Independent Primary (and Secondary) School in SW London and Surrey

[panda001]

Hi all,

Would really appreciate your advice or experience...

We are thinking of moving our LO to either Reigate St Mary’s (RSM) or Dulwich Prep London (DP) for Year 3. He completed the 7+ at DP and has been offered a place.

We know that RSM feeds into RGS (Reigate Grammar School), and it appears that RSM seem to be going through increase in their capacity. The children don’t have to sit a 11+ and entry to RGS seems to be based on cumulative assessments. Does anyone have personal experience here?

DP doesn’t seem to feed into DC (Dulwich College)... is this right? How many from the prep go into DC? 11+ or 13+? We didn’t realise DC had its own Junior School. [embarrassed] Is the Junior better than the Prep?

Sorry for the tons of questions... Has anyone moved from RSM to DP/DC or the other way around? Which secondary school is better DC or RGS?

What are the children (and parents) like at the schools...?

Thank you all.

RSM won't prepare for other school entrance tests. It is assumed they will have RGS as first choice. That is not to say some don't move though. Do you want coed or single sex? Dulwich probably has better sport facilities and coaching.

Lots of boys from Dulwich Prep go on to Dulwich College, but it is a school that ends at year 8 and so prepares for a variety of destination schools.

If you think you want your DS to go to Dulwich College, then it would be better to start in the junior department (less pressured as an entry point) and sidestep the stress of 11+ or 13+

All schools will support transfer to other destinations than their own senior departments. And with good preps such as these, I don't think you need worry about being adrift of standards.

BTW don't overlook the logistics of the school run. Dulwich Prep pupils can now use the Foundation Coach Service but not all routes and I think at lower priority for places than those from the foundation schools themselves (but check that, it might have changed)

There is no guarantee of moving to RGS from RSM. They will let you know I think end of year 3. As LIZS said they also don't prepare you for other school entrance exams. There is usually a huge waiting list for RSM places although that may have changed due to financial circumstances of families in the area.

I’m not sure you’ll find that many people considering those 2 options together or who have moved between them as there’s a considerable distance gap.

Where do you live and where do you want to live? Do you want a London School or a Home Counties school?

In terms of which is better, it depends on what you mean really. You can look at things like The Times Parent Power that ranks schools by GCSE and and A Levels. Dulwich has got a bigger name, in that more people outside of the area will have heard of it...depends if that matters to you or not.

Sounds like you’re interested in the fact some Preps feed their senior school without the need for entrance exam. Lots do that and you can find out by looking at websites. There are pros and cons of that as a system. It only really works if you absolutely know which senior school you want even when your child is small and their full ability isn’t necessarily clear yet. As mentioned before, these schools won’t do much if any prep for other senior schools. Know too that in no Prep will absolutely everyone be given a pass into the senior school. If your child isn’t seen as being up to it, it can be a difficult time as you think about alternative senior arrangements while most people are preparing to go elsewhere. Plus, lots of people feel that so many years with the same group of people isn’t great and a bit of a change at 11 or 13 can be a good thing. But then on the positive side you avoid all the 11+ stress, which lots of people really hate.

I’d say, that to choose a Prep that feeds into 1 specific senior school without really knowing the Senior is where you want (having visited and knowing lots about it) is a big gamble really in any place. You’re not just committing yourself to that Prep, but really to education until 18.

Hope you’re able to get some useful info about the 2 schools.

Congratulations @panda001. I have friends with boys at Dulwich Prep and they think the school is terrific.

The link below has all the information you've asked about for 11+ and 13+

In summary though, the majority of boys go to Dulwich College (47 out of 92 at 13+). However, they also send a considerable number to other top schools including 16 to Eton, Westminster, Winchester and City of London last year. Trinity, Whitgift, and Sevenoaks are also popular destinations.

www.dulwichpreplondon.org/prep/academic-results/

Personally, I like Preps that send kids to a number of different schools. Fine if lots go to one place, but those numbers from Dulwich Prep showing more than half going to a wide range of schools is good news in my view.

When people send their kids to the Prep at 7, they don't always know how clever they will be or which senior school their personality suits. A school which genuinely preps for a range of senior schools means there are lots of options. But the price for that is usually that you have to sit the exams to get your places. It depends if the thought of those exams fills you with horror or not, but if you choose a school to try and avoid an entrance exam, there's still no guarantee you'll get the pass to go to the senior anyway. So essentially there is no total certainty and you have to accept some twists and turns along the way.

