Assuming you mean Berkhamsted (with no “p”) in Hertfordshire? There is Berkhampsted prep in Cheltenham....
If it’s the former then you have hit the nail on the head with your feel from the virtual open day. It is very business like. Quite pointy elbowed competitive parents, flash cash (most have moved out of London) and they do ask children to leave on a regular basis as they are not making the grade. Hence a lot of tutoring goes on outside school.
However, for the right child it’s a brilliant school. Children are confident, sport is big (although the emphasis is more on those who are good at it as opposed to sport for all), academics are great and children really pushed. Huge amount of extra curricular stuff.
The grounds at the pre prep are fabulous. At the prep the children are confined to a small concreted over area. It’s functional and about as good as you’re going to get in a school in the centre of town, but if outside space and getting muddy is important then it’s a consideration.
Places are highly sought after, particularly in the pre-prep, with waiting lists. More places become available in Y3 and above. They have a bonkers admissions process for the girls school with exams being taken before Christmas and offers sent out just as schools break up. They only offer to the very brightest at this point with large numbers put on waiting lists. It is used as a backup school for the Bucks grammars, St Albans, Habs girls etc so as soon as those places are offered in February / March time, there is huge movement on the waiting list. Put it this way, everyone at our school on the waitlist got a place, including those in bottom sets. It’s not as highly sought after or as academic as they make out, but those children who aren’t as bright do seem to do very well there. A few children in the prep are not given places at the girls school each year so there’s no guarantee of moving up the school (although most do). With no preparation for 11+ exams you might find yourself a bit stuck if you are one of the unlucky ones.
It’s honestly a bit marmite. The girls school has a better feel than the prep to be honest. I have lots of friends with children there who are all unanimously happy with it and their children are doing well.
One consideration could be to send younger girls to Hetherton House. Part of the Berkhamsted group but a totally separate school. Much nicer feel and the girls are prepped for exams at 11 meaning you keep your options open. Girls get priority places at Berkhamsted girls.
Other good preps in the area are Westbrook Hay, Chesham Prep and Beechwood Park - all of whom send plenty of girls to Berkhamsted each year.
I guess what I am saying is that for the right girl it’s an excellent school - if you’re academic, sporty, confident and got a bit of money (think sixth formers with minis and Fiat Puntos). Any hint of SEN then it’s not the right place.
My daughter came out of the open day last year and said, “Please don’t send me there mum”. But then again she loved schools that her friends who have gone to Berkhamsted hated.
So hard to chose a school without being able to see them in real life. Just my thoughts - hopefully you’ll get some other opinions on here too.
Good Luck!!!