Rowan Prep – opinions?

[Lookingtomoveperhaps]

I’m considering Rowan Prep in Claygate for my DD but am not sure the distance is worth it. It would be a 30 min commute each way. I understand that local is considered better by many, but there is every possibility that we will move from our current location by the time our DD starts reception so I don’t feel it is so much of a factor.
What are the academics like at Rowan? I hear that many of the girls play musical instruments, up to 4. Is this really typical? And what about sporting facilities? Community is very important to me. Do the parents tend to socialise? Any feedback you can offer would be great.

Bumping as I’m still hopeful that someone out there is familiar with the school.

Try posting in Primary Education too. It's a nice girls prep school with good exit results to secondary but there are SO many prep schools in the area that I'm not sure it's worth the commute in pretty awful traffic.

Within a 30 min drive is also
Holy Cross
Surbiton Juniors
Danes Hill
Feltonfleet
GHS
Newland House / Twickenham Prep and then LEH juniors

I’d check out the 30 mins commute at rush hr depending which direction you’re travelling from. I’m 30 mins and I have to allow a hr to get there as the traffic / parking slightly crazy.
There is a morning bus depending on where you live. Not everyone plays an instrument my daughter doesn’t and her friends don’t. Singing seems to be popular. Gym and swimming seems to be their top sports. They go swimming to reeds and sports at surbition grounds (via a minibus 5 mins away). Class meet ups tend to be once a term but I’m sure you can organise more.
You have to take your own snacks for break which was a shock initially 🤣 homework (I’m not all over it some mums are) but it does seem to be computer based daily.
I’ve had no complaints from my daughter about the school so I suppose all is good. I do like the head. My daughter isn’t Sen but they are very accepting and not hiding Sen accommodations like other private schools tend to (they promote ideas on the weekly newsletter so that’s good). But if your trying for the likes of leh / ghs etc try and get in there first. Or if she is just starting school go somewhere easy for you and you can move your daughter year 4/5 when the prepping of the exams starts ticking up ….. it’s quite a big commitment the travel - I’m counting the days with no Rowan driving haha