Private Primary - how to decide (Broomwood/Hornsby/Thomas's) Post Reply

[cell]

We are trying to decide on a private primary for our son for entry in 2024. We live in Balham and have our eyes on Thomas's Clapham, Broomwood and Hornsby House. We have been to open days at all of them and are struggling to make a decision. There are aspects we like and dislike for each. For example, Broomwood seems very traditional but also quite nurturing. Thomas's on the other hand felt progressive and worldly but perhaps a bit cold. 

I would love to get thoughts and experiences around these schools to help us make a decision.

Thanks in advance. 

[Expatacular]

Thomas's parent here. Progressive and worldly is right on, and I'd add international and buzzing to the list of descriptors too. However, cold doesn't seem right to me at all. The school is a very well run, organised place. It has to be because it's such a big, busy school. Communication is superb and expectations of both parents and students are clear. But the entire school feels warm, enthusiastic, welcoming, and kind. Kids are happy. The head is inspirational, a real force for good, and his leadership team reflects that. We know many happy families at Hornsby and Broomwood too; there's not a bad choice in that group.

[mrs_original]

Just choose the one closest to you home, where you can walk to. It will make mornings easier and playdates will be close too.

[balhamnewmum]

All great schools. Know your child is very little and you probably haven’t thought about “secondary school” but if you are wanting to go down the London schools route then Hornsby definitely the right choice as well as Thomas’, if however you are wanting more traditional - leave at 13 then Broomwood and possibly Thomas’. Having said that, as a mum, you just get a feeling for a school and if it feels right then go with your gut instinct. Everything changes so quickly.

[Southsider]

I second balhamnewmum.  A lot to be said for gut feel. They are all great schools. There will always be positives and negatives but I don't think there is a wrong move here. You mention it's for 2024 entry so assume you're signed up for all 3? Thomas's tends to close their registration list very early. If you end up getting offers from all 3, I'd honestly go with the school you feel is most your vibe, the school you think your child will feel happiest going into each day and the one in which you'll feel happy engaging in the community.

Someone once reminded me that in the unlikely event it doesn't work out you can always move them - kids are very adaptable at that age.  That helped take the pressure off the decision a bit. 

[Schoolpost2022]

I have kids now all at secondary school and have direct experience of 2 of the 3 schools mentioned in this post. My one piece of advice is to go for schools that are Trusts (Hornsby) and not businesses (Thomas' and Broomwood). This is the one piece of advice I wish someone had given me when we were chosing primary schools. There is a huge difference (also in terms of extras you get charged for)

Hornsby is the most wonderful school and we had very happy years there. The site is smaller so the onsite sporting facilities are probably better at Thomas' and Broomwood but honestly it really does not matter a primary school. I also love that it is a non selective school (how can the other 2 select at 3 years old is beyond me !) Exit schools are incredible and the whole 11+ process was so well organised. Wish all my kids had gone to Hornsby but sadly i was only organised enough to get my last one in !

[Moonlightdawn]

Go for Hornsby House. It was always our top choice but we didn’t sign our children up in time when they were babies. Wait list only so we had to go somewhere else. It’s a wonderful school.

Agreed wholeheartedly with Schoolpost2022. Go for a school that’s a trust. The ethos and culture are different. Wish I had known this too.

[Expatacular]

All good advice in here. Just adding that Thomas's is also non-selective, at least for now. The admissions changed during the pandemic and it's now a lottery. Not sure if it will change back to assessment at some point in the future. The poster who said you should pick the school closest to your house is definitely wise. There's not much that's more important than an easy school run when the kids are little. Especially since you are choosing between excellent schools, don't sign up for a long commute to school if you can avoid it.

[Mumstheword2015]

I have kids now all at secondary school and have direct experience of 2 of the 3 schools mentioned in this post. My one piece of advice is to go for schools that are Trusts (Hornsby) and not businesses (Thomas' and Broomwood). This is the one piece of advice I wish someone had given me when we were chosing primary schools. There is a huge difference (also in terms of extras you get charged for)

Hornsby is the most wonderful school and we had very happy years there. The site is smaller so the onsite sporting facilities are probably better at Thomas' and Broomwood but honestly it really does not matter a primary school. I also love that it is a non selective school (how can the other 2 select at 3 years old is beyond me !) Exit schools are incredible and the whole 11+ process was so well organised. Wish all my kids had gone to Hornsby but sadly i was only organised enough to get my last one in !

