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Education

Private schools in NW

16 replies

Lolly012 · 07/08/2015 10:15

Hi mummies, I just moved to the UK. My daughter is turning three. I would like to enroll her in a preschool, so any ideas of good independent schools in NW. I'm really confused and new to all the education system here and worried that I might make bad choices for her.

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Ilikesweetpeas · 07/08/2015 21:43

North west is a big area, can you tell us your location so someone with knowledge of that area may be able to help?

TheHouseOnBellSt · 07/08/2015 21:44

I think you need to clarify what you mean by "NW"

Do you mean North Wales or North West?

Lolly012 · 08/08/2015 01:24

I meant north west London. I'm near
Willesden green. Finchley and westhampstead are near too.

OP posts:

nagynolonger · 08/08/2015 01:56

Of course everyone would know it was London!

Greythorne · 08/08/2015 04:51

Of course!

softhedgehog · 08/08/2015 22:55

Applying for private schools in NW London is a crazy thing to have to do. For example, SHHS will only assess 250 girls. They give out the forms on a certain day, about 18 months before the assessment, and have a queue of parents outside the door for hours before they open on that day to get a form. A picture of the queue is usually in the local paper.

You need to apply for a spread of schools regarding competitiveness. SHHS, NLCS, Channing, Habs and St. Christophers all have at least 10 applicants per place so you need some backups. Northbridge House is less competitive. Go and look at St. Margaret's in Kidderpore Gardens - it's a really nice, very small school that is again a lot less competitive and is looking at the individual girl, not just how docile and well trained they are. I really liked the head, Mr. Webster, and it has an unusually high percentage of male teachers which is unusual for an all girls school. I believe that the schools in Mill Hill are also less competitive, though I don't know much about them.

A backup is to have a place at a pre-prep lined up, such as Golders Hill, Hampstead Hill, The Avenue, or Annemount. These aren't selective -it's just waiting list - and they go through to 7 and will then prepare your daughter for the 7+. SHHS, NLCS and Habs all have large entries at 7. Norfolk House is non selective and goes to 11 but it's in Muswell Hill, so probably a bit far for you.

If you want a lot more info, search for the MN poster mumteacher and her threads 3+,4+,5+ support - but have a stiff drink to hand if this is your first indoctrination into the bonkers world that is NW London private schools.

Best of luck to you, you're going to need it.

Lolly012 · 09/08/2015 10:12

Thanks a lot soft hedgehog. This give me an insight, I think I should try all and give it a shot.
Have you heard anything about Devonshire and Sarum hall too.

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softhedgehog · 09/08/2015 20:58

No direct experience of either. Dev House has a reputation on MN as being a backup school, so that it's waiting list has lots of movement as people turn down their places for more preferred schools. I know nothing about Sarum Hall.

H4dley · 10/08/2015 08:32

If you are near Finchley then you could look at Dwight School - my DCs are there. Small classes, nice atmosphere and international

Georgethesecond · 10/08/2015 08:35

And there was me thinking she meant Manchester

CruCru · 10/08/2015 15:23

Devonshire House has an intake at both 3+ and 4+. We were on the waiting list for DH for DS for 3+ so have opted to defer to next year.

Sarum Hall has an intake at 3+ so apply now. You will need to ring them to meet the headmistress - usually you need to do this two years before entry so I would ring at the start of September to see whether their list is still open for the year your daughter would start.

Another option could be Queen's College Prep - might be too central for you.

May be worth getting hold of a copy of the Good Schools Guide North London.

CruCru · 10/08/2015 15:32

This may also be useful (but seems to focus more on west London perhaps).

Lolly012 · 11/08/2015 17:37

Thanks a lot everyone for your replies. Now I have a list of school to start calling. hopefully one of them will offer her place.

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CruCru · 11/08/2015 18:06

Out of interest, what are the schools on your list? I'm just asking out of nosiness.

softhedgehog · 11/08/2015 20:49

None of them will just offer her a place. They will all invite you to formally put her name down and charge you £80-£100 for the privilege, then invite her to an assessment. If she scores in the top 50% or so they will invite her back for a second assessment. Then one or two of them may offer her a place!

RedDaisyRed · 11/08/2015 21:22

Mine was at North London Collegiate - very very academic but absolutely wonderful school if you can get in. She now says it's the best thing we ever did for her sending her there which was nice to hear.

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