Newton Prep V Eaton House Post Reply

[Writerlady]

Hadn't realised my casual use of the clearly explosive word 'scuffly' would cause so such angst.

I simply meant that the boys enjoy a little bit of rough and tumble play, generally focused on a football. There are many little boys under 8 in a playground. There is no fighting, there is no nastiness, just little boys charging around happily in an enclosed place. Occasionally they bump into each other by accident. There is always a teacher on duty, of course, and bad behaviour is simply not tolerated.

[ktk]

My daughter has just started at Newton Prep and I wish I could go too! It is amazing. The care and attention she has received is wonderful and she is developing so quickly. The school has a wonderful mix of cultures, which I feel is important, a strong community feeling among the parents, and incredible facilities. I don't like the commute much, but it is worth every minute to see her thriving and happy.

[nycmommy]

My daughter goes to Newton Prep and LOVES it! She's in the nursery and I have to beg for my kiss goodbye when I drop her off because she is so excited to start her day.

We live in Balham too and yes, the overground can be a pain (really crowded in the morning) but it's a quick ride and the afternoons are fine.

I'm impressed by how much she's learning and how much fun she's having. As an American who when to public (state) schools, I was a bit daunted by the whole private school thing, but I can tell you the parents are friendly, involved and down to earth. I could not be happier.

[Great Minds]

From our experience Newton Prep is a great school developing kids with a rounded character and good sense of place in the world.

My one observation is that we offer additional SEN support to a few students there as the specialist help available wasn't considered sufficient.

There will be lots of mum's looking to share school runs from your area which will help with that daily grind!

Good luck!

[Lawyermum]

Hi, we have two boys (now years 6 and 3) who have both been through Newton from nursery and we are huge fans of the school. I therefore have no personal experience of Eaton House save that several parents have moved to Newton from EH and found it refreshing. Newton is not a traditional prep so if you want a smart blazer and hat and a cohort of families who are traditional private school parents then it probably isn't for you. There is a real emphasis on enjoying education rather than education in order to pass exams so there is no cramming and endless verbal/non-verbal reasoning (as I hear there is in other school) so parents need to have faith that a more all round approach creates a more confident and rounded child who questions and loves learning. On the "your child needs to be very very bright" reputation, that is not true at all. Yes they interview (and in the past had a ridiculous ed psych. test) but I have a son with special learning needs who is of very average intelligence and who loves school and manages well. Please do contact me if you want to have a chat and good luck! ps we get the train from Wandsworth Common and it is fine.

[mrs_t]

Thank you all. We are lucky to have these good schools around us.
We got offered a place at Newton nursery and will probably take it, despite now travelling in the wrong direction from my place of work to get there! Eaton Prep sounds wonderful too but we cannot look around it before we have to pay Newton deposit+some fees up front (we asked)...and that's too important despite excellent reports on this post. We looked around Newton and really loved it. I suppose the moral for all those parents of youngs ones is to look around early and then perhaps nearer the time too.
Thanks again so much.

[SoConfused!]

I don’t often post but I just wanted to give you a bit of advice (from personal experience !!). Please don’t underestimate the travelling to and from school especially if you work. I did it for a while and it was a NIGHTMARE. I ended up moving because of it ….. you probably have already done this and I hope you don’t mind me suggesting it. But try the commute a couple of times – with your kids and at the really busy rush hour which is when you probably would have to do it to get your kids to school on time. The train are so so busy and I hated seeing my kids squashed in a corner and pushed around by everyone. Door to door it was basically taking me almost 2 hours to drop the kids to school and then get myself to work….and at the time my office was 6 miles from my home. I ended up almost having a nervous breakdown as a result of it.
Good luck with everything – by the sounds of things you have great options !

[mrs_t]

Thank you. Your point about the commute is a good one and it is playing on my mind but I will take your advice and try some dummy runs. Best wishes.

[NPMum]

Hello,

I have 2 kids at Newton Prep and have been there for 7 years now and highly recommend it. We really love the school. There are many incredibly bright children at the school, but many of our kids are just normal bright (after all, who doesn't want to think of their children as bright.) It's not been an easy ride for my eldest, as she has learning difficulties, but the school has been fantastic. Her teachers have all been helpful and very approachable. Many of the kids move on at after Year 6, but more are staying and we have quite a few girls who stayed on last year and there are a number who will stay on from Year 6.

Overall the teaching at Newton is of a high standard, but the standout departments are the Art Department and the Science Department. Between the science labs and the library, I wish I were a student there! The Newton community is very warm as well and there are many ways to be active at the school.

We commute every day - a brisk walk to Clapham Junction in the morning and then the train to school, usually car for pick-up, but in the lighter months - the train. We often share rides with friends. The commute is tough at first, but the school is worth the trip.

They are 2 very different schools, but both are good choices, you just need to figure out which fits your child the best. Good luck with your choice.