Hi,

My youngest son is finishing year 6 at Dolphin. My older two have also been through Dolphin all the way. I'd say the academic standards are very high -- you can see that from the list of secondary schools that Dolphin kids get offers from. But more importantly, the academics are tailored to suit every child's abilities and temperament. There's no one-size-fits-all approach to the teaching or the choices of senior schools, so the children don't feel like they're "behind" and under pressure or discouraged if they're not as strong in one area (say Maths), while the ones who do have a talent in that area can work at a higher level and really excel.  

Yes, it's big enough to form sports teams. What's nice is that all kids get to play in fixtures and they really do well considering how small the school is. I think the sports teachers really know how to be encouraging and bring out the best in the kids. And the children themselves are really supportive and kind to each other.

Struggling to think of where it's lacking. Do PM me if you've got more questions. Our family have been with the school for a decade now so I'm happy to share any insights!

Hi,
I would like to hear how you've found Dolphin School since joining? Are the academics there? Is it lacking anywhere? Is it big enough to form sports teams etc? Any pros and cons would be greatly appreciated please

I’m a Hornsby parent and happy to discuss our experience via PM. In short we are very happy with it, it has done very well for our (rather different) children who love their school and I would recommend.

Absolutely zero regrets. My child is THRIVING.

I will use a generally they as I would rather not be identified.

Their confidence is soaring, they are excelling in academics, sports (which they had decided at the other school they thoroughly hated), they have been on several really fun field trips that have thoroughly engaged them in their learning. Their friendships are happy, drama free, and they spend their breaks building hedge hog houses on the common and setting up woodland stores with their friends, using bits of twigs as their currency. At the other schools, the children would spend the entire time trying to organize their play that they never got down to actually playing.

They are invested in their own learning as something they feel internally compelled to do, not something driven out of fear or guilt. My child is reading more than ever before- completing the entire Harry Potter series in a month over christmas, and beginning for maths challenges and to do home science experiments. They have been enjoying their 11+ prep and finding it not stressful at all. This was NOT the case before. They were having to miss school from anxiety.

The teachers know my child so well and everyone knows their name and they know everyone else.

There has been loads of music, performances, and the big year 4 trip, which no isn’t a ski chalet, but they are absolutely thrilled and beyond excited about it and it’s packed with really incredible team building fun.

Boys play with girls, which was something we found uncommon at other schools. It also means their relationships have been wider- it’s not boys vs girls, and when it has been, it’s been in really good fun.

They are kinder and more thoughtful to us at home including siblings, engaging us in interesting topics and philosophical conversations, and have been using their school learning as a means of engaging us at home (ie- recent honey bee topics resulted in a building project of their own accord in our garden).

My husband is involved more so than me at the minute and we still feel very welcome. It’s a very open and welcoming group.

I used to read other dolphin parents reviews and think they were drinking some cult koolaid, but this ain’t it. It’s a great school and we’ve been so so pleased with our move. We want to send our other children too and would greatly encourage you to go have a look around and take my points on board above for what to look at. Best wishes to you

Hi,

Just wondering how you've found Dolphin School? Are you happy with it and are your children enjoying it as you hoped? Any regrets?

I realise you've mentioned they are too far from you OP, but I would like to post another vote in favour of Newton Prep, in case anyone else picks up this thread.

We've been nothing but impressed in our 5 years there so far. Academic but caring, lots of extra curricular and good facilities (v impressive music programme) Teachers and head talk to the children like individuals. We joined at nursery level and it was a great 'cuddly' environment, now they are pushing kids more to focus, but it certainly doesn't feel excessive.

More multicultural than from what I've seen of many other local schools too - non-white parents have  told me this was a key reason they felt more comfortable choosing NP over other local options.

[quote=mumzytumzy post_id=285258 time=1676368703]We are leaving Thomas’s after three years there. Our child is starting in year four at Dolphin and we couldn’t be more thrilled. Honestly, if we could start tomorrow, that would be even better.

Thomas’s has a very strong sport program, and they offer loads in the curriculum- outdoor adventure, music, dance, drama, with all the glitz and glam attached. It’s a very strong culture of busyness and as a result, I think the academics do suffer. I also think people get so caught up in the Thomas’s brand that they refuse to look elsewhere. We have several friends with their children in tutoring on top of the 8K term fees. Lots of children struggling to keep up. Lots of anxious children as a result.

