School/Nursery Choices Post Reply

[Azaff86]

Hi,

We're currently thinking about future schools for my little boy, he's registered for Thomas's in Clapham and Lower Broomwood Hall.  Does anyone have experience of either school and would recommend one over the other, or any other schools in the area? I'm a first time school mum so I have no idea!  We're not in the catchment for Belleville.

I also have a 6 month old and thinking of nurseries close to where my oldest ends up going to school.  Is there a particular nursery near Lower Broomwood Hall that anyone would recommend?  My oldest is currently at a nursery near Northcote Road and want drop offs to be close to each other.

Thanks so much! 

[mummyof3sw11]

My children haven’t attended either of those schools, but from the experience of friends, I would 100% pick Thomas’s over Broomwood Hall. Obviously they do an assessment and not all children get a place- but if your child does I would pick it over Broomwood.

With your little one, do you mean nursery school or like a daycare type nursery?

[mummyof3sw11]

Ignore above re Thomas’s assessment, I’ve just seen on Facebook their website that they now allocated places by a lottery type system.

[Azaff86]

Thanks for your reply.  Is there a reason your friends would choose Thomas's over Broomwood? 

A nursery school

[Mummyof3SW11]

Yes. (Obviously this is just based on a small sample!)

Thomas’s stretch the children more academically.
Thomas’s is more forward thinking/progressive than the really quite traditional Broomwood.
Thomas’s is co-Ed whereas Broomwood splits them at I think 8?
Teaching at Thomas’s is really very good, and their staff are all lovely- I have met a few of them and they are really kind and caring.

To be honest I think both schools are great and you’d be lucky to send your child to either, but if we were picking out of the two I’d go for Thomas’s. My two went to state primary and my third will probably too, however if they don’t, we have registered for Hornsby House as I think of all the local private schools it’s the one I like the best.

Nursery schools:

Mouse House
Marmalade Cat/Marmalade Bear
Broomwood Montessori (not linked to Broomwood Hall in any way)
Alphabet nursery
345 nursery

All great. Get on lists asap though! I have already registered my 4 month old for one of the above.

[Azaff86]

Thank you so much, this is so helpful!

[Pleasemummyplease]

Hi there, I think it also totally depends on your child/children. Both schools are excellent but personally I would go for Broomwood. It’s pastorally very strong, pushes academics, challenges children but also nurtures. It really is an all round school. The teaching is outstanding and it recently received ‘excellent’ from its ISI inspection (highest possible rating) Yes it’s traditional, but moves with the times which in my view is the best of both worlds. It produces polite, confident, intelligent children. Also, re nurseries, Broomwood are starting ‘Little Broomwood’ (from 2 years 11 months) which you may find interesting and helpful! There is also a lovely nursery right next to the Lower School. It’s a wonderful, wonderful, friendly, happy community. 😊

[jo.dough]

Someone just mentioned Alphabet nursery school but I’m pretty sure it closed down as it’s where the new library is being built on northcote road. My kids go to Dolphin school and Noah’s Ark nursery is based there too where my son goes. We love both the school and nursery and my kids get really excited when it’s a school day!

[Mummyof3sw11]

Apologies- I thought alphabet nursery may have found a new site- but I can see they haven’t.

Mouse House/marmalade schools both excellent.

Interesting re Broomwood. Like I say, my sample was small and obviously I have no first hand experience of either.

[Ackerman]

Our children are at Broomwood and it is a fabulous school. Warm and friendly with excellent teachers and pastoral care. The new head of the lower school Mrs Mackay is brilliant and the children are confident and kind. The school pushes them academically to the right level but also has a huge focus on them being well rounded. I would definitely recommend it.

[Riffraff27]

Goodness you sound very bitter @getitdonego. Not our experience at all - quite the opposite and I wholeheartedly agree with @Ackerman about the new Head at Broomwood - shes amazing! As you have children at both schools and are unhappy with both then perhaps it might be your expectations that are out of whack? Perhaps neither are right for you - even if the children are thriving. I’m sure that both schools could suggest alternatives that would suit you better.

To the original poster @Azaff86 - both are brilliant prep schools and both get children into top senior schools. One is coed all the way through and one is coed at pre prep and single sex at prep - although they do lots together. Broomwood Hall and Northcote are renaming as just Broomwood next year to make it clearer.

Go with what suits you best @Azaff86 - trust your gut. We did and have never regretted it. Good luck.

[Riffraff27]

Goodness you sound very bitter @getitdonego. Not our experience at all - quite the opposite and I wholeheartedly agree with @Ackerman about the new Head at Broomwood - shes amazing! As you have children at both schools and are unhappy with both then perhaps it might be your expectations that are out of whack? Perhaps neither are right for you - even if the children are thriving. I’m sure that both schools could suggest alternatives that would suit you better.

To the original poster @Azaff86 - both are brilliant prep schools and both get children into top senior schools. One is coed all the way through and one is coed at pre prep and single sex at prep - although they do lots together. Broomwood Hall and Northcote are renaming as just Broomwood next year to make it clearer.

Go with what suits you best @Azaff86 - trust your gut. We did and have never regretted it. Good luck.

[Riffraff27]

What a shame @Getitdonego - sounds as if you’ve had bad luck with both schools. You are absolutely right that no school is perfect for everyone which is why I think each parent should visit as many as they can and as I said earlier, trust your gut.

FWIW, I think you were unnecessarily personal about the Head of Broomwood Lower so if that’s being defensive, I hold my hand up. I think she’s amazing and has breathed new life and energy into the school.

I do hope that you find the school that suits you -although if your child is doing well at Thomas’s, surely that’s all that matters?

PS Lady Colquhoun sold the school two years ago…