St Catherine's school, Twickenham - prep to senior advice please

[Rugbyscrum]

I'm looking for some up to date advice and opinions on st Catherine's for DD, possibly to enter into yr 4/5 at the prep school and then probably to stay for the senior school: DD is bright and enthusiastic learner (above av. But not top set at current primary) but her confidence can be knocked easily in the wrong setting (ie large/impersonal class, etc). Any advice from MNers out there? I feel she is not achieving her best or being stretched at current primary.

Hi Rugbyscrum, I have heard very positive comments from current parents. Also a friend who is a teacher ( although not at that school) says they have excellent 'value added', I think they track this by the MiDYS test taken in year 7 which tries to predict GCSE grades. It is a Charitable trust and I presume this means all profits are ploughed back into the education of the girls. It has a broader intake than somewhere like LEH and is much smaller without the vast coach network, but would, I think allow a bright girl to fulfil her potential in a nurturing environment.

Thanks Hebe2 (plant lover?), not heard of MiDYS before - what exactly is it? Have heard good things about senior school but mixed comments about the prep school. Do you know anything about the level at which the girls work, eg % working at equivalent of level 5/6 in year 6 or anything like that? How would later years of primary (years 4,5 and 6) differ at st C compared to state school? DD is musical and loves drama and art.

MiDYS is a test taken in year 7 that tries to predict your grade for GCSE in each subject, most indies in the area use it as they track the progress of pupils and the effectiveness of the teaching departments. The average for St Caths is one and half grades higher according to their web site (extremely good value added ). When looking at school choices it's good to find out what the average student achieves. League tables of A/A*s only show how selective a school is in many cases. Perhaps someone with more insider knowledge could expand on this. I really have no idea of the percentage of levels 5/6 in year 6 in the prep dept but would have thought with small class size they could tailor individual learning plans. I do know that some of the more able at maths in year 6 go to the senior school for maths ie work with year 7. As for EC the art department/ swimming pool / theatre are all used used by the prep dept.

Anyone else out there with experience of st Catherine's? Particularly from year 4 of juniors onwards? I'd love to get some more MNers advice etc!