The things we loved about Dolphin that sold us:

The head is brilliant and engages children in a very Socratic style which seems to trickle down through all staff. Children are asked loads of questions, and really seem to think through their answers.

The insanely confident children- it was real confidence. We toured loads of schools and the Dolphin children sold the school with their confidence. From nursery to year 6- all spoke confidently and thoughtfully, and felt really eager to share their voices in a variety of settings. It never felt forced or practiced. Attend and assembly and you’ll see how much they all love to share and feel supported.

The year 6 is small so the children get very individual support and as such their results are v impressive.

-It’s a trust- so the money is going back into the school. At Thomas’s, where we are paying almost double, 23 kids per y3 class with one teacher and 1 floating TA- makes you wonder where the priorities are.

-the community vibe- my husband is academic but we are a laidback family. The community felt like our type of people.

-it’s a very balanced curriculum without academics suffering as a result of humanities but loads on offer for music (choir and orchestra plus clubs)

-The relationship based curriculum. Because the children feel supported both by their peers, and by teachers and staff, They learn how to manage their emotions better, and are able to engage with the curriculum better as a result. We are not a Christian family necessarily, but the ethos and the values are still in line with our own and we didn’t feel it was pushy or Christian than any COE school, including Thomases that we’ve attended. Out of all the schools I’ve seen, and those that my children have attended (Thomas’s and broomwood) dolphin is the only one I’ve seen that manages to actually generalize the values rather than just paying lip service to them. The PSHE curriculum is miles ahead of every school we’ve ever seen and as a result, I think the academics are very strong because anxious or rude or difficult behaviors are dealt with in a thoughtful and kind way.

I would also look at Hornsby, which is a bigger, buzzy school similar to Thomases but that is a trust. The headmaster Mr. Reese says they don’t want to be known just for being nurturing, but also academically rigorous. I believe that’s probably true based on their levers results. They also invest all their money back into the school and it shows.

The questions I would ask yourself rather than just academics is about who you want your child to be? A happy confident child can get great academic results with the right teaching. Given how young your children are, that might be some thing that is tough to foresee. But I imagine that you know your children quite well.

Do you want to school that turns out a good polished product but profits and pockets? It’s not necessarily a bad thing but the parents and students may not be top priority. That’s been our experience. Others may not agree and that’s fine.

Other schools to consider a bit further than nappy Valley are Parkgate school and wandsworth prep. Academically, strong small with individual attention, and absolutely brilliant for lots of little different things. If the big brands are your thing, then go for it, but I would put my money elsewhere.[/quote]
Hi, sorry to jump in. I related with the way you describe your experiences from touring the schools recently. is it possible to chat to you to ask more about your views on Dolphin and Hornsby house? Many thanks for the consideration

 

Oh, and as a parent who just went around and toured all the schools recently, I would say lookout for the following things

Try and watch the teachers with the students. Are they engaging? Do the children seem happy and excited to be there? I loved tours that allowed me to see every year group.

Are there children with special needs at the school? To me this is often an indicator of a lot of things. Are they looking for a specific child? One of the things we loved about Hornsby was they have a learning center so to speak for children with special needs. And they don’t kick those students out, but offer them lots of support throughout the curriculum. We don’t have a special needs child, but what they showed me was how committed they were to Individual needs. It takes significant investment to work with children like that and we are all paying the same amount, so what would they do for my child who isn’t special needs? Also, what lessons with my child learn from being in an inclusive classroom?

-how is the school run? Is it a charity or a family owned business or a private business? These things can be really telling. Look at things like facilities and how they are kept and maintained. While some schools may not have big fancy facilities are they investing in technology and other areas perhaps? Are the facilities well-maintained? We saw some schools and even chose the school that doesn’t have the fanciest facilities, but they were well kept.

We are leaving Thomas’s after three years there. Our child is starting in year four at Dolphin and we couldn’t be more thrilled. Honestly, if we could start tomorrow, that would be even better.

Thomas’s has a very strong sport program, and they offer loads in the curriculum- outdoor adventure, music, dance, drama, with all the glitz and glam attached. It’s a very strong culture of busyness and as a result, I think the academics do suffer. I also think people get so caught up in the Thomas’s brand that they refuse to look elsewhere. We have several friends with their children in tutoring on top of the 8K term fees. Lots of children struggling to keep up. Lots of anxious children as a result.

