Newcastle-under-Lyme School

[FatWhippet]

We are considering sending our childern to the NULS Prep school. It will be a stretch for us but both my husband and I had such a terrible experience at state schools we believe it's important.

Does anyone in Staffordshire UK have reviews on this school? Would love to know if it's worth the cost?

My children went there but they are in their early 20s now.

I loved it at first, then the head left and it changed a lot & ut became a lot less caring. However the education was excellent but we never fitted in. If you were an old Nuls family your child got better treatment.

Dd won a bursary to a performing arts school but Ds went to the senior school. He had a dreadful time and we removed him after two years. But a year later they failed their inspection for reasons related to the issues Ds had and the head left suddenly. A teacher from the time recently contacted me to say they had also removed their own child and also resigned.

but I believe things have improved. I’ve no recent knowledge of prep.

if your child fits their mould, has no issues (mine were found to be autistic) & you r face fits it provides an excellent education. Our local school was terrible but do investigate your local state schools first.

I'm not sure our face will fit, we are certainly not mega rich! There are SEND issues in our family too. Thank you some great points to consider, I'll look at local state primaries too. It seems there's no clear cut answer with education! Our DC1 is very confident, friendly and happy just want to keep them this way.

I mean, on the whole prep was good. My daughter maintains it did give her a great start in life despite low level social issues which to be fair might have happened anyway. My son could have been treated better certainly.

Senior school was horrendous apart from 3 standout teachers (music, drama & food tech). Reasonable adjustments were refused (sensory issue related).

I have no experience of the prep school, but our child will be joining the senior school at NULS in September (from a state primary). We are neither mega-rich nor even rich, but from our first enquiry, to the open day, exams, taster sessions etc., we have felt hugely welcome, and been very impressed.

Most importantly, our child has been made to feel at home too, and that they fit. They couldn't be more excited for September – amidst a few nerves of course!

I believe the prep school does various open events, so if you visit, I hope you will be made to feel as welcome there as we were by the senior school.

No experience of the prep school. I am an ex-pupil and currently have three in the senior school. I would recommend. Two of my three have moved from state schools part way through high school, so I can certainly make a comparison. As a previous poster has said though, do attend the open events and see for yourself. It is very different from when I attended!