Prep school finishes at 11 where to go till senior school at 13

[Daffodil3003]

Hello

We have two children in Year 1 at a prep school, which they will be at until 11. However, the senior school we want them to go to entry is at 13. Has anyone else been in this situation, with a 2 year gap?

Be brilliant if the prep school extended the years there till 13 or the senior school starts to take them at 11! We don't want another senior school as we love the one we have chosen for them.

Any advice be welcomed.

Thanks!

Well, you can't be sure if they're only year 1 that the school will still look such a good fit by the time they're on year 5 or so.

But as you definitely want to include it (and maybe other 13+ schools) as an option, then you probably need to be looking for another prep that does cover those years and prepares either for Common Entrance (to the right level) or the competitive exams your DC will need to take for that school.

Then think about when to move them. Because many CE secondaries pre-test in year 6. Do you want your DC to be in their first or second prep for that?

I've known people do it both ways - either moving for year 5 so they are settled at the prep before pre-test and the school knows them well enough for a sensible reference. Or bag your conditional offer from the current prep, and move for years 7-8. Having a nice offer might make it easier to join another prep, as that in itself describes your DC's level.

A few local private schools near me only go to 11 because they are 11 plus crammers. The true prep schools who are teaching for Common Entance go to 13. You need to move to one of these. I would do it earlier than Y7 though. You cannot be sure of getting apace if you delay too long. Why do you have to stay where you are if it does not meet your needs? You will find that a 13 plus Prep has more parents/children in it that have similar destinations in mind to the one you want. You will find you are more and more out of step at the school you are at. Transferring at 7 plus is normal.

getting a place......

clearly the prep you have chosen doesn't "prep" for your chosen secondary!

Does the secondary have any particular feeder preps? I'd move them to one of those.

If you tell us the secondary you might get some suggestions on here.

Some of the boys' secondaries I know of have opened "Junior Houses" for years 7 & 8 to cover boys coming from state primaries as well as from the increasing number of preps that finish at 11.

www.themallschool.org.uk/Welcome

It seems very unlikely that a school would extend to 13+, ime the trend is towards 11+ transfer and years 7 & 8 are in decline except in traditional feeders for public schools which still require CE. You may need to look at an alternative prep if you have set your heart on that senior but also bear in mind that the secondary may add y7 & 8 in the meantime to cater for this (Epsom have for example, but separately to the senior school). It seems pretty early to determine a y1's future school and you may find your priorities change.

Proper prep schools go to 13. The Mall have stopped because so few of their parents choose 13+ only entry schools, they mainly feed the London boys schools and Hampton all of which have 11+ entry. There are plenty of proper prep schools in the area try Kings House, Shrewsbury House, Newland House or Twickenham Prep and leave as soon as a place becomes available.

And the cynical amongt us believe that the fashion for taking in more pupils at 11+ has a lot more to do with collecting another 2 years fees for the small incremental cost of employing a couple of more teachers and using an empty classroom than it does with widening access.

I never understood why boys from preps would choose to compete at 13 when they could compete with the (relatively underprepared) state school boys at 11.

Girls from preps have a big advantage at 11... the boys don't take advantage of it!

Thank you all so much! Massively appreciated.

We have a boy and a girl and so ideally want a co-ed school, but would chose single-sex if we can't find a suitable co-ed for them.

We are south Cotswolds and we really like Marlborough College. We would however consider travelling to Cheltenham every day for Cheltenham Ladies, if obviously our daughter would get in. But then we haven't found through our research, as yet, a suitable boys school in the Cheltenham area. We would love a school that is both academic and strong in sport (in an ideal world!)

I appreciate we are looking at this early on and lots can change too in the next 4 years. We definitely need to do more research and also, word of mouth is always a great help but currently new to the area. But, I think general consensus here to move prep schools at either year 5 or 7 is very valid.

Thank you everyone. Much appreciated.

Lots move at 7 to a prep. Earlier then y5. You run the risk of schools being full. Marlborough has loads of feeder schools. If you chose a boarding prep you could leave it to y7, possibly.

Marlborough is co-ed now, though, why consider CLC?

I would look for a feeder and talk to them early. Friend I know who has a child there, had place sorted by end of Year 6, but her ds still had to sit the Common Entrance. The offer was made mainly in the prep school headteacher's report, so it is important to have the right prep behind you.

My DS is going fro a 'proper prep' at 11 - the school loses half its boys at 11 to Grammars and local private schools.
Very few stay on.
I don't know why you would although understand some boys mature later.
CE is tough and you still have to do a pre-test at 11 which is pretty much the same tests as 11+!
Then you have another 2 years of mainly just prepping for CE - and once you've done that you're doing GCSEs a couple of years later!
Most of my friends who've done CE route chose 11+ with younger siblings - far less intense although admittedly still hard!