Broomwood Prep – Girls A GSG School

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All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.

What The Good Schools Guide says

Head

Since 2021, Louisa McCafferty. She arrived at the school in 2002 as a year 1 assistant before heading off to university to study classical civilisation and then a PGCE, whereupon she returned in 2006 as a newly qualified teacher, remaining for four years. After a spell teaching overseas, she came back once again in 2014 – ‘because of the school’s community feel’ – this time moving up the ranks from head of history and drama to assistant head (teaching and learning) and then deputy head (academic). Still teaches history to year 8.

All agree she has injected new energy into the school, with parents describing her as ‘can-do’ and ‘a gamechanger’. ‘Awesome!’ exclaimed one, and ‘brilliant at revisiting stuff you weren’t even aware needed revisiting’. Her unstuffy, laid-back demeanour meant we were unsurprised to hear she values the ‘informal feel’ of the school: ‘We have high expectations, but we are not hung up on rules and hierarchy.’ Often seen popping out of her office, located next to reception, to chat with the girls; she knows them all by name – and most of the families too. ‘I expect that from the staff too – knowing pupils really well is everything,’ she insists. Parents say she is very much a team player, calling the SLT ‘the dream team’, adding that they are ‘super strong and very approachable’.

Part of a head duo, she met her husband while they were both teaching abroad. With children at the beginning of their educational journey, she says she’s ‘excited to be seeing the school from the parent side’. Spare time mainly involves travel (‘the benefit of long school holidays’), spending time with family and friends (‘I’m very much a people person’) and tennis.

Entrance

In September 2023, the co-ed Broomwood Hall Lower School became Broomwood Pre-Prep; Broomwood Hall Upper School became Broomwood Prep – Girls and Northcote Lodge became Broomwood Prep – Boys. From September 2024, the pre-prep will end at year 2 and both Broomwood preps (girls and boys) will begin in year 3. Automatic entry (with occasional exceptions) from pre-prep to prep, the rest join from a mix of state and private schools.

No fixed entry points, with girls joining in every year group throughout, including mid-year (increasingly from state schools). ‘We invite families in for a half-day to see if they are interested, rather than the other way round. We want them to get a feel of whether they can live the life of a Broomwood family. We tell them to ask themselves, Can I see myself here? Is this the right fit for me?’ says head. ‘Low-key’ assessments in maths, VR and NVR unless previous school has CAT or other standardised data it can pass on – ‘to see how they’d fit in the cohort’. Occasional waiting lists.

Automatic entry for siblings and children of alumni, plus those from other Dukes Education settings.

Exit

Girls leave at 11+ (roughly a third) and 13+ (two-thirds) to go to a range of top day (eg JAGS, Emanuel and Francis Holland, Sloane Square) and boarding schools, of which Wellington College, Bradfield and Benenden are the most popular. Others to Downe House, Brighton and Marlborough. Three-quarters go on to co-ed schools. Parents say school is ‘braver to advise about next steps – before, it was left up to us.’ In 2023, seven scholarships (it’s usually double that but was a smaller leavers’ year, says school).

Our view

Founded in 1984 by Katherine Mears (now Lady Colquhoun) to address a dearth of educational options in Clapham, the school started life in a Methodist hall with 12 children (five of whom are now parents with children at the school). It is now based just a few doors down from the pre-prep. In 2021, it was bought by Dukes Education.

The facilities come as a pleasant surprise. Lurking behind the period house exterior are airy classrooms, huge DT suite, cooking school (Broomwood’s own, not Leith’s), modern science labs, new drama suite, big hall (great for performances) and magnificent new glass-fronted art room where pupils can draw inspiration from the attractive gardens. All pupils get to use these spaces, with art, DT, music and drama taught on top of their academic subjects – with extension scholarship groups in these, and all other subjects, in years 7 and 8. Outside spaces are Astroturfed, with generous supplies of toys, hoops, balls and climbing equipment. The garden includes a memorial space to a former student where, our young guides told us, pupils come to chat about personal issues. There’s also a mini amphitheatre where we heard that parents had held a meeting the previous balmy summer evening.

Academically, parents say the school is perceived as ‘less pressured than other local independent schools’, but with ‘depth of learning and a broad curriculum’. This is not a school where it’s back to core subjects only for year 6 or they dip into a science day once in a blue moon. Parents describe the teachers are ‘wonderful’ and say they are ‘so proud of the girls – you regularly hear them exclaim things like, “Wow, girls, that was just incredible!”’ Of the 75 academic staff, 60 per cent are experienced at teaching to GCSE level. The Singaporean maths mastery system is one of the school’s strengths. There’s no setting, bar a smidgeon in languages – these include French for all, Spanish and Latin from year 6 and a choice of two out of those three from year 7. A few parents feel language teaching could be more rigorous.