The things we loved about Dolphin that sold us:

The head is brilliant and engages children in a very Socratic style which seems to trickle down through all staff. Children are asked loads of questions, and really seem to think through their answers.

The insanely confident children- it was real confidence. We toured loads of schools and the Dolphin children sold the school with their confidence. From nursery to year 6- all spoke confidently and thoughtfully, and felt really eager to share their voices in a variety of settings. It never felt forced or practiced. Attend and assembly and you’ll see how much they all love to share and feel supported.

The year 6 is small so the children get very individual support and as such their results are v impressive.

-It’s a trust- so the money is going back into the school. At Thomas’s, where we are paying almost double, 23 kids per y3 class with one teacher and 1 floating TA- makes you wonder where the priorities are.

-the community vibe- my husband is academic but we are a laidback family. The community felt like our type of people.

-it’s a very balanced curriculum without academics suffering as a result of humanities but loads on offer for music (choir and orchestra plus clubs)

-The relationship based curriculum. Because the children feel supported both by their peers, and by teachers and staff, They learn how to manage their emotions better, and are able to engage with the curriculum better as a result. We are not a Christian family necessarily, but the ethos and the values are still in line with our own and we didn’t feel it was pushy or Christian than any COE school, including Thomases that we’ve attended. Out of all the schools I’ve seen, and those that my children have attended (Thomas’s and broomwood) dolphin is the only one I’ve seen that manages to actually generalize the values rather than just paying lip service to them. The PSHE curriculum is miles ahead of every school we’ve ever seen and as a result, I think the academics are very strong because anxious or rude or difficult behaviors are dealt with in a thoughtful and kind way.

I would also look at Hornsby, which is a bigger, buzzy school similar to Thomases but that is a trust. The headmaster Mr. Reese says they don’t want to be known just for being nurturing, but also academically rigorous. I believe that’s probably true based on their levers results. They also invest all their money back into the school and it shows.

The questions I would ask yourself rather than just academics is about who you want your child to be? A happy confident child can get great academic results with the right teaching. Given how young your children are, that might be some thing that is tough to foresee. But I imagine that you know your children quite well.

Do you want to school that turns out a good polished product but profits and pockets? It’s not necessarily a bad thing but the parents and students may not be top priority. That’s been our experience. Others may not agree and that’s fine.

Other schools to consider a bit further than nappy Valley are Parkgate school and wandsworth prep. Academically, strong small with individual attention, and absolutely brilliant for lots of little different things. If the big brands are your thing, then go for it, but I would put my money elsewhere.

I think you may find Eaton House is a good fit from your description. We have found it a good balance of academic, very caring, very tailored to girls and a school with a lot of experience. We particularly like that it is 2 form entry, rather than 4 forms like some of the others. The facilities are great. The new Head of the girls’ school came from Bute House over the river which is a big SPGS feeder but has an ethos to minimise competition and let the children just enjoy their learning. We have found her to be really experienced and friendly. She knows my daughters very well even after one term in the school.

Like you, if paying fees we wanted to feel money is helping our child reach their potential. Not necessarily to be the best in the class but to have the opportunity and support to achieve what she is capable of. We moved initially as older DD was struggling at a bigger co-ed prep but the main support was to pay for additional tutoring from the teachers. This was a while ago so I am sure times have changed. She has just got some solid 11+ results including a JAGs offer. I would also really recommend the nursery at Eaton. It is heaven for 2 year olds and very convenient if you have older children on the site.

As other posters have said, all the preps around here are great and will prepare your child well. As you want the 11+ exit and have two girls, I would avoid 13+ schools like previous posters have mentioned.

For context - I have gone through the 11+ process a number of times.... and have kids at different secondary schools.

If you son / daughter is going to get into St Paul's or JAGs - they will get there regardless of what prep school (or local primary) you send them to ! If a super academic secondary is not for them - there is no prep school that will get them in. And even if with the help of the prep school and perhaps some additional tutoring they do manage to pass the entrance exam, do you honestly want your kids to struggle at a secondary school that is essentially too fast paced for them ?

I also would not underestimate how important sport is for kids mental wellbeing. Whether they are future GB hockey players or just want to have a run around. Personally, the main reason we ended up going the private route for primary was the additional sports / music / drama more than for the academics ... academically I am sure my kids would have done just as well at Belleville or Honeywell.

I have to admit that i find this obsession in SW11 with "academics " just a little strange !

