More House (Knightsbridge) St Benedict's (Ealing) St Augustine's Priory (Ealing)

[HappyMama2024]

Hi

Curious whether anyone has had to consider offers from these three Catholic schools.

Interested to hear the pros and cons and especially keen to hear about academic results, pastoral care and sports.

Thanks

I am actually interested to hear any thoughts on theses schools too. Not much on MN about these schools.

More House - very much focused on pastoral care and has small class sizes.

St Auggies - Take a holistic view of the student, everything on one site and they have a farm.

St Bennie's - great sporting facility, coed (65/35)

I do not have children attending these schools but currently have offers from all 3 so interested hear current parents thoughts.

Had a good experience with them through the assessment process, can answer any questions you have about that.

Bumping this as very interested to hear thoughts.

I am More House parent. Very happy indeed with the school. The pastoral care is great, class sizes are small, quality of teaching is excellent and the new(ish) head is dynamic and has a vision for the school. A lot of schools say that they care about each girl individually, but this one really does.

It has a broad academic intake, but supports each girl to reach her own potential - the girls who would do really well anywhere do just as well at MH and those who struggle have great support. It’s a very small site but makes the most of its central London location and there are lots of extra-curricular opportunities. It’s Catholic, but welcomes non-Catholics.

Downsides: because it’s very small, the girls are fishing in a smaller pond, friendship wise and although the sports teaching is good there are more limited opportunities to play competitively.

St Augustines parent here and we couldn’t be happier! I think it’s a happy medium between More House and St Benedict’s in that it is larger than More House in terms of the physical space and facilities (farm, Astro) and year group- but smaller and more nurturing than St Benedict’s. I have lots of friends who have sons at St Benedict’s and love it and I think it is a great school but it is very much still a boys school I feel. That works for some girls and they do really well in that type of environment but it didn’t work for my girls.

I have a son at St. Benedicts. He is very happy at the school and has really flourished since he's been there. We are happy with the quality of the teaching. Sport provision is excellent. Attendance at extra training after school is expected. Saturday fixtures every week for A/B teams. Depending on where you live, pick up from training at their grounds in Perivale can mean an arduous journey in rush hour traffic as public transport options home from there are limited.

I would say that it is quite a strict school. They are pretty hot on behaviour and uniform. There is daily parental visibility of any transgressions and also any achievements/ merits. This might not suit everyone, but I feel it has helped my son become more focussed and responsible.

The school accepts children of all faiths but it is unapologetically Catholic. Prayers are said at form time, twice a day. They go to Mass in the Abbey. From Yr 7 they do 4 hours of RE a week. We are not Catholic but my son hasn't found it a problem and actually found the RE lessons very engaging. If I was choosing a school for him again, I would still choose St. Benedicts. If I had a daughter, I think I'd prefer a better split of boy / girl than currently offered there.

@MuddyBoots21 thanks for your thorough post.

We are catholic and so that aspect is important. However the concern is until the unequal split.

Good to know it is a strict disciplined school.

Thanks

Hello, I hope you don't mind me asking about your experience of St Benedict's. My son has been offered a place there for September and I just wanted to gain some insight into Banding procedures. Do they band from day 1 and leave them in such ability groups until GCSE or is there room for movement in the first 3 years?
Also, what is the parent's scene like? I was hoping to become involved in the life of the school too, both on a voluntary basis and socially.
Thank you

This was for @MuddyBoots21 and anyone else with a son there! Thank you

Hi Oneforeachdecade. They band for Maths from the start and also for languages. They do not band for English before GCSE. The Maths banding in Yr 7/ Form 3 was based on the 11 plus paper performance and perhaps a test when they arrived. There is definitely movement between the bands prior to GCSE. This movement is usually based on performance in half termly exams. My son has yoyo'd between a few bands in the first couple of years.

My experience of the parent scene is probably different as my son started at the school during Covid and so for his first couple of years options to get involved or attend socials were for obvious reasons, limited. They have an annual summer BBQ and Fireworks night that are very popular and a good opportunity to meet other parents. I believe there are also opportunities to get involved voluntarily - helping with second hand uniform etc.

Hello @MuddyBoots21
I hope you don’t mind me asking, are the banding/setting arrangements you mentioned for maths etc, linked to the houses the students are in? I am aware of some schools that put you in a house according to your ability group.
Many thanks!

@Oneforeachdecade did you accept the place at St Benedict’s? If so, what are your impressions so far? Thank you

@ChampagneSally

As far as I am aware there is no link at all between setting arrangements and houses.

Bump