Edge Grove Preparatory School A GSG School

What The Good Schools Guide says

Headmaster

Since January 2023, Ed Balfour, previously head of Beechwood Park School and before that, head of Northbourne Park School, a small coastal prep school in East Kent, renowned for its unique trilingual programme. He has a degree in English lit from Cardiff and a PGCE from Homerton College, Cambridge. He has taught English, drama and sports at RGS Worcester, Parkside Community College, Cambridge, Chesterton College, Cambridge, Uppingham School, Rutland and Whitgift School, Croydon. In 1995, he joined Bradfield College, where roles included English teacher, housemaster and head of drama (directing and producing three plays, performed in the original ancient Greek, touring two of them to Greece).

Emma, his wife and a Cambridge linguist, runs the Edge Grove Junior Department. They have three children in their teens and early 20s and a black lab, recently appointed forest school assistant. The couple enjoy reading, theatre, travel, tennis, cookery and camping.

Entrance

More selective than it was, ‘if only because we have more interest in the school and fewer places,’ says school. But assessments and parental interview still relatively relaxed by north London standards. School says it would rather take someone with lower IQ who plays an instrument and has parental buy-in than someone very bright with no passion for the school’s ethos. Little ones at 3+ and 4+ come for a short session where staff engage them in an activity and observe their skills in, for example, sharing and socialising. Currently oversubscribed for nursery and reception. Occasional entry at 7+ and more at 11+ – an assessment day and verbal/non-verbal reasoning tests before spending a day in class to see how they fit in.

Exit

Majority of girls leaves at 11; others and most boys leave at 13 – although it’s a movable feast, depending on the year. Top leavers’ destinations at Year 6 are St Albans High School for Girls, Aldenham, St Margaret’s, St Albans Boys’ and Haberdasher’s. Year 8 leavers mainly to St Albans Boys’, Aldenham, Mill Hill School, Bedford and Merchant Taylors’. Conversations about next schools start with parents in years 5 and 6. Twenty scholarships in 2021 (split equally across year 6 and year 8 leavers).

Our view

When you arrive at this idyllic country prep, it’s hard to believe that it’s just a stone’s throw from north London and less than five minutes from the M25. Set in grassy parkland (even more of it since the school acquired extra land) with the requisite cows grazing next to the drive, Edge Grove – formerly the home of JP Morgan – is a world apart from many of its concrete-clad urban rivals.

Smiling boys and girls (school is now firmly co-ed, though older pupils told us you still get the odd class with less than a handful of girls) in bright red uniforms give an impression of a happy, down to earth and confident cohort. And, really, who wouldn’t be smiling with these big skies, beautiful views, open spaces and walled gardens (‘we get plenty of freedom to use it all,’ say pupils) to greet you every morning? Not to mention the beautifully maintained outdoor swimming pool (lessons are weekly, weather permitting) and well-used forest school, plus separate facilities for science, home economics, art and creative arts for older ones. When school gets its long-awaited small rare breeds farm (they already have chickens), it really will be seventh heaven for outdoorsy types. Meanwhile, back inside, a new lower school building has opened for year 3s and 4s, plus a new wellbeing centre (‘a sanctuary for pupils to go at breaktimes’ and also incorporating yoga and mindfulness).

Families are a real mix – the predictable 4x4s, some discreet old money and plenty of dual-income families who work hard to pay the fees. The latter are particularly grateful for the wrap-around care (breakfast club from 7.45am and activities from 4.30-5.30pm daily, with children also able to stay for prep and supper – ‘if you get stuck on the train, it’s no problem,’ said one). About 20 per cent London based with the rest from around Radlett, St Albans, Elstree, Stanmore, Edgeware and Borehamwood. Ethnically diverse, far more so than the competition: ‘wonderful,’ say parents. Four minibus services ferry years 3 to 8 to school if they choose.

School ‘aiming for excellence in all subjects’, with parents praising the ‘academic rigour while keeping learning interactive and fun’. ‘Sometimes, you don’t even realise you’re learning, especially with forest school,’ said one child, incredulous that education ‘can be so entertaining.’ Plenty of kinaesthetic learning in evidence – not a whiff of chalk and talk when we visited. School day structured with English and maths in the mornings, when the children are most receptive, followed by a superb lunch (literally no complaints – almost unheard of), although dining room’s proximity to (stunning) library made for loud background noise for readers when we visited.