I am so happy you have chosen to go and see Dolphin. Mr Gosden is a great Head. Very approachable and very relatable. He is for the pupils. Sian Gates is an amazing Chair of Governors; I have never come across a set of governors who are so visible and involved in the make up of a school. As parents, we get to reap the rewards produced by this wonderful collaboration between the Head and Governors. How many parents can name all the governors on their child's school board?  Its a Trust; fees are cheaper and so already you know there is no money making agenda- its[u][b] all about the [b]children thriving[/b] [/b][/u]and they do!! 

Non selective but very much an academic school. Last year or the year before 28 pupils 21 scholarships (check out the post on Instagram @Dolphinschool.london). Check out the leavers destinations  Even though, the class sizes are small, they still have TAs - quality of teaching is impeccable and each individual's needs are being catered to. Because the Class Teachers are Christian they see it as their duty to deliver creative teaching styles, challenging activities and see to it that the children are pushed and reach their potential to the fullest - So it being a Christian school really is to the child's advantage because they don't see teaching as a job or a career but rather a calling. I as a parent have seen my children's teacher go beyond the call of duty because they love what they do.  

The children go on to great schools- all the school's mentioned by yourself and others in the thread. Being a Dolphin, you are encouraged to make your mark in the world to do something brilliant which many of the alumni don't fall short of. 

The School is proud to sit on Northcote road and has fostered partnerships with many of the local businesses. Lunches are provided by a local restaurant on the Northcote (Al Gusto) and on Fridays I get to attend the assemblies - Which before you make your decision, you should attend- you really get a sense of what the school is all about. The children are happy and full of life. You get to hear the wonderful things the children have been up to and individuals being celebrated for their achievements both academic/non academic both in school/out of school.

Dolphin School is a great community to be a part of regardless of your faith. I cannot sing its praises enough.

I hope you find the right school for your child. 

We chose Dolphin School and couldn't be happier. My older two have left now to a top London day school and my youngest is still there.

What I really love about their approach is the ethos that happy children will do their best in exams. I compare this to my own school experience, which was very traditionally academic (lots of homework and rote learning) and intensely competitive (streaming from the age of 8) and I know that's definitely not what I want for my kids.

Dolphin's approach is very child-centred -- the academics are a core focus, but each child's strengths, including sports, music, drama and art, are also nurtured and celebrated.       

The small classes mean that the staff have an excellent handle on each child's academic abilities. For example, my three have turned out to be real Maths nerds -- the school identified this early on and ensured that they were challenged beyond the national curriculum. Although we didn't tutor, my oldest was offered academic scholarships at all the secondary schools he applied to. 

Equally importantly, the staff also get to know all the kids' personalities and interests. My oldest was obsessed with quantum mechanics at one point, and his teacher gave him a Richard Feynman book she'd seen in a second-hand bookstore because she thought he'd enjoy it. My youngest loves football and the school let him and a friend organise and run a little World Cup competition amongst the pupils last year.  

It's a Christian school but as a committed atheist myself I think that's actually a very useful framework to get children thinking about morality and the influence of Christianity on art, culture and history.  

All the schools on your longlist are excellent -- hope you have fun on the open days and good luck with your choice!

Could not agree more with Dudette. Wait and see what your children are into, what skills and qualities they develop. They are still so small.

You have a good list of schools there. I’d also think about the pros and cons of co-ed versus single sex schools. Bear in mind that Dolphin is very much a Christian school and children are expected to take part in prayers and other Christian activities. Hornsby House and Finton House: you have to register your children when they are babies. The wait list is long.

And yes, as Dudette says just because you and your husband are academic, it doesn’t mean your children will be. St Paul’s is academically very pressurised and tends to suit a certain character (basically ambitious, single-minded, confident and thick-skinned). Definitely caters for a real niche type of child. Is that the type of environment that you would like for your children / would they suit it?

Don’t underestimate the importance of sports. Sports helps children develop character and learn important social and brain skills such as problem-solving, resilience, perseverance, confidence and teamwork. Absolutely essential and so many mental health benefits too.

Both my children are at Dolphin and whilst I have been impressed with the academic standards at the school, I am also happy with the rest of their education - sport, music and arts etc. The small class sizes are great for those really talented children to extend them where they need it, but support in other areas too which they will always need.  Its not a pushy place and the parents aren't bad either :) I'd take a look.