Anyone applied to Maida Vale School?

[Usernamealreadyexists]

Very interested to hear about thoughts about this school and the admissions process. Seeking a nurturing secondary for my DS and this is on my list. I’d be grateful for any insights.

[Binterested]

I have ! On a recommendation from a friend with a child at Kew Bridge House. I can’t say anything about it really as I don’t know anything at this point more than you do!

The application process seemed smooth and not too stressful. I get the impression it won’t be excessively high pressure academically. I am not clear yet what the sports provision will be like (that’s a priority for ds). Also it’s at the more expensive end and I’m not sure why that should be.

[Usernamealreadyexists]

Thanks for your reply! I guess they will be using the sports facilities at Paddington Rec behind the school. It has fab facilities. Not looking for a pressured school but would like it to be academic. I guess they need to recoup fees from the massive investment into the school. Did you look at any others? Emanuel?

[Binterested]

Yes also applied to Emanuel and John Lyon. Plus Northbridge House as least favourite.

Already rejected from four more academic ones .

[Usernamealreadyexists]

Ahhhh I hope he gets the school that’s right for him. Knightsbridge School is opening a senior school and so maybe worth looking at.

[Paribus]

Knightsbridge school is deffo NOT worth looking at- take it from a local who knows chelsea schools inside out.

[Stircrazyschoolmum]

I'm also exploring options for next year and have heard lots of positive things from Kew House parents!

Maida Vale seems to have a similar pastoral ethos to Kew House and on the inside track I've heard they are more likely to have spaces this year and next due to being a new school with no established feeders or siblings.

Ideally we'd prefer not to travel north of the river but we are struggling to find a safe/banker co-ed option as Emanuel has gotten crazy popular.

Is the commute from Clapham Junction doable?

[Usernamealreadyexists]

@Paribus are you able to explain why? I have no knowledge of the school.

@Stircrazyschoolmum there is a direct bus to very close to the school from Victoria otherwise circle line to Paddington and change to Bakerloo and walk from MV station. Or check overland train options to Kilburn High Rd.

[Paribus]

@usernamealreadyexists, afaik, their prep school is awful- no studying, no “prep” to talk of, kids are not learning anything, more babysitting service than a school really. I know a lot of parents who just took their kids out and left. Has an awful local reputation i must say. Can’t see how their senior school will/can be any different.

[Binterested]

There’s also to be a new senior school at Kensington Park School.

[Usernamealreadyexists]

@Paribus thanks you for the feedback.
@Binterested yes I saw this but I was told it has no library.

[Rockylady]

@Stircrazyschoolmum should consider Kew House school rather than Maida Vale? You have a direct train to Kew Bridge from Clapham Junction.

[Stircrazyschoolmum]

Rocky I was initially looking at Kew as you are right, it’s an easier journey, but I’d heard it’s gotten v oversubscribed and most places go to ‘feeder’ schools. (Correct me if this is wrong!) Maida Vale was suggested as a school with a similar feel but potentially more spaces as it’s new. On reflection it’s probably too far away and we’ll probably be better off having a look at Ibstock.

[cakeisalwaystheanswer]

stircrazy - please don't let hearsay or posters put you off looking at schools, do your own research. Kew has a link with it's two prep schools and made 31 and 34 offers to each of them last year according to their websites. But of these only 15 and 12 places respectively were accepted, 27 in total leaving lots of places for those applying from elsewhere. Look at the prep school websites to confirm this.
By giving preferential places to the prep kids Kew have made it quite clear that they have different priorites than chasing the league tables but still some parents try and make out that it is a co-ed St Pauls. Oddly you think that it will be easier to get a place at Ibstock a school with much better results and it's own prep which I suspect would have about 50 places. Go to a Kew open day and the open day for any other school you are interested in and talk to the schools themselves. To get information about results look at the Govt website, link below.

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/schools-by-type?step=default&table=schools&region=all-england&for=16to18&orderby=ks5.0.TALLPPE_ALEV_1618&orderdir=asc

[Stircrazyschoolmum]

Thanks cake! Good context. :-)

[MajesticWhine]

I went to the open day for Maida Vale. It's still a building site, but it's going to be quite impressive. I might apply for DD3 for 2021. It is mixed ability, and my impression is it will be quite nurturing. They will use Paddington Rec and Regents Park for sports. Unfortunately, there is not very much outside space on site.

[kozano]

We are and we got offered a place. We liked the place after a good chat with the owner Mrs Gardener. This is for a very academic DS who needs good pastoral care and nurturing. It's still our back up as assessments are ongoing and he's still entering intervies etc for City, St Paul so on, but overall we are impressed with the Maida Vale school. It looks like they will get very personal education and this is very valuable for us.

[Binterested]

Are offers out then ?

[kozano]

We got ours yesterday in post (Saturday)!

[Binterested]

Ah ok. Our post is useless so no surprise there !

[Usernamealreadyexists]

Thanks you all for your insights. The Gardner group of schools has a great reputation and so seems like a good bet. Best of luck to all your kids.

[Binterested]

Offer arrived today so that’s good. Erring towards that over Northbridge House because of the warm words on here and elsewhere about the group behind the school. There are two schools we have yet to hear from - either of which would be my preferred outcome because of the facilities. But nice to have a safe offer.

Also NBH want. £2k deposit by Friday midday which feels like taking advantage of parents’ anxiety since some offers will still actually be in transit by that point.

[Usernamealreadyexists]

@Binterested what are your thoughts about NBH for a bright child who needs a nurturing environment? I spoke to a parent last week who didn’t seem impressed with academics but said his child wasn’t academic. I’m hearing mixed things.

[Usernamealreadyexists]

@Binterested congratulations on the offer!

[Binterested]

What I’ve heard from NBH parents is that it’s like a comp but without the lowest tier of students by attainment. So no bells and whistles but no risk of being dragged down by underperformers and poor behaviour. This is worth something to me as I went to a comp where this was a real problem. But I’m not convinced they are doing enough with what they’ve got. I don’t know about nurturing - I didn’t get any impression either way.

I think some of my bias against it is that I spoke to an educational consultant who was frustrated with it - and I thought the request for a deposit before offers are out was poor. They’ll no doubt make a few thousand that way but I’d rather their business model was based on providing a really good experience to students rather than exploiting parents’ anxiety. All the schools could play that game but they don’t.

Interested to know if I’ve got the wrong impression here. Any NBH parents want to chip in ?

[kozano]

We're not a fan, having left NBH at year 1, we found it too commercial and not personal. But as usual, there are thos who like it.