French from pre-school and classics from year 5 with setting starting in year 3 for English and maths, then for French and science from year 5. Years 7 and 8 see pupils split into three classes – a scholarship set (scholarship or CE); CE only set; and everyone else. So streaming, then? 'Tailoring,’ retorts school which sees no point in children doing CE for the sake of it. Edge Grove Baccalaureate completed by all year 7s and 8s as part of the school enrichment programme – taught by head. Mandarin, Spanish and Italian offered as after-school clubs for budding linguists. Massive push on digital technology. Engineering is now part of the curriculum. SEN provision for the milder end and no plans to increase provision. ‘I’m dyslexic and get all the help I need, mainly in the classroom,’ one girl assured us, while a parent said, ‘They put a lot of things in place to help my son, including some extra lessons – they were really good.’

Outstanding art taught in inspirational atelier style space with first-class work in genres ranging from ceramics (every pupil was creating a ceramic poppy for remembrance Sunday when we visited) to textiles, on display. Lots of cross-curricular. Home economics also on the curriculum. Classrooms alive with sound of music (we saw year 3s do an enchanting stone age song and dance) and wonderfully decorated practice rooms (over 180 peripatetic lessons each week) with posters on the doors, exclaiming things like ‘Rubbish! Sorry! Terrible! Are all words banned in here.’ A lucky few get to try their hand in the school rock band or the award-winning junior jazz band. ‘And there are three choirs, plus orchestra and ensembles!’ one of our guides added, excitedly. Plenty for budding thespians too – every child gets a chance to perform in the modern, airy theatre.

Sport taken seriously, with around 800 fixtures a year and specialist teaching from reception, and coaches with top-notch credentials on board. ‘They’re getting better at integrating the genders,’ said one parent, although one girl told us, ‘they still don’t do football for girls, which is a shame.’ Core sports are hockey, rugby, football and netball – and cricket, swimming, tennis and athletics are also played to high levels, with squads who reach regionals if not nationals. Cross-country, table tennis and archery added to the mix to enable children who don’t take to team sports to find their sporting prowess. Basketball increasingly popular. Inter-house matches and tournaments (especially swimming) are considered highlights of the year among pupils and ensure everyone gets a go. ‘Shame there’s no full-size Astro pitch, but you can’t have it all,’ said one parent. Clubs galore – many of which are included in fees – from gardening and chess to taekwondo.

Pastorally strong across the board, with head of well-being (qualified life coach) and non-teaching head of pastoral care on staff. Parent workshops on offer, and children have an emotional barometer in their planner. Minimal misbehaviour and bullying because ‘we’re big on respect,’ says school; pupils concur. No school rules for the same reason – ‘if you respect the school and others, you shouldn’t need rules, although we do have golden moments which are read out in assembly.'

Money matters

No bursaries in the lower part of the school apart from those offered to military families. Scholarships for existing pupils in years 7 and 8 to ‘acknowledge their contribution to the school’.

The last word

This is a delightful prep with an ethos of discovery and learning through doing – no drilling facts and boring worksheets for these lucky things. Both aspirational and fun, it’s a school that enables children to go on to a wide range of first-choice schools, without the pressure that’s so prevalent in this north London bubble. And the children seem to genuinely appreciate the big skies, lush grounds and round-the-clock activities.

Special Education Needs

The Learning Success department covers both SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) and EAL (English as an Additional Language) and is made up of an outstanding team of highly qualified individuals: Our SENDCO, Dr Neil Alexander-Passe, is an academic and published author in the area of dyslexia, school-based trauma, and post-school success. He is a strong advocate in removing barriers to learning, and making use of technology and other resources to reduce the barriers to learning, so students can shine and demonstrate their potential. Edge Grove Prep has an EAL Teacher who has worked in both European and UK schools supporting learners new to English, with a range of Learning Support Assistants in the Pre-Prep, Lower-Prep and Upper School; many are qualified teachers and have training in dyslexia. At Edge Grove, we value the fact that pupils bring to school different experiences and strengths that influence the way they learn. We are committed to identifying each pupil’s individual learning needs and we offer provision that is flexible and varied to ensure that children work at age-related expectations or above and achieve their personal potential, whatever their needs and abilities. There is frequent SEND/EAL-based training for staff, and the SENDCO spends time in classes to support teachers to offer outstanding differentiated/adapted learning, and to better understand the needs of their pupils.The SENDCO also works closely with parents to ensure children are supported both at home and at school.