sum up private schools near northcote for me please?! Post Reply

[twinmum]

We hope to send our boys to a state primary but the penny is starting to drop that we can't take places for granted and my husband has asked me to look into all the private schools around here and compile a shortlist.

But where to start, there are so many. I know it is really lazy of me and I should ring up and get all the prospectuses and check out Ofsted reports but that sounds very dreary and we have got swings to go to and finger painting to do! So a bit of whittling is required.

Plus I think it would be more fun to see a school reduced to one sentence from a mum rather than ten pages of the same old shizzle from the school's marketing department.

If any of you can spare a minute to give me a brief one liner on any of the schools around here, I'd be forever grateful. So..Which schools would you rave about or rant about, please?

[Goldhawk]

I suggest you buy the Good Schools Guide

[SJ1979]

I would just look for ones in your local area, and maybe visit a few and go with a gut instinct.

I was also told to read this book by someone on nappyvalletnet, apparently it takes a light hearted view of finding the right school! http://www.amazon.co.uk/May-Contain-Nut ... 0385606087

[moops]

Lol think that was me that mentioned May Contain Nuts! It's hilarious and also scary how true it is!

[MGMidget]

You really need to read the Good Schools guide and do some tours as short summaries aren't enough info to help you decide. However, to get you started, here is my view, based on tours, reading reports etc. I'm sure others will have different views to offer:
Thomas's - big school with lots of facilities, bright children who achieve well but selective entry. They offer places later than other private schools so you may be forced to decide whether to pay a big deposit to another school before you hear from Thomas's. Need to register on waiting list early. Pupils go to mix of London Day Schools and Boarding Schools at 11 or 13.
Hornsby House - popular and improving school, caters for all abilities, non-selective entry but need to register on waiting list early to get a place. Most children go on to London Day schools (independent and state) at age 11.
Finton House - also popular school, good school report, plenty of teaching in small groups according to ability, caters for all abilities and also includes a small number of special needs children. Need to register on waiting list very early. Children go on to a mix of London Day and Boarding schools. Often boys leave at 8 to go to boarding schools although the school says that is changing now and more are staying on.
Broomwood Hall - seems to be regarded as 'traditional'. Has several sites. Separates lower school from upper school. Boys and girls coed until 8 then separated into a girls upper school and a separate boys school (Northcote Lodge). My impression is that it is more focused in the later years on preparing for boarding school than day schools judging by their leavers' destinations and the look and feel of the schools - but others may say different. A christian school with regular church services.
Dolphin School - also a christian school, housed in part of a church on Northcote Rd. No outside play area although they are close to Wandsworth Common and use that regularly.
I don't know much about the other schools but others to check out are Newton Prep (selective entry), Eaton House the Manor (register very early), Parkside, Oliver House (Catholic).

[Mistletoe]

I posted this some time ago...

Ok so I am going to get into trouble for generalising but this is *roughly* true, in *my opinion* of course!

Broomwood Hall/Northcote Lodge if your child secretly wants to wear spats and a waistcoat, calls you mater and pater and yearns for Edwardian England.

Thomas' if they openly want to conquer the work, believe in winning at all costs and *know* they are going to be prime minister one day.

Finton House and Hornsby House are a balance of the top two but if you have a boy be aware that most chaps leave Finton at 7.

Bertrum House is lovely and is especially suitable for younger children.

Thats my ha'penth worth!

Mistletoe

[twinmum]

MGMidget - I love you, thank you for that! That will really help me get started, felt I was drowning in it all before. And I promise to be good and read the schools guide but I did enjoy May Contain Nuts lots too.

Mistletoe - The boys are getting their first spats for Christmas

[MGMidget]

Twinmum, do consider the fees of the different schools too. I guess you have twins to educate so double the cost. Dolphin seems to have the lowest fees of the lot by quite a long way and Thomas's probably has the highest or one of the highest in the area. So you need to weigh up what you get for what you pay.

[twinmum]

Is there much in it, in terms of fees or are they all eye-waterers? Good shout though, buying 2 of everything is bad enough so am really hoping we get into a state school near us!

[monaco]

Tell you what, that should be another rule for schools admission policy (see other thread on that): multiple children should get priority in state schools

(I am not a mother of twins nor triplets, just one daughter)

[Rennii]

Our son is registered at Eaton House The Manor. He will be going there from nursery through pre-prep and prep. We went to the opening day last weekend and was very impressed with the facilities and teachers. But what really made me believe we made the right decision, was seeing the confidence and politeness of the current pupils who showed us around. The school has a great feel to it.

[jafina]

This is very boring but I have finally come to the conclusion that if I had sent my children to any of the local independent schools or any of the good state schools nearby they would have an equally good education and be very happy.

I am a Hornsby Mum and I love Hornsby house school but with friends with children at virtually every other school in the local area I really cannot see a massive difference between any of them and the one I chose. It all comes down to really niggly details that can change year by year. I believe the home environment is far more important for determining what your children end up doing.

Go with your gut instinct or the school closest to your front door and you won't go far wrong! In my humble opinion!!

[MGMidget]

Twinmum,re the fees, there can be quite a big difference between them so definitely worth looking at that (and considering the breadth of the uniform (e.g. do they have special uniform hats, gloves socks etc or just a basic uniform requirement) and the extras the school organises, such as location of school trips -some will go to Wales/France and others South Africa/Peru for example. Especially important as it will be times two for you!

[NPMum]

A little bit further away, but still accessible is Newton Prep.

Newton Prep is a selective school that caters to bright & inquisitive children. The school goes up to Y8, with some girls staying on after Year 6. The class sizes are small and specialist teaching starts at Year 3. The facilities are impressive and the school is going through an expansion at the moment. The school sounds as if it may be intimidating, but it has a really laid back feeling to it. My kids have thrived there and we're pleased with our decision. The teaching staff is excellent and has always been incredibly helpful with any problems that may arise.

We live between the commons and take the train from Clapham Junction each morning to Battersea Park Rail station, so the commute isn't bad.

I would suggest going and checking out all the private local schools and getting a feeling for them. It depends upon what your children are like and where they will thrive.

[Pud1]

Monaco, I intrigued to know why you think twins have more right to a place in a state school than any other child, most of whom come from families whose only option is to send their children to state schools.