Parkgate vs. Newton Prep - how important is being local? Post Reply

[Southsider]

I’m looking for any advice anyone can offer on how important locality is when it comes to primary/prep schools.

We’re in the process of choosing a reception place for DD (2017 entry) and have narrowed it down to Parkgate or Newton Prep. They’re very different schools I know, but we really love both (for different reasons). There’s lots for us to consider but this is one area in particular I’m totally clueless about.

We live on the south side of Clapham Common so Parkgate is pretty local. Newton Prep is a little further away and I’m fine with a commute by car but should I be concerned that DD’s friendship groups will be less local if we choose a place there? I only have nursery to compare to and all her friends there are very local which she really benefits from.

So two questions really:

1. In your experience is it important at this age for school to be properly ‘local’?
2. If you’re a Newton Prep parent (or know anything about the school), are there many families from Clapham/BTC area? Or indeed at Parkgate (am just assuming yes here!)

Any advice/experience you can offer would be greatly appreciated, as would anything you’d be happy to share about either school in general… Thanks in advance!

[LittleMissSunshine]

Hi,

We had our children at Parkgate House for nursery and have them now at Newton Prep. We live on the other side of the park, so both schools are not really walking distance but Parkgate House was definitely closer.

Parkgate House pupils live closer to school than Newton Prep pupils where the radius spans from Battersea, Pimlico, Balham, Clapham, Camberwell, Vauxhall etc.

To answer your questions:

1) Of course, it is easier if everyone lives closer to school and closer together. So, if you prefer that, than Parkgate House is your choice as her friendship group will be around the Common. Most people live around the streets directly behind Parkgate.

2) There are children at Newton Prep that are from Clapham Old Town, Clapham North, Clapham Common and a little bit from BTC. But as it spreads quite a lot, pupils come from really everywhere. So far, that has not been an issue regarding playdates, but yes, you have to drive further to pick up your children. And of course, it is much more convenient and quicker in the morning, if you just have to walk to school than to drive or take the bus.

[hellokittyerw]

Hello,
We are also choosing schools for our son for sep2017 and we are almost decided on Newton prep.
We are BTC and our only reservation is the commute, especially in the morning.
I imagine all NP children come from further afield,as there isn't a lot of residential accommodation next to the school.

Littlemisssunshine - is the commute difficult for your little one? Does it make her more tired and less likely to enjoy school? As you were at park gate before, I imagine you can compare..
I'm more worried about the first couple of years (reception and possibly year 1), as after that I imagine it gets easier as they grow up.
I understand in the morning it's not recommended to drive because of the traffic, by public transport it would take us 30-40 mins.

Thank you!0"

[SoConfused!]

i woukd try the commute with your kids at peak travel hour (which is when you would have to get on the train). I personally found it horrendous and we ended up going to a school walking distance from your house. I really enjoy the walk to and from school and love bumping into friends and walking home together. My kids are now older and it also makes me more relaxed that when they are walking to school by themselves there are a lot of friends that can keep an eye on them!!

Clearly lots of people do the commute to and from NP so I it's doable! It's just a personal choice but don't underestimate it especially if you think it will take you as long as 40 minutes which is a long time for a 5/6 year old!

[supergirl]

My children are 8 and 6.5. Back in the time we had to pay the deposit for reception place for our eldest we chose the school they could walk to. I am so glad we did.

Do not underestimate the huge benefits of being local to your school ( if everything compare). When they are young, they are tired.

As they grow you ll find the huge benefits of not being stuck in traffic (or getting up earlier) as they will have more homeworks, more clubs and sometimes fixtures games after school. It all adds up and every little bit help.

School days are long, intense as it is you dont want to waste precious relaxing time sitting in traffic. It is my opinion anyway.

[Southsider]

Thank you all so much for all your replies - it’s really useful to hear your experiences

Hellokittyerw, having discussed it more this weekend, we’re also almost decided on Newton Prep. I think it’s an amazing school, with a great atmosphere and so many benefits, it’s just a shame about the location. I hadn’t really thought about everyone at NP being in the same boat when it comes to this though – so true. You never know, we could end up with kids in the same class

LittleMissSunshine, it’s really good to know that you’ve managed to make it work playdate-wise. We’re always happy to travel too On the plus side, it’s probably nice for them to have friends from further afield than Clapham.

While it’s not a lovely walk/scoot to school, I think I‘m ok with a slightly longer commute - in reality it’s not too much further and I work this side of town so I’m (kind of) going that way anyway. I just didn’t want to condemn DD to weekends without seeing her school friends (which is probably being overly dramatic!).

SoConfused!, I’ll definitely try the commute again at school run time before making any decisions. It could completely change things for us.

Thanks again for all your advice!

[Marmot-in-london]

Go local
Walking cycling to school is v good for your child it is meant to be the one thing to increase their performance more than a good b'fast surprisingly the exercise wakes them up. It is better for the environment as well how many more cars to we need on the road.
Also with them starting so young her in UK at 4 I am sure they secretly don't want you too far away why would they?

