Is a prep school worth it over a local independent school?

[Starbright102]

Is a prep school worth it over a local independent private school? As you work through the years, the prep becomes more and more expensive - obviously facilities are great and education looks good - kids go on to great senior schools but regular private well thought off too. The prep school claims to have a great alumini network with annual events etc - how common is it for people to keep in touch with prep friends after they all go off to different schools? Is the extra cost worth it? Any help greatly appreciated

I’m not sure what the difference is? And I say that as someone who’s DS is at a 3-13 private school.

It’s not worth paying more just for the word ‘prep’ in the school’s name - it doesn’t give any clue as to the quality of anything. There are good and bad prep schools. Just choose the school you like best and don’t be swayed be a smart sounding name.

What is the difference between a 'prep' school and a 'local independent private school'?

Confused, do you mean you’re choosing between private schools with one more expensive / posh / further away from home?

Is the independent school all through? How hard would it be to get into a suitable secondary at 11+ or 13+ from a prep school?

Are both financially stable?

The prep school is a day and boarding school. It prepares for common entrance and moving to a senior school at 13. The majority of kids go onto big name public schools with good percentages winning scholorships. Has a reputation for old money type families, some international or from across uk particularly the higher up you go. No boarding in pre prep so enough local kids. Accounts on companies house appear very stable, with significant reserves.

The other one is a private day school which predominantly sends kids onto day schools in edinburgh at 12 which is the normal age for starting senior school in scotland. Well regarded locally but not to the same degree as the first perhaps. Head had been in place 30+ years. Accounts show a small surplus and some reserves.

Well ok but not all 'prep' schools are how you describe this one to be.

It was like a general question that you were asking. But really you just need to compare those two schools for what those particular schools offer don't you

Our independent prep is closing. Another local indy is merging and being taken over by a large prep chain. Both Heads were ousted and on the same days that respective staff and families were notified, those Heads too had been there as Head for years.

Hedging bets, I'd go for the bigger, better funded option, whichever is more financially sound.

I think, but happy to be corrected if I’m wrong, traditionally it was known as a prep school if it took boarders (I’m going back 40+ years here!) and or had a secondary school attached (hence being referred to as a preparatory school). Now a prep school is simply an independent primary school which may or may not have a senior school attached to it.
To answer your question OP, it makes no difference if it’s referred to as a prep school or not. All schools have strengths and weaknesses and what suits one child may not suit another.

Yes, thats exactly what i meant. The prep takes boarders. How do I know which will be best for my child at 4? Feels like a big decision and yet I dont really know what she will like or be good at

The prep school operates more in the same way as public schools. Are public schools worth the extra cost then? At senior school, they are also double the cost of many local private day schools.

You might get more insight if you post on Scotsnet, I’m guessing the prep school is Cargilfield in which case it usually gets glowing reviews here.

Thanks for the suggestion, I tried scotsnet but no replies unfortunately. The prep is belhaven hill, it seems pretty similar to Cargi, its slightly more rural and the other side of Edinburgh. Prep schools are rare in Scotland. I wondered if anyone in England could offer general advice on whether a prep was worth the cost over a standard private. The on site facilities etc are much better but whats the main reason people choose to spend the extra money?

On financial viability of schools would look at total pupil numbers and class sizes - too small could indicate an issue - and avoid single sex.

I’m strongly anti boarding so wouldn’t choose a school with boarding in the primary years, even if my DC would be a day pupil.

Also (& this is hypocritical) wouldn’t choose a super expensive one because of the wealth of everyone sending DC there - the lack of socioeconomic diversity is bad enough at lower priced private schools IMO!

Common entrance similarly wouldn’t appeal as wouldn’t be looking at any schools still requiring it, nor boarding, for secondary.

Regarding why people pay, the buildings are pretty, facilities great and presumably staffing will be high. I know a few british parents with DC at similar schools and they went to similar schools, got a discount for secondary 6th form (one has a DC super talented in a sport - national team etc) and / or are very rich. A few others from overseas, also very well off.

