St Martin's vs. Merchant Taylors Prep

[Seashells24]

My son is currently at Nursery at St Martin's (Northwood). A few parents are moving their sons to Merchant Taylor Prep this September for Reception onwards.

Is it true that boys at MTP will now start to go straight through to MTS without having to take any exams? and boys from other schools will have to take the entrance 11 plus exams? If this is the case, I'm wondering what the benefit now is of staying at SM! Since all boys at nearby private schools will have to leave at 13, I guess schools like SM, St John's, etc would all be preparing the boys for the 11 plus exams, instead of MTP who may not now need to Prep the boys for 11 plus exams?

Maybe I am missing something but I'm just wondering why more parents haven't moved their sons to MTP if no exams are needed to join MTS?

Also has anyone moved from SM / SJ / other boys preps at 7+ ... how was the entrance exam for this?

Thanks

Is it true that boys at MTP will now start to go straight through to MTS without having to take any exams

Generally yes. If your son is academically poor / less able he'll be "invited to look at other options" this happens to a few children in each year group and its fair because otherwise they will struggle / always be in bottom end of peerset.

It's how most private schools with prep operate tbh...you kind of buy the place and the secondary