Good luck a hard choice but definitely walk the commute yourself and time it I did that.

[LittleMissSunshine]

Hellokittyerw - my kids don't complain at all about the way to school, it mostly takes 30min door to door. Of course, I would prefer the school to be closer, but then again, we liked the school a lot. It also took us 15-20 min to Parkgate House, so I guess for the kids it is not such a big difference. In the afternoons I mainly drive as the traffic is much better. I also plan to cycle more the older the kids get.

[hellokittyerw]

Thank you very much LittleMissSunshine and everyone else for the kind advice!

We don't have a more local option (that we'd be happy to take) at the moment...Or rather, I think we are prioritising the school (loved the diversity and facilities) over the unpleasantness of the commute.

Southsider - I wouldn't worry about the weekends, I know from a NP mum that children do meet up at the weekends (birthday parties, etc) even if it means a slightly longer trip.

[lanmum]

Hi
I take both my children to a school which is about 4 miles away. The only problems I've found are when unexpected things happen, for example:
When one child is sick and I have to take them both in the car to school - I don't have a local mum who can pick
up my well child on their way past. Likewise, if I feel terrible, I still have to get them to school in the car!
When one child has an after school club when the other one doesn't - I do a lot of hanging around killing an hour until they finish as its not worth going home!
Play dates are fine if you are happy to do the miles, but I tend to give the friends a lift back - I feel that it's my choice to live miles away, and it's a 20 minute each way drive for them - which is bad timing if they have smaller ones they are trying to get into bed.
School events/drinks/parents do's etc in my case are usually really local, which means I do a lot of driving to events, so lots of sober nights out!
Luckily, I haven't broken my arm, or had car problems, or had a c-section so I couldn't drive, but these would also cause me major issues!
I obviously don't know if any of these things apply to you, and although I wouldn't change schools for the world - I am slightly jealous of people who can walk to school in 5/10 mins!
Hope that helps?!! Xx

[whirlwind]

My children are at Newton Prep and we are very happy with the school. The downside is definitely the fact there isn't a residential area nearby, so 95% of pupils have some sort of commute. The fact that there are 2 train stations and several buses that serve the school means the pupils do travel significant distances, though for example it's a straight train journey from Barnes to Queenstown Road, so it might be quicker in the morning for someone to come from Barnes than from Abbeville Village. The good thing is that it contributes to the diversity in the school (all relative, within the bubble of a London independent!).

Birthday parties aren't really a problem as they are usually at the weekend and you just accept to travel a bit further to them, but it was no different at nursery with some parties at Eddie Catz etc. In terms of play dates, it is fair to say that not being local makes it harder. However I think to make a difference, "local" would have to be like the catchment area of a state school. I find my children get tired having spent the day at school, and the last thing they need is to spend 15-20mins getting to a friend'/ house, and then having to spend another 15-20mins getting home after the play date. I suspect it's a similar issue unless the play date can be literally a couple of streets away.

One thing we considered though is that while when they are younger, having a shorter/easier commute is definitely a benefit, the quality of the school and its facilities become more important as the children get older, and you have to weigh up whether it's worth the stress (for you and for them) of changing schools when they get to, say, 7yrs old.

Good luck with the decision. Just bear in mind that almost all the private schools around here are very good so we are spoiled for choice.

[whirlwind]

My children are at Newton Prep and we are very happy with the school. The downside is definitely the fact there isn't a residential area nearby, so 95% of pupils have some sort of commute. The fact that there are 2 train stations and several buses that serve the school means the pupils do travel significant distances, though for example it's a straight train journey from Barnes to Queenstown Road, so it might be quicker in the morning for someone to come from Barnes than from Abbeville Village. The good thing is that it contributes to the diversity in the school (all relative, within the bubble of a London independent!).

Birthday parties aren't really a problem as they are usually at the weekend and you just accept to travel a bit further to them, but it was no different at nursery with some parties at Eddie Catz etc. In terms of play dates, it is fair to say that not being local makes it harder. However I think to make a difference, "local" would have to be like the catchment area of a state school. I find my children get tired having spent the day at school, and the last thing they need is to spend 15-20mins getting to a friend'/ house, and then having to spend another 15-20mins getting home after the play date. I suspect it's a similar issue unless the play date can be literally a couple of streets away.

One thing we considered though is that while when they are younger, having a shorter/easier commute is definitely a benefit, the quality of the school and its facilities become more important as the children get older, and you have to weigh up whether it's worth the stress (for you and for them) of changing schools when they get to, say, 7yrs old.

Good luck with the decision. Just bear in mind that almost all the private schools around here are very good so we are spoiled for choice.

[hellokittyerw]

whirlwind - did your children get very tired from the commute when they were young (I mean reception, year 1)?
Re. playdates - what you say makes a lot of sense to me, playdates when they are young would probably be quite rare anyways as they are so tired by the time they finish school day (and I have heard the same from parents whose children go to a school 10 mins walk away).