Secondary v Prep at 11

[poppydopolous]

DS needs to move school at start of Y7 in advance of the family relocating to UK in March the following year. We are torn between an independent 11 -18 school or sending him to a prep school for years 7 and 8. We looked at a couple of 11 - 18 schools and we got the impression that Years 7 and 8 were a bit of an add on extra, with the real school kicking in at 13. Any views? Thanks.

Would he have to sit Common Entrance at 13 if eh goes to a prep school ? Fromnthe oens we've looekd at teh 7 and 8 in secodnary shcools are a timeot assess and bring on the chidlren who haven't yet been exposed to the same range of subjects (ie Latin, modern languages) and have an opportunity to try new things so that by year 9 they are similar to those coming in. Socially he might benefit more from joining at 11 and already being part of the school than changing again after 2 years.

sorry for crap spelling

If you were asking should your DS leave his prep school at 11 and go on to his senior school instead of staying until he was 13 then I would definitely suggest you leave him at his prep school. Your situation is a little more complicated though and if I were in the same position I would send him straight to the senior school. I think joining a prep school at 11 is not a good idea, the social aspect being one of the main problems where you are putting a child into a situation where friendships have been formed many years before and where he may find it hard to fit in. I'm sure he wouldn't be the only child joining a senior school at 11 and will be able to make friends easier. At 13 your son will probably have to do the CE or the senior school equivalent to move into the senior school but he will have been prepared well for this for the two years.

HTH a little. We've managed to put 5 children through the Indie system (still 4 at school) so we do have a lot of experience. If I can help with any queries then please do ask. xx

My son went to prep school for years 6,7, and 8.

He'll be going on to a boys' independent day school in Sept.

It's worked well. He's had three years at prep school and it's helped him grow up socially and emotionally in a more supportive atmosphere than a secondary school could have been.

I think it depends on what you want in the future.

Round here the only children that stay on at the prep until 13 are the ones who will take Common Entrance and go off at 13. They actually call years 7/8 the Common Entrance Stream. As there are no local public 13plus schools this means it is those who are considering boarding.

Everyone else leaves at 11 for a secondary school whether it be private or state. A few children join the school mine will hopefully go to at 13 but not many, the majority go at 11.

We moved to the UK when eldest was about to enter Year 7. We were late on everything, so the only place we could find was in a traditional prep school.

It worked out really well. He went into a class of really nice boys who were very sporty etc. He got the individual attention needed to enable him to catch up with the curriculum parts that were lacking, eg French.

It was also really nice for him to be at the top of the school for a couple of years, and was able to be a prefect, get a decent part in the school play, etc.

He joined the senior school we had originally targeted in Year 9 and has really flourished. The prep school curriculum covers a lot of Year 9 work so it was an easy transition academically.

As for Years 7 and 8 being add on extras - no, they are real years. They are two precious years in a young person's life. I really think a 13+ transition is good for boys, but 11+ is better for girls. Girls are really ready to move on somewhere in the middle of Year 6, but boys are happy to stay in the smaller environment.

Poppy,
I have a fairly pragmatic approach, so I would try to find out about the admissions process for both the prep school and senior school at 11+, and again the senior school at 13+. You basically have to have a senior school goal, and then do what it takes to meet it. If the chosen senior school does not have a CE intake, then you have your answer. If it is a choice, then seriously consider the prep school first route. Your DS may value the extra nurturing and support that a prep school gives given than he is moving from overseas.

Prep schools tend to let them stay as little boys for longer. This suited my son for various reasons: he was quite shy. It's been my experience that my daughter was more socially mature at 11 than my son, but that probably varies from child to child.

My Ds will go into year 7 of his prep school this Sept when the prep school has a new intake. Each year the school get on average about another 5 or 6 boys/girls starting (though it is mainly boys normally)
Prep school and moving at 13+ is far more suited to boys who do mature at a slower rate than girls. My son is looking forward to being nearer the top of the school with the possibility of being a prefect, head boy, librarian etc in year 8 and in year 8 they are allowed to use the main stairs (funny what he is getting excited about!)
He will be doing CE but then again most of the senior schools around us (unless they are 5-18yr schools) don't start till year 9 anyway.

I personally would advise going and looking at the prep. My son has had 2 new pupils join this year and they have fitted in perfectly into established friendships so I wouldn't worry about that.

best wishes