King’s Canterbury/ Sevenoaks/ Brighton College/ Benenden

[TheFlyingAspidistra]

I have name changed for this as I have posted a lot about DD’s prep in the past. So the time is now almost upon us and we need to decide this year which school is next for DD(9).

She is very strong academically, particularly maths, very musical and reasonably sporty. We have looked at all three above online, but no visits as yet, although we know people with children at all of them, we are looking for any recent experience of them.

I think probably most important is a very good maths department as she is quite advanced in this area and the thought of her having to sit through years of stuff she already knows would not be good (already had this with prep). Music also important as she plays two instruments and sings. Any ideas anyone?

What does your prep school advise?
Kings Scholars route for Canterbury? If her CATS scored are high consider this route. Brilliant for well rounded bright children. Brighton College so on point with all their PR media liaison whenever there’s an article about Education or photos of beaming children collecting marvellous results they always seem to be featured so I get bored of their over exposure. It’s also become very difficult for children to get into so if you do go for BC make sure you have a good back up.

King's sounds like it would be a good fit. The Music is outstanding and I believe they set pretty rigorously for Maths so able pupils are appropriately challenged.

I can't speak about v recent but I would recommend Kings for all those qualities. I went there as did my brothers (and father and uncle! So span a fair few decades!!). Excellent school all round, I boarded and had a great time and came out with a wide range of experiences and results under my belt

Yes they do sets for all subjects. Maths was my best subject too and was in top sets for that but lower sets for my not so strong topics (although still came out with equally good grades as the teachers teach appropriately)

Thank you for all the comments and insight. DD’s prep will most likely recommend King’s as they send a lot there every year, so I am just trying to consider alternatives.

I don’t know what her CAT scores are as they are never shared with us. I do know though that in pre-prep, her scores were “off the scale”, in the words of her form teacher who told us this unofficially. I assume that these probably don’t change much from year to year?

If we could have academics and music that would be fantastic as she genuinely loves school. Do King’s differentiate within the classroom even if they have sets?

They didn't when u was there.... there were many many sets within the year though. I always felt in the right set. If u ever struggled though and needed extra help the teachers were always happy to see u 121 (usually during prep time)

See u have a DD... look at Luxmoore if she will board as it is the best house 😉

Have you considered Roedean? Single sex schools for adolescents means more STEM study and greater confidence.

Music unbeatable at King's (Have a listen to their lockdown "Spem in Alium" on youtube). My son left last year and has a place at Cambridge, so can't complain about the academics. On the rare occasion when I would turn up on a working day the place seemed to have a happy, purposeful buzz about it and it is achingly beautiful. There is a genuine equality between girls and boys- it doesn't feel like a boys' school which has accepted girls to make up the numbers. All talents celebrated. International enough to be diverse and interesting without losing the sense of being an English Public School. Canterbury is a great little city in which pupils can develop a bit of independence. There are a few weak spots on the staff but there are also some absolute stars