Year 4: Durston/orchard house/Kew Green/St James Prep

[tecdiv]

Dear Parents

We (in chiswick) have 8yr old boy, interested in academics and sports, going into Year 4. Confused between which school to choose that could prepare him well for 11+(or 13+)?
Especially among the following prep schools: Durston prep, Orchard House, kew Green prep, and St James prep.
Are there any other schools that could have positions for Year 4?

Have you just moved to the area or are you moving from local state? I ask only because there are many states in the area that have pupils going onto privates. Obviously there will be tutoring involved but there usually is in the privates too.

Heathfield house or Ravenscourt Park prep in Hammersmith isn’t too far away (depends where you are in Chiswick). Think most only go to 11. If you want up to 13 you can bus into the likes of Lambrook from Bedford Park everyday.

Unicorn school in Kew

Kew Green prep is run by the same owners as Ravenscourt Park. 2025 11+destinations are quite similar.

@tecdiv :have you reviewed 11+destinations for 2025? For academic child I think Kew College would be a good one. Kew Green Prep shares the same owners with Ravenscourt park. I think 11+ destinations of these schools are quite similar. My DS finished Y1 in Kew Green so I cannot comment about 11+ preparation. My understanding parents cannot rely on the prep only, they will have to supplement with private tutoring, but the prep sets the right environment for 11+ preparation. In state schools it will be lonely to spend a lot of extra time studying while the rest of the class hardly has any homework.

I had a quick look at 11+ destinations. Durston House has more offers from academic schools, definitely more offers from St Paul's at 13+. Is it the one in Ealing?

Orchard House have great success at 11+ and send children to all the top schools. My child is there and I am very happy with it. It is definitely an academic school but the pastoral support is strong so it doesn't feel too pressured. I also have a very sporty child and there are plenty of fixtures and events to keep them challenged. I find the sports provision to be good.

Unicorn school do you know if they have high achievement rates for 11 plus?

Duston. It was announced joining St Paul’s school as feeder school.

I hope this will happen for the St Paul's girls school as well