Bute house

[NavSkyWalker]

All,

We are in a dilemma and would appreciate some help here. Our daughter has a place in Notting Hill and Ealing high for reception 2026, and has just been offered a place at Bute house for Reception 26 too

We are obviously delighted about Bute house, however we are also concerned about a few factors.

We don’t live in either area , so will be moving depending on which one we choose

Where do Bute house parents live - Hammersmith itself seems extremely busy as an area . And living else where like Chiswick , Fulham etc , how do parents manage daily commute, play dates and the likes

Additionally is the astronomically high school fees of Bute house worth it compared to NHEHS ? The premium is obviously related to higher percentage getting into St Paul’s / G&L

Regards

NHEHS JS is great - obv it won’t have some
many going to St Paul’s/G&L because it’s a through school and most don’t take the 11+ - probs depends on whether you want those schools at senior level

A lot depends on your family circumstances and resources.
Bute is a lovely school, with great facilities.

I don’s know much about NHEHS.

Thing is about Bute - it isn’t a magical place that turns everybody into SPGS bound pupil.
Girls who come in via lottery at 4 - have a normal distribution of abilities. Some - few - may end up at top secondaries. Most - dont.
2/3 of the year come in at 7+ and those are the brightest from a few schools in the area.
That selection, combined with good teaching really gives Bute iita results / reputation.

So - if you have an academically ambitious family, or your DD is already showing signs of being academic (say reading, curious, counting, great with complex puzzles) - Then Bute just may be the right place foe her and worth it.

Or - if living more centrally is something you’d enjoy. Most families live in Hammersmith, Noting Hill, Kensington, etc.

Otherwise - I’d start at NHEHS and see how it goes. You can ways move - people often do - at 7+, 11+. or later before/after GCSEs.

Ealing is a better place to live. Bute is only better at 7+, not 4+. Its 4+ cohort is just like those of other preps

Bute is a lovely school. But it is not the school that gets the girls into top secondary schools. It is the parents that secretly do a ton of work/tutoring outside of the school. Bute does not want parents doing extra work or tutoring. If I remember correctly early years there is no homework, but parents give their own homework (even though they are not supposed to). Once in secondary the girls are still being tutored.

Hence, I don't think Bute is worth the extra fees and buzz for 4+. In fact, I am surprised Ealing HS fee is so low.

• Ealing High: 21k
• Putney High: 24k
• Wimbledon High: 22.5k
• Hampstead High: 23k
• Bute: 30k
• Glendower: 31k
• Kensington: 26k
• Falkner: 30k