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

Hi @Starbright102our son is moving from a local prep in Essex (goes to 11) to a well known prep in central London (goes to 13) in September. Our loose plan is to move to Edinburgh for senior school.

This was a very difficult decision as the Essex prep is a really fantastic school with a lovely, warm, supportive environment - but feel free to PM me.

If you are planning for your daughter to move on to Heriot’s or EA, I would go with Compass.

Im a bit concerned by the wording of their annual reports suggesting that leavers are not always getting into their first choice edinburgh schools

If your child didn’t get into P6 at EA following 5 years at Compass, that would suggest an issue no schooling could have accounted/corrected for.

Heriot’s is perhaps different as it suits a more academic child and they don’t seem afraid of turning away those they don’t think would thrive there (read more on Scotsnet). Though, I’m not sure Belhaven is the answer to this as most of their P6+ intake will be Edinburgh state schools.

I think simply the experience at EA and Heriot’s as typical Edinburgh day schools will be familiar and similar to Compass.

Belhaven is also a great school, but I’d look into the hours children tend to spend there and whether that aligns with your family life. Also, at Belhaven your child will be being prepared for boarding school life and not following that path and removing them at the end of P5 could be quite confusing as all their friends continue that path.

P5 at belhaven still has a sizable portion of the year not boarding and with the pre prep not able to board i think this % will rise. A previous senior school head of heriots is a governor at belhaven and I see heriots have attended their senior school fair for the past 2 years.

I agree that id hope after 5 years at compass most children could get into EA which is why im so surprised to hear that so many children aren't getting their first choice school - why not?!