People pay the extra because they want their kids to board at a senior school, if you want your kids at a day school in their teens then it would be very rare to send them to a prep where it’s all about gearing them up to board full time at 13 so usually weekly boarding or flexi boarding in the prep.
i honestly think that’s the only difference, do you see your 4 year old at a big name public school, in which case definitely the prep, or do you want them at home and day school throughout, in was case the independent.

I would think- and Cargilfield does this- that the prep might have longer school days but doesn’t send kids home with homework as they complete it within school times. The longer school days will likely have more enrichment activities. The independent school (Heriots? Compass?) will have a normal school day and lots of clubs after school. Like others I would simply think of what your child will experience. Belhaven has a lovely setting on the coast. Don’t think Compass has its own sports pitches, but does host hockey tournaments and has a lovely family feel too. I don’t have any direct connection to either though.

Most people know whether they plan to board for senior school or not. It’s really that simple a question. If you do then go with the prep.

This is going from friends experiences with DC at preps and the schools they feed compared to ours with a day school, but from the outside the big difference seems to be how much school expects to be their whole life.

The prep and the follow on senior schools seem to expect all DC (not just boarders) to play in matches or being school on Saturday, sometimes Sunday as well for singers, as well as having much longer days. There seem to be more expectations on parents to be part of the school community. There’s a strong ‘school is your priority’ feeling for any clashes with family events or outside school sports teams.

Our London day school keeps weekends clear apart from the occasional drama show final run-through, and is flexible in allowing DC to attend music conservatoire, take time for high level sport etc during the school day if that’s needed, their attitude is much more about taking advantage of living in a world city to get things you can’t get at school.

Obviously very early to know for sure, but what do you plan for later on?

If you are likely to send her to a 13+ public school, you will need the prep school that goes up to 13, otherwise she will have to find a new school for one year. If you are more likely to go for the day school that starts at 12, it makes sense to choose day school now.

It is not possible to compare preps and other private schools as if they are two distinct groups - there are good and bad within each. All that matters is which of the two schools YOU prefer , people’s experiences in other schools (prep or otherwise) are completely irrelevant.
As someone in the sector I would say that facilities matter far less than people and values. What is the general vibe? Look at the kids - do they seem like the sort of people your child would be friends with, are they sort you would like your dc to become?

I would also be drilling very hard into how viable the school is - are numbers stable, do they have debt, have they made redundancies? This info is hard to find because once people get a whisper that a school is vulnerable numbers fall and it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.

no. They push the children too much and a poor balance of work/play/fun. Too much homework. Longer school holidays so hard to cover when working ft.

But surely it depends on what you’re planning for at senior level?

If children leave the day school at 12, that indicates it offers no preparation for CE. So it’s no good if you want your child to go on to a public school via CE.

The prep prepares children for CE at 13. (Having assisted you in gaining a place for your child at a suitable public school.) That’s its job. Is that what you want?

My daughter is at a prep school in England but she will move to secondary for year 7, just like most state secondary schools. I don’t know that the prep she goes to is any different from a ‘normal’ independent primary, other than that it acts as a feeder school for the boys and girls secondary schools in the same foundation.
I think in your situation it will boil down to what you want them to do for secondary school.

We live about half way between belhaven and compass. Slightly closer to belhaven. Thats right, compass use the council facilities in Haddington. For senior school the plan is currently heriots or EA. Regardless of the primary id always intended only sending her to the junior school until p5/6 to give her a couple of years to settle into the high school before senior school and also, to hedge our bets incase there were any issues with entry (who knows if thats still an issue). Do you think there would be any problem in going for belhaven as the junior school. Both compass and belhaven seem good. I cant find anyone with specific experience of compass. Belhaven feels like the sort of place that would let children be children for as long as possible.

I think you should go for what feels best for your daughter right now. I can’t see why switching at that stage from any school would be a problem. I know people who have switched kids out and in from Cargilfield in the early years, which will be similar as a prep to Belhaven. Just do what feels best for your daughter just now, ensure she’s happy, see how she grows and develops and start looking at next steps for what suits her when she’s p3 or so and you’re looking towards the city.