Thank you so much, all.

We live between the two... How does Dulwich Prep compare to Dulwich College (Junior School)?

We’ve been debating whether a 11+ entry/assessment is good or bad. It seems stressful but at the same time a bit worried about schools who don’t seem to need any assessments to get in or progress.

What are the extracurricular activities like at Dulwich Prep v Dulwich College (Junior School)?

Most RSM/RGS pupils live relatively locally. Think about the social side too. Presumably you live inside the M25 in which case driving either way could be nightmarish. Why fix on those schools specifically, there are plenty of others in between.

@panda001 there isn't much in it between the two. My friends think the facilities at Dulwich Prep are better but locally people choose one over the other depending entirely on if they know 100% they want Dulwich College for secondary (the transfer from the junior school is fairly automatic) or if they are still undecided about the senior school they want for their boys.

@LIZS Yes, we are within the M25. Do you have any recommendations for any other schools that are comparable? Do you have any personal experience with RSM/RGS? Thanks

@SouthLondonMommy We are have that Dulwich Prep is hard to get into. Do you happen to know if this is true?
Also any ideas on how Dulwich Prep compares with the Junior School of Dulwich College from entrance exam and successful entry? Thank you

You could look at various in the South Croydon/Purley area which feed the Whitgift schools et al.

If you are asking if Dulwich College or Dulwich Prep is harder to get into at 7, I'd say they are the same. Many people locally will sit both exams and if you get offered one you are likely to get offered the other.

They are both academically selective and there are plenty who fail to gain entry to either. You need to be above average.

Dulwich Prep says they get 80 applicants for 25 places for year 3 entry. Dulwich College says the get about 135 applicants for 45 places. I'm sure both over offer though like all schools have to. Still, that should give you some indication regarding how oversubscribed they are.

I wouldn't base your decision on that though. A prep school doesn't have to be oversubscribed to be a great fit for your child.

Thank you. We would like the LM to go to an all round school rather than something that is push... push to achieve academically. Results are important but a confident and resilient adult are probably more valuable... we think, anyway.

He’s a bit shy and quiet before he gets to know people. Just wondering which one of these would fit a child like ours....? Don’t want him to be overlooked or pigeonholed because he likes to get on with things without too much drama. Any thoughts?

The other thing we’ve been thinking about is whether it’s best to leave him where he is until he’s 11+ or 13+... Any thoughts or experience on changing 7+ v 11/13+?

@SouthLondonMommy. You are absolutely right about not letting demand influence our decision.

Just worried whether we’d be denying him an opportunity by sending him elsewhere... thinking out loud considering which one RSM and DP offer a better education and opportunities in life compared to the other... I hope that makes sense

Anyone have experience or heard of pastoral support in either?

Which one deals with SEN children better? We have found school with a good SEN provision having also better pastoral care for all the other children. Don’t know if that is what others have found too

RSM is not really anything special. It is a nice school which very much serves a local community in the middle of a town. The sports facilities are not great compared to many prep schools.

Dulwich College has a very good and proactive learning support department, and is definitely up for mild to moderate dyslexia and dyscalculia, also dyspraxia and some ADHD (all commonly go together). Boys arriving with EdPsych reports or similar get support from the off, others get screened at some point (it's in the first term after joining for 11+, not sure when for juniors)

Head of Pastoral at Dulwich had her own DS there, which I always think is a good sign

I don't know about Dulwich Prep in current detail. I'll just observe that IME experience it is a somewhat heartier school.

Thank you all. Does anyone have experience or knowledge about Dulwich Prep v Dulwich College (Junior)?

We were told that the parents are notified in Year 5 about whether they’d be going into Dulwich College (Senior) or other schools. Just wondering if we should keep him where he is then reapply for 11+. Any thoughts?

Also deciding between RSM and a SW london prep (Hornsby house) and likely to choose RSM (we are moving to Tooting or Reigate and schools are one but not the only factor) but have some concerns about the main path being to Reigate Grammar only. Any experiences of attending Whitgift or Trijity or Caterham from RSM?

Also noted comments on less than fantastic sporting faculties at RSM - coming from a london state primary it’s hard not to be impressed by the extra land but keen to understand this comment better too? My son is very into sport.