Postby 3hotcrossbunnies » Mon May 22, 2017 4:49 pm
You don't say how old your son is but I assume you are thinking about a reception place.
Leaving aside the pros and cons of each school for the moment as they are all good schools, it is worth considering what you would like for your son for senior schools or you may find yourself having to move him. Which is not necessarily a bad thing anyway.
Yes Finton has historically had the issue of some boys leaving at 8+. However, even if it didn't, it is an 11+ school so only really feeds day schools and some girls' boarding schools. Likewise Hornsby. Boys and co-ed boarding options are 13+ entry point on the whole. Most of these schools will have pre-tests and assessments in year 6.
Thomas's has approx a third of children leave at 11+ to London Day and some to girls boarding. At 13+ there are a small number who leave for day schools but the majority of year 8 do the CE exams in June - which incidentally boys day schools such as St Pauls, KCS, Westminster do. As parents you do not need to decide the exit route of 11+ v 13+ at Thomas's until the end of year 5, which buys you some time if you are undecided. Its all rather mind boggling, esp if your son is still little.