open day last week. We were really impressed with what the work we saw and good to know you don’t have to be super sporty to feel seen.

@CheshireCat89 this is great to know as sounds like it is now far more balanced jb terms if girl boy ratio further down the school. Looking forward to having another look on the open day tomorrow!

I really would avoid Somerhill.. a few shady goings on over the years with unprofessional, somewhat unqualified staff and unsafe environments.. very selective as time goes on.. they filter and manage out the kids who don’t quite fit..

I can’t speak much for Hilden Grange but from what I have seen on a tour a few years ago, kids don’t look too happy and looks like they zap the character out of them!

The best of the best prep / independent schools are in London, not Kent. If you really want to focus on your children’s education/ academic/ sport abilities I would look at the top London preps and put your hard/well earned money to better use!

somerhill = IS competitive AND pushy when they are in Pre prep and Prep

Since you mentioned also the 11+, it’s worth checking the leavers’ destinations of the relevant schools. Some schools have strong track records in both grammar and independent sectors. Others focus more on the latter, and even very few schools at that. Doesn’t mean they won’t help you prep for 11+ but it’s a conversation to be had when visiting the schools. In addition, it’s easier to prepare for 11+ when many children are also taking it.