The Mead - private schools in the area

[ShelleyRio]

I’m looking at moving my son to The Mead school in Tunbridge Wells. I had a good feeling at the viewing, and felt it was a nurturing and encouraging environment. My son enjoys learning and is doing well academically at his current school, he also loves sports. We’ve considered Rosehill and Somerhill too, but we feel that The Mead would suit him better as it feels more community based and all round more nurturing. Whilst the academic side is of course important, I also want to find a school that encourages all aspects of a child’s development inside and outside the classroom. I’d really love any personal experiences - good and bad - about the Mead. It’s a big decision to move him and I’m really feeling the pressure to make the right decision.

It was a brilliant school but has changed beyond recognition since it was bought by the Wishford Group who are Private Equity funded. So many excellent staff have left as a result.
That said it's smaller than other independent schools in TW so is by default more nurturing. It doesn't compare in terms of facilities with Holmewood House, Rosehill and Somerhill.
My DD went to the Mead but I wouldn't send my grandson there. I prefer Russell House for a smaller school or Hilden Grange or Hilden Oaks in Tonbridge.

It depends on what it is you’re looking for. It’s not a prep school as it only goes to Y6. It’s just a private primary school essentially with very limited facilities. I wasn’t sure what it has to offer over a small village school.

Would you go back into state afterwards? Or would you need to move again for Y7/8?

Rosehill is very nurturing but if you’re looking for academic and sporty then that would be HH. But it isn’t as nurturing as the others.

so what is it you’re looking for?

I’m definitely looking for a nurturing school. I’m not really after the bells and whistles so to speak. However, as my son enjoys sport id like him to have opportunities to play. He’s currently in a class of just 8 kids so I don’t feel he’d settle well into a huge class or school environment. I understand all schools have their pros and cons. For him he’s not getting what he needs socially in such a small class, so I’d like to give him more opportunities in that respect.
we’d move him again from year 7, hopefully grammar but would have to wait and see what suits him best.

Hi @ShelleyRio I've got two children at the Mead and we love it. Both are happy and doing well academically. We aren't a sporty or musical family so I can't give much insight there. The grounds aren't huge but it hasn't been a problem for us. Year 3 onwards everyone does matches every week against other schools no matter their ability.

One of ours is doing well in all the eleven plus pre tests and the other one it is too early to say but really enjoying school. Do message if I can answer anything specific.

The school is very nurturing - it feels like all the teachers we have experienced really care about and know our children.

Everyone has niggles about all of the local private primaries/preps and there is a lot of movement between them to be honest. If you got a good gut feeling then that's a good starting point and that is how we felt too!

I would go with your gut instinct as different schools suit different children/families. We have several friends/family members with children at the Mead all very happy and they make use of local facilities for sports/ theatre productions etc. Most people we know describe it as feeling like a warm village school but with the advantages of a bit more of an academic push and time for other things due small classes. My nieces just ADORE it! It is definitely a school which feeds more towards grammars at 11 and 11+ independents (so fine for girls independents or those looking at Sevenoaks but wouldn't work for Tonbridge which is 13+). It doesn't have the same drama or sport facilities as schools like Holmewood/ Somerhill with no onsite pool/theatre etc but still does well in team sports and has the numbers to field good teams. Both my nieces are keen on sports and are definitely always busy with something. The one minus that friends mention is parking.

If you are mulling over alternatives it's worth keeping in mind schools like Holmewood feed to independents. V few go to grammars (4-5 out of cohorts of 60+ and if you look at the pass rate on the Kent test data access requests the percentage who pass is lower than several local state primaries). They don't even publish the data for leavers at 11 or give it to you when you ask on tours which I think is telling. Parents we know have v mixed feelings about the direction under the new head bigger wellbeing focus but academics not the same as 5 years ago (their pre prep children are having a very different experience to older siblings). Those that love it are definitely commited to independent schools until 18 and often have quite sporty/ dramatic children. Based on the work/ reading books we saw on our own tours the Mead does seem quite significantly ahead academically (particularly when you look at their writing when flicking through books) but it seems to achieve this without it feeling like a hot house.

If you are on the fence about grammar/independent Hilden Grange (also a bit smaller and more family feel)/ Somerhill (bigger but still nurturing at least based on the experiences of children we know) might also be worth another look. They both feed good numbers to grammar and independent schools. I have only met happy parents/children from those schools but they are both getting new heads. Rosehill is another alternative but we only have friends with experience of the early years (from our tours I would say Hilden Grange, Somerhill and the Mead appeared ahead academically based on work we saw). If you are looking at 11+ schools and specialist sports facilities /theatres aren't a big deal for your particular children the Mead is a wonderfully nurturing school that appears more academically more stretching than some of the bigger independents like Holmewood. Perhaps this is because they are aware that everyone HAS to leave at 11+ so options like boarding at Bedes just are not on the table.

Every school will have families that love it and those that don't and I am a big believer in parental instincts usually being spot on when it comes to finding the right fit! I would go back and look at them all as many times as it takes to get that sort of "this feel right feeling" . Take time to flick through books, look at work on the wall, ask about average reading levels in different years/ percentages passing phonics screeners/ leavers destinations/ learning support/ how they offer academic stretch etc but also just watch the children at play time!

As you mention hoping or at least considering grammars down the line the Mead is probably the best small nurturing option in TW. However, despite its more limited facilities everyone we know has been really pleased with the support their children get and the many co-curricular clubs (stacks). We were amazed by how far ahead they were compared to what we see in our children's classes and the marking was definitely a lot better!! I think when someone asks what it offers over a small village school that's probably part of it! The children are barely writing coherant sentences with good spelling in one of my DCs classes at Holmewood and we were being shown full page stories (with children using things like similes and metaphors) as well as examples of how they were using alliteration and onomatopoeia in their poetry writing .... Perhaps they spend more of their budget on teaching resources and TAs? Definitely not too small for sports teams they regularly compete against us and do well. If sports is a bigger deal would probably revisit Somerhill.

Would agree Hilden Grange is worth a look too as most boys go to Skinners/ Judd at 11+ and Tonbridge at 13+.

Once you feel more decided you could always do a taster day (at one or more of them ) and see how your son feels?

Definitely The Mead. At Holmewood grammar school is frowned upon by head and parents alike. All very well having grounds and it beign all child led but a school should educate. Rosehill seems to be on the last legs - lots leaving. The Mead is academic, nurturing and gives the children true confidence. They are all happy and love school.

Has anyone looked at Kent college Pembury for prep? I’d be interested in your views if so. Thanks