It does sound like we would be a good fit for your daughter here are Wandsworth Prep. We are small and nurturing and firmly believe children should be children. She might really like our weekly trip to Forest School and we have a good balance of music, drama, sport, playtime and academic work. We have a very dynamic new Head who would be happy to speak to you (only via Zoom unfortunately at the moment) or call Maria in the office 02088704133, or email me jane.fox@wandsworthprep.com. Good luck with your search, if you have not already I am sure you will find the perfect place for her. 

We've also found Newton Prep in Battersea very nurturing - just mentioning as everything else has been already but great for our 5 year old, and quite a broad range, not just academic focus

Do take a look at Dolphin School on Northcote Road. Two of my kids are there, and my oldest has just finished year 6 there as well. It's small and nurturing, with great academics, teachers who really care and a belief in celebrating everyone's talents, whether that's academic, musical, sporting or otherwise. The registrar, Viv Benson, is extremely friendly and warm and a good first point of contact. Also do pm me if you have more questions.

Hi - if you want a school that will focus on your child being who she is and developing HER talents, you could look at Dolphin School on Northcote Road. I worked there a while back, and the children were amazing.

So sorry you are in this predicament. I remember how much time and energy we put into choosing schools for our two when they were younger. One school that hasn't been mentioned is The White House. An absolutely wonderful school in our experience. It is family run and hands on run, kind, nurturing as well as offering high standard academics. Good luck choosing a new school I think that the upshot is that you have a lot of options if this thread is anything to go by so although it will be a pain in the short term you should be able to find the right fit school for your daughter and your family. I wish you all well.

Hello, I’m so sorry to hear about your daughter’s anxiety.
I found that lots of schools in London are unfortunately a bit like that.
Have a look at Wandsworth Prep School. It’s small, they truly care and have understood that it was important to let a child be a child as these years past so quickly. I have been so impressed with them.
Good luck and I hope you find the right school for them

Entirely understand the frustration. We are also foreigners and avoided the school you mention because we were lucky enough to hear of its approach by someone who worked there.
I would recommend looking at Finton House. There is a lot of inside/ outside school, den building, farm visits (even now) they are great on emotional regulation and yet the academics are very good. They don’t need to push hard in case of covid closures because their remote offering really worked last term (and they had a number of new starters joining from other schools in the area as a result).

Hi, it sounds to me like your child needs space to be a child. Which sounds ridiculously obvious but some of the stories I hear about local schools make me doubt whether this is the case. I’m not sure where exactly you live but be aware there are lots of really great state schools around in this area. I can only speak from personal experience but my kids are both very different and have had an opportunity to shine in their local state primary. Granted, facilities not as good as private schools and they don’t prep your kids for selective exams at 11+ so that is work you have to do yourself, but I’m happy to see that they’re achieving their potential academically and really happy in their skin and not stressed or pressured.

I hope this helps - you certainly wouldn’t need to hire a tutor to get into any of the state schools and you may have some luck with waiting lists freeing up as there is lots of movement in and out of London.

I would also recommend looking at Eveline Day (in Balham). It is a small school and lots of focus on drama & arts. There is plenty of reading, writing and maths but it is very balanced overall. The head is very quick to reply and to help parents in this position (we moved our daughter there this year & we were in a similar place over the summer).

So sorry that this is becoming such of an issue for your daughter. Well done to her for admitting she has been sneaking the odd answer or two so that she can get the answers. How awful to feel so pressured at such a young age. I would say a change of school is exactly what she needs needs.

I think that the above poster makes a great suggestion. I would also suggest that you try Hornsby House. 

In terms of moving her out of school and or getting her a tutor. I would be tempted to try get an appointment with her form tutor and her head of her year and explain what you are seeing and experiencing. I'm not sure moving her out of school will help unless she is moving to another school. If she is streamed, unlikely I know, I would ask for her to be moved to a lower ability group.

Try and keep it light hearted and make sure that out of school isn't school work heavy and most of all make sure it is fun.

Good luck with it all.

Vista321 wrote: ↑Tue Oct 13, 2020 1:28 pmHi confusedinthecommons

I understand completely what you are saying and hands down recommend The Roche School in Wandsworth for your child. I would make an appointment to see the Head - Vania Adams.

Best of luck

Thank you, I have just sent an email to her about an appointment. 

Hi confusedinthecommons

I understand completely what you are saying and hands down recommend The Roche School in Wandsworth for your child. I would make an appointment to see the Head - Vania Adams.

Best of luck

.