Private secondary schools in Wokingham area

[Meatycankles]

DC is in y5 and we would like a small private secondary, we are looking at Bearwood College (now Reddam House), Luckley House, and Holme Grange as it's now going up to 16 from September. Anybody have any recent experience of these schools?
It is very important to us that we have a small class size, around 15, so state wouldn't be suitable unfortunately.
TIA.

Son currently at Waverely House Prep school and loves it, have got plenty of friends with children at Redham House, but in the main they have all been lured there with up to 100% discount on school fees. The buildings are grand but very old and a lot rooms are in disrepair, although I know that a lot of money has been spent. I had a look round and agree with some of the other comments that it was soulless, there was no life in the buildings, there seem to be void of warmth! and the swimming pool and sports hall were very lacking, there is no dispensation for children with Dyslexia taking the entrance exam either.
We looked at Luckley, Holme Grange, Hurst Lodge (Ascot) Sherfield House in Loddon and Redham, out of all the schools I disliked Redham the most even though most of my sons friends are there! We have been now offered a place a Luckley House and their friendly Christian ethos of developing the child, coupled with extremely friendly staff, was definitely a winner for us. They are happy to give children an extra 25% time to do the entrance exam if they have a learning difficulty (which the head at Redham flatly refused when asked) and this was all that was needed for our son to pass the exam. We have now paid our deposit and I have one very excited son, who literally can't wait until Sept 2016. Would recommend Waverley House for up to 11 and Luckley for after that!

Definitely baby brain, did not realise I was on a second page! Never mind about getting into your jeans, when do you get your brain back?

Anyway, thanks to Balanced opinion who told me to look for the report on the Independent School Inspectorate.

Oh look.

Another one of those threads which are colonised by posters who have no posting record on MN aside from this. And who don't use the MN lingo, but who do sound like exempts from PR scripts.

Hi, OP here, just thought I'd update as we have made a decision to send dc to Luckley House in the end. It was a close thing between Luckley House and HG, but Luckley just had the edge in terms of what we personally were looking for.
We are all now looking forward to the next stage in dc's education. Thanks for everyone's input, it was very helpful, informative and enlightening.

www.reddamhouse.org.uk/userfiles/files/Reddam%20House%20Berkshire%20final%2016%2002%2016.pdf

Are you taking about me? That is a bit mean! Where is the list of MN lingo we are supposed to use anyway? i didn't see it here.
Colander How did you get your post off? i have posted mine twice!

You can report your own post. I realised I had put info that might identify me. Also, I was talking about the senior isi report, not the junior.

I wasn't singling out any posters. It is just so very noticeable when threads become colonised in a certain way.

Of course, new joiners have to start somewhere, so I look forward to seeing you round the place, maybe parenting, WOH or preschool education topics (because the more general enquiry about settling at that age will almost certainly be overlooked in a thread with a title about private secondary schools in a specific area). Or of course just in 'chat', or anywhere else.

Thanks Colander. will give it a go. Thanks also Volva, I have posted on a local site as I realised this was secondary after I posted. i just did a search because this nursery is close to my house and this was the one that came up. i am looking forward to getting started too, thank you and see you around!

Beggars, the test that Reddam House use cannot do and does not need extra time because it adapts to the child, you can also sit it in your own prep school so it is less stressful, I am surprised they did not explain that to you? There is a website on it somewhere called ISEB pre-test, quite a lot of schools use it.
IMO if you need extra time to just 'pass' a test instead of needing it to do your best (for a scholarship or getting into the right set or something) then you need a less selective school which you have clearly found and are happy with. Mind you, since he did not sit the test you'll never know if he would have passed or not.My DC needed something a bit more of a challenge, so that's what we were looking for. I always think the best thing about going independent is that you can shop around and find somewhere that matches your requirements whatever they are you are not just stuck with the local secondary.
Good luck for September I hope your ds enjoys his new secondary school!

I have 3 children at Reddam House. 1 in the ELS, 1 in junior and 1 in Senior. I have only positive things to say. They have kept to their promise in all areas. Love the small classes the vibrant decor and the passionate teaching. My children can not wait to go to school each day. That's what a parent wants. The ELS has just received " outstanding" in all areas just after 6 months of taking over. They create a very warm and inviting atmosphere and each room has a teacher and assistant teachers so the children are learning rather than been babysat. I cannot say enough about the staff especially in the younger rooms.