Newton Prep or Hornsby House?

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cristinagm
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Newton Prep or Hornsby House?

Postby cristinagm » Sun Jun 24, 2018 9:17 pm

Hi wise mums & dads!

I would really appreciate your first hand experience.. a bit indecisive.. and we don’t have any references :?
How good are the teachers? Are both academically orienteted? Do you think one is more international than the other? How well prepare are the kids ( personally and knowledge wise)? Any differences between the morning and after school clubs? Do you know if they get involved with charities?

So many questions I know! it would be great if you could share some of your thoughts.
Really appreciate it, have a great week you all.

Cristina
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SW12Pops
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Re: Newton Prep or Hornsby House?

Postby SW12Pops » Sun Jun 24, 2018 11:04 pm

They are both great schools.

A lot will depend on where you live? They are a long way apart and unless you live slap bang between the two the one that gives you the easiest commute will be the most obvious choice.

HH is smaller and more nurturing. NP is larger and feels more bustling. Both play lots of sport and have lots of clubs.

Very little to choose between them except really your personal circumstances.

Good luck!
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Goldhawk
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Re: Newton Prep or Hornsby House?

Postby Goldhawk » Mon Jun 25, 2018 7:06 am

The main difference is Newton Prep goes to 13+ (although they do prep the kids for 11+)
Are you aiming at London Day schools for secondary or do you want boarding?

Hornsby only offers before school care from 7.45am and after school care or clubs end at 5.15 at the latest
No idea about Newton's hours
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hellokittyerw
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Re: Newton Prep or Hornsby House?

Postby hellokittyerw » Mon Jun 25, 2018 11:25 pm

Both are great, you are very lucky :)

Is it for a boy or girl?

Newton prep does go to 13+, but that's usually more useful for boys...
lots of girls prep start at 11, so even at newton prep lots of the girls move on at 11.
For boys, the prep schools usually advise you to apply for 13+ entry if you are at a decent preprep.

Distance is obviously a consideration.

And finally, I'd say go with your gut feel.
Newton is bigger and there is lots going on (which we like, my kids go there)... not only in terms of clubs but also events, competitions, trips, speakers etc etc.
HH is smaller and feels more nurturing (although I have no direct experience, just a feel).

But I genuinely think both are great..
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pie81
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Re: Newton Prep or Hornsby House?

Postby pie81 » Tue Jun 26, 2018 4:55 pm

Three obvious differences

1) Newton House is selective, Hornsby is not. You may find this means they attract slightly different types of parent ;) In theory you would probably find a slightly broader range of ability and personality type at a non selective school (but in practice, it all depends on the particular year intake, many will be siblings, there may not end up being much difference in the end)

2) Newton is for profit, Hornsby is a charity. To me the fees are a bit easier to swallow when you know the money all goes back into the school instead of some into private coffers...

3) I believe that Newton sends quite a few children to north of the river schools whereas Hornsby is almost all south of the river (with the odd exception) so depends where you have in mind for senior school

I don't know what Newton's policy is on siblings, whether they have a guaranteed place or not?
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cristinagm
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Re: Newton Prep or Hornsby House?

Postby cristinagm » Tue Jun 26, 2018 10:15 pm

Thank you all, that’s great insight. I have a boy..so yes, I think it makes sense to consider the ones that go to 13+.. we live pretty much in the middle..
Good reality check about where the money goes too..
I will definitely check siblings policy, I am not sure either

Thank you for your help!
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BFW
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Re: Newton Prep or Hornsby House?

Postby BFW » Wed Jun 27, 2018 1:59 pm

Just a couple of comments from me. Don't underestimate the difference in a school that is run as a "trust" and one that is run as a"business". I have first hand experience of both and have found a big difference. The school run as a business will definitely be looking to make a "profit" at the end of the year and will invest less into the school.

Secondly - a lot of the London day schools for boys now have a main intake at 11+ not 13+ (the exceptions being St Pauls and Westminster). Some schools - Emmanuel and Alleyn's have really small intakes at 13+. The schools that go to 13+ will tell you that they prepare for 11+ ... but having been through the process, they don't really as their interest is keeping you there until 13 (most of them are businesses after all.... ) But if you are thinking of co-ed boarding, then 13+ is the way to go !

I know its hard to think about secondary schools at Reception age - but they are definitely things that I wish someone had told me ! I didn't even know that some schools were run as businesses !
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Flowermummy
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Re: Newton Prep or Hornsby House?

Postby Flowermummy » Wed Jun 27, 2018 5:24 pm

I am not sure if it's right to say that most boys' schools have the main intake at 11+.
I think at Dulwich the intakes at 11+ and 13+ are roughly the same - I cant remember if in terms of absolute numbers or in terms candidates per number of places available... But I did this research 1-2 years ago (Dulwich, St Pauls, Westminster, Kings) and my understanding was that my son would have similar chances at 11+ or 13+.
The obvious issues with this reasoning is that at reception age we have no way of knowing how academic our kids will be, how the school system will be in 10 years time (maybe Kings will not be so sought after :)), if we move away from London, and so on...

So yes, get yourself informed about all the issues...But ultimately go with your gut feel of where you think your child would thrive.

My kids don't go to either of these 2 schools, but we considered both and I think both are great.
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hellokittyerw
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Re: Newton Prep or Hornsby House?

Postby hellokittyerw » Thu Jun 28, 2018 10:09 am

On the sibling policy at NP: you get sibling priority if the sibling joins the nursery (not reception), which I think works well for the school and parents (the sooner you can drop off all children at the same school, the better :)).

On the question of 11+ vs 13+ ... as our children are small and we have no idea about how they'll turn out (academic or sporty or arty) I found it impossible to have a view at this early stage of which option is preferable ... people talk about 11+ or 13+ at length and everyone has a different experience, but for me this is something we'll have to consider when the children are approaching that age..

On selective vs non-selective ... I assume you already have an offer from NP, so not an issue for you? I don't think it makes any difference really, because the "assessment" at 3 surely cannot tell you much about how the child would progress... just a way for them to cut down the number of applicants to the number of spaces available
In fact, the leavers destinations at both schools are quite similar, so you cannot say that because NP is selective it has better leavers results
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BFW
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Re: Newton Prep or Hornsby House?

Postby BFW » Thu Jun 28, 2018 10:25 am

Can i just clarify:

1) I have zero interest advocating either school !
2) I was just pointing out that "a lot of schools" not "most" ... now have a main intake at 11. Therefore if you have a son, a school that goes to 11 or 13 is no longer as bigger factor as it probably was 5 years ago when schools like Kings did not have an intake at 11. In fact even Westminster now has an entry at 11+ (28 boys) and St Pauls (30 boys). It was just something I wish I knew when we we looking at primary schools as at the time I thought 13+ was the main option with a boy !

I have no idea whether 11+ or 13+ is easier and therefore I would never comment on this.
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Flowermummy
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Re: Newton Prep or Hornsby House?

Postby Flowermummy » Fri Jun 29, 2018 12:16 pm

Sorry BFW, I misunderstood you.
When I started looking at senior schools for boys (2 years ago), it was always the case that most schools had 11+ and 13+ intakes. I didn't really appreciate that previously most boys schools only had 13+ intakes.

When we looked at NP last year, I got the feeling that they do prepare for 11+ too, as some of the boys definitely leave at 11 (to good places like Dulwich and Kings). We took Thomas's in the end, where I get the feeling most boys stay until 13, so maybe less 11+ prep than NP (but our decision was based on distance to home, nothing to do with 11+ vs 13+).
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