Destination Schools for Eaton, Parkgate, Broomwood & Thomas' Post Reply

[zanzibar2]

Which of these prep schools have the best results on getting their pupils into amazing secondary schools?

I've read that Broomwood (& sister school Northcote Lodge) have a very impressive destination school list that heavily features Eton, Marlborough and The London Oratory. However they seem to have a reputation for being 'Victorian' in thier teaching approach, and very elitist. Ie, the parents are interviewed by the school - surely this should be the other way around?

Eaton House has a great reputation but I thought the teachers were incredibly disinterested and not at all warm or down to earth during our tour. I've heard terrible things about the care of the younger children, but the school seems to retain this incredible reputation. And they do succeed in getting thier pupils into the best secondaries in the country.

Parkgate seems wonderful. This is the school I loved the most. Nurturing, engaging and caring staff, happy children. However they don't feature in The Good Schools Guide which I find very strange. Every other school in Clapham is in there. I also wonder where their pupils tend to go on to. Can anyone shed any light on this, do they get thier children into excellent secondaries and which ones?

Thomas's I have yet to look around but again the reputation is outstanding. Anyone with children at the school that can offer some feedback? I hear it's incredibly hard to get a place.

Also, does anyone have children at Honeywell or Bellevue who intend to take them out for private secondary education?

Your thoughts please on all of the above! Thank you, I hope this helps the decision making a little easier. Schools are an absolute minefield!

[ready2pop]

The destinations for 2010 leavers from Broomwood, Northcote and Eaton House are all listed on their websites. We are looking at these schools too and from recollection I think Eaton House had more boys going off to Eton, Westminster, Winchester... than Northcote did. Northcote seemed to mostly send boys to Marlborough, Wellington, Harrow and Charterhouse. Both had quite a few into Dulwich college.

I think both tend to send more leavers onto boarding schools than day schools, as opposed to Finton House and Hornsby House where children tend to head to day schools or selective state secondaries.

[ready2pop]

PS - don't know anything about Parkgate I'm afraid.

Oh and if you are interested in Eaton House you need to have your name down very very early.

[zanzibar2]

Thank you ready2pop, really helpful as I hadn't found the leavers' lists on the school websites. Does anyone have similar info on Parkgate House school?

[GWcouns]

Please don't believe all that nonsense about Broomwood/Northcote interviewing the parents - its not true. Yes, we went in for a meeting with the head before deciding on sending our son there, but it was a meeting, so we could ask questions etc, and I suppose so that the school can get a clear picture of your expectations from the school, if your expectations don't match what the school offers, there'd be no point them offering a place really. So in that sense maybe it is an interview - but certainly not in the sense that they'll only take the boy if they 'approve' of the parents. As for it being victorian in attitude - again that is not true. The teaching is excellent, there is a lot of nurture as well as education, yes maybe the demographic is different than you might find at a state school, but isn't that true for all private schools? The parents I have met since my son has been there have been a mix of some who I can relate to and have become friends with, and some not, the same as in all schools. Go and have a look, its the only way to decide if its for you or not.

Parkgate - its a very sweet school - have had a few friends with kids there over the years, but none past the age of 8. Lots of people I think send their kids there for the early years, I think thats where its strengths lie, but not sure about where it feeds - don't think its one of the big hitters

Hornsby House is a superb school but as previously stated it feeds mostly day schools, although I know quite a few boys go from Hornsby on to a prep, like northcote, to do the 2 year common entrance syllabus if they are to board.

Thomas's - not my cup of tea - and as far as I know it empties out in the last couple of years, the common entrance bit - as most kids go to day schools, leaving a skeleton few who are going to board

Hope that helps

[scrappybluecat]

I can really only answer for Thomas Clapham which does go up to 13. Definately a "big" school and not for the shy and retiring child but full of amazing opportunities. Tries to get the children into the next school that suits THEM rather than anyone else! Has great results. Yes, they are quite difficult to get into but it is easier as you go up the school as people move out and more places become available. I would highly recomend it as a school.

PS Northcote Lodge has very good results whatever else you might hear and the boys do most stay on to 13. Hornsby and Parkgate mostly the children leave at 11 and go to London day schools. I cannot really comment on Eaton House except that we have a number of friends with children there and they love it!

Good luck!

[MGMidget]

Some of the schools include leavers destinations in their brochures if they are not on the website.