My thoughts Exactly - That's why my children attend Dolphin School which is also a private school and a Trust not too far from the schools that you've mentioned. Non selective but very academic. Last year or the year before 28 pupils (2 Year 6 classes) 21 scholarships (check out the post on Instagram @Dolphinschool.london its row number 33 and its the middle post). At Dolphin the class sizes are small, lunches are provided by a local restaurant (Al Gusto) and on Fridays I get to attend the assemblies - Its just a family/community vibe

[Mumstheword2015]

Oh and the ISI (equivalent of Ofsted) recently rated Dolphin "Excellent" which is a difficult rating to get !  

[Comptastic]

I am also a former parent of one of the schools you mention. Would you expect your child(ren) to stay until Y6 and to do the 11 plus/equivalent at that school?

If so, you should look carefully at the class sizes in Y5 and Y6 as this is an important factor in exam preparation. A large class (20+) does not replicate the learning dynamics of a small class (12-16) even with a TA.

Have you thought about some of the smaller schools? E.g Dolphin, the White House? That is where I would be looking if I were going private now. As well as class sizes look at leavers’ offers/destination schools.

But truly, if I were doing it again I would go with a good local state school and pay for additional tutoring (did anyway even though kids are all top quartile), music, sports clubs, etc. As one of my children (now at secondary school) said recently ‘Mummy, I really liked [X School] and enjoyed my time there, but in Reception you were paying £X thousand a year for me to do colouring in, which is a bit ridiculous. And even in the other years I would have been just as happy at a state school, and you could have saved all that money for secondary school.’ Wise words! Even more so now that many of the top schools are actively recruiting from the state sector.

[cell]

Thank you for all the responses so far. It's making it harder not easier as so many clearly loved the schools they've seen their kids go to  

One follow-up question: in terms of leavers destinations, my impression is that Broomwood and Thomas's have a big skew towards boarding and, separately, traditional schools, whilst some of the other schools mentioned seemed to send kids to perhaps less famous but more progressive (e.g. more co-ed schools). I'd love any thoughts and experiences of this from any of the schools mentioned. 

My current expectation is that my son would stay at the prep school until age 11 and then move to a London day school.

For me, the key goal is to give my son the best opportunities but also those that are right for him. So, if he turns out to be academic, I'd love for him to go to a highly academic school, but likewise if he isn't, then I'd prefer an alternative path. 

Another follow-up question: what is the advantage of the 'trust' schools over the 'businesses' schools?

[Star123]

Completely agree with Comptastic. Save your money for secondary when it counts. Private in the younger years is a complete waste of cash unless your child has special requirements. In the long run it will also help them navigate the “real” world rather than living in a perpetual bubble.

[Schoolpost2022]

If you are thinking of London day schools for secondary I would look at Broomwood exit schools as my understanding is that a large proportion of children go to boarding schools so there is little prep for 11+ exams. Maybe a question to ask the school before you make a decision ? At my last experience with Thomas' this was more 50/50 in terms of day schools / boarding. but others may have more recent experience. Hornsby is almost all London day schools (also becuase there is no option to stay until common entrance so kids have to sit 11+)

As for difference between "businesses" and trusts. This is very basic but trusts tend to reinvest everything into the school whether its facilities / staff whislt businesses will have shareholders / owners who will want some of the profits. The difference in the ethos of the school was for us very noticeable and in our experience translated into happier staff. Ethically i also personally have an issue with some of these schools being owned by Private equity firms but thats another story ! We also found that at "business" schools we got charged extra for everything (clubs / activities) while we didn't at Hornsby.

Honestly I have no axe to grind against any of these amazing schools, but as i said before it is the one piece of advice i wish i had been given !

[readysteadycook]

You also need to budget for the future fees increases.

Whilst a good school, friends at Hornsby have had some big increases in the last 2 years (around 4% last year and this year a massive 8%).  The fees there are now significant and growing quickly.