Backup Prep School

[papamaku]

We currently live in SE Essex and our two DDs (11 & 6) are in a good independent (3-11) prep school. There are a couple of ok state grammars in the area which eldest DD has sat the common entrance exams for.

However, as a backup, I started looking at independent senior schools in other areas of the South East (we would move home) and realised how much better their academic results were than the local grammars, and also that their facilities were light years ahead.

So we also sat eldest for entrance exams at NLCS, Headington & St Helen's Abingdon. Part of the criteria for choosing these was to also provide a great local independent prep school in each of the areas for youngest DD.

Eldest DD is confident, bright and reasonably academic (is in top groups in year for all subjects) but her real love is drama, music and anything on stage. Not really very sporty except for swimming.

Youngest DD is more shy (though not overly so) but is very bright (advanced reader) and much more sporty.

We are currently waiting for the results, but as she didn't have the same level or preparation as the local prep schools in these areas, we're not sure if she'll make it.

If she doesn't get into any, I'm thinking that it might be better to put her into one of the traditional (till 13 yrs old) prep schools, so she'll have a couple more years to get up to a level to retry at 13+.

So I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for a day traditional prep school that is close to a town/village/train station that is commutable to London?

most girls going to london day schools go at 11 not 13. a lot of these schools have no standard intake at 13 (although no doubt the odd place may come up) so you might want to approach it from that angle first iyswim. it is more comon for boarding schools out of lodon to take girls at 13.

Bishops stortford college on the herts/Essex border? The junior school goes up to 13, there is an intake of new pupils at both 11 and 13

Bishop stortford college are already doing the exams for 11+ entry, so if you wait until you don't get places elsewhere may find it is full.

Heathmount goes to 13 only and I know children who have got 11+ places late in the year there. Seem to get into OK secondaries at 13.

Orwell Park, Old Buckenham Hall, Barnardiston are in Sussex and also offer boarding so you wouldn't need to move. In fact you could send to any number of school that has boarding which would save a move twice. However if you are looking to move out to Abingdon then there is Cheam, St Hugh's, Pinewood or Dragon which goes to 13.

Would you not consider Oxford High School as it has a prep as well as senior and has a good reputation?

Colleges all those schools are in Suffolk not Sussex,Barnardiston heavy on SEN.

But Oxfordshire is miles from Essex,this seems very bizarre,.If moving to Oxfordshire I would try The Manor

Thanks everyone for the initial replies and thoughts.

@oldqueenie - Yes, preference is to join at 11+, so not having to change schools twice. We're not considering pure boarding schools as want to keep DDs together at home as a family unit.

@thereinmadnesslies - we didn't know about Bishops Stortford College (so many schools, easy to miss some), but will definitely get in touch.

@Colleger - The Dragon is unfortunately chockablock full and we are waiting to hear back from St Hugh's. Cheam and Pinewood seem further out, so am not sure on commutability. We did look at Oxford High but decided it was too high academically (the girl who toured the school with us told of her 4 hours per night homework - definitely too much for our eldest DD) and we didn't really like the prep (prefer schools with grounds around them instead of just being a house on a road).

@mrswoodentop - We've fallen for the Oxfordshire country so happy with doing the move. We loved The Manor and is where we're planning on sending youngest DD if end up in the area.

We have close friends who have gone The Manor/StHelens and St kat'sroute they are delightful girls who have done very very well.
Good Luck

How about St Albans High School for Girls? It goes from 4 -18 (the prep is on a different site in a village just outside St Albans). It's a really lovely school all the way through and sensibly academic without being hot-housey at all.

Our panic is over - she just got offered a place at St Helen's!!! (still waiting on others)

We're so proud of her, and looks like we're moving to Oxford :)