In years 3 and 4, the form teacher teaches the majority of lessons. There’s a weekly afternoon with the boys’ prep where pupils study the likes of environmental studies, robotics and cooking. For years 5 and 6, it’s about getting pupils ready for their 11+ and pre-tests – parents say they’re good at ‘supporting them in the journey’ and ‘lessening the anxiety’. For years 7 and 8 it’s preparation for senior school, including junior EPQ and employer-led skills. Across the year groups, the school supports micro-progression ‘so we don’t lose people along the way’. Termly enrichment days for all, joint with the boys’ prep, include the likes of coding and graphics.

It’s a long day – 8am to 5pm (5.30pm from year 5) – although prep is done on site after school, of which most parents approve: ‘Our daughter’s senior school said you can always tell a Broomwood child because they work so independently and know when to ask for help. And it means I’ve never had to sit at the kitchen table and do homework with my child, so I get a much nicer role as a parent!’ said one, although another pointed out, ‘It’s not so great if you have a child that doesn’t focus well.’

School says it can deal with ‘low-level SEN, sometime dipping into moderate’, mostly via in-lesson support. Booster groups for core skills (which can be taken instead of a language). A full-time SENCo leads a group of TAs, with external experts (eg speech and language therapists, OTs) brought in as required. Two EHCPs when we visited. Probably not the best place for a child who has excess energy – like most London preps, space is limited.

Over three-quarters of pupils play an instrument and there are three choirs. Not a breaktime goes by without at least one ensemble going full pelt, and there’s a popular whole-school orchestra. Once a weak spot, drama is now ‘on fire’, say parents, largely thanks to new head of drama and drama suite. Every year group puts on an annual drama production in the big hall: ‘If you sign up, you’re in it.’ Behind the scenes, pupils get involved in lighting and sound. Three Shakespeare plays were recently performed in rotation as an immersive experience, and Honk ‘was the best performance we’ve ever had,’ reckoned one parent. The Addams Family is up next.

‘Not an alpha sport school,’ say parents, but there’s a good range, with netball and football the main autumn term sports, hockey and tag rugby in spring, and cricket and athletics in summer. There’s also swimming, yoga, karate, cross-country, tennis, dance and more. ‘If you’re too narrow in sporting options for girls, we know they’ll drop out,’ says school. The girls’ cricket team is a county-level champion and includes county players – although parents say girls at the more elite end do most of their training outside school. The weekend tournaments have been a recent hit – cricket at Wellington and football at Epsom, joint with the boys’ prep. One parent said he appreciated that ‘It’s not like some local schools where the social pecking order is driven by sporting ability.’

Clubs run until 6.15pm daily – cross-fit, film making, touch typing, debating, musical theatre, karate, gymnastics all popular. Many are run jointly with the boys, and all come at a charge, although there are cheaper lunchtime ones. Trips – again mainly joint with boys – have recently included a sports tour to Malaga, music trip to New York, and every summer there’s a residential to eg a French château, Jurassic coast, Brecon Beacons.

Broomwood is not a church school, but parents speak of a ‘caring, moral focus’ and an emphasis on Christian values. There’s one tutor to every eight girls, with one-to-one and group meetings weekly. ‘But you can talk to them anytime,’ we heard. Two behavioural counsellors offer drop-in sessions, and there are two matrons. Lots of emphasis on manners, kindness, confidence building and leadership opportunities. ‘You never hear of bullying,’ said several parents. Behavioural issues rare – school keen to encourage making better choices and learning from mistakes rather than harsh sanctions.

Fewer stay-at-home mums than there once were, with wraparound care increasingly popular. Most parents live within a mile radius – ‘It’s a really local, family school and it’s lovely seeing everyone walk there,’ said one. Lots of City types – lawyers, bankers – in parent body. School comms could be better, feel some, as could the food – school says they’re on the case with the former and say lunches have improved.

The last word

A fun, friendly place with robust academics, minus the pressure of some other local schools. It’s not as traditional as it once was perceived to be – the recent rebranding is obviously doing the trick in positioning the school as more forward-thinking.

Special Education Needs

The school can provide support for children with mild learning difficulties. There is provision for extra classes targetted at children with minor developmental difficulties. The school has its own SEN specialist who will advise on the most appropriate form of support within the classroom as well as taking pupils out for individual lessons.