Secondary in Camden

[airyfairie]

Hello,
I'm sure there have been other discussions on these schools. I am keen however to get some feedback from parents of current year 8s in Acland Burghley, Parliament Hill Girls, Camden Girls and Highbury Fields.
Thank you v much.

[yaela123]

Hi there!

I am not a parent at any of those schools but do know a few people going into Y11 in Camden Girls and they all seem to really like it/think it is a good school.

Highbury Fields has a pretty bad reputation, sorry I don't know much more than that.

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will come along at some point

[sarita1980]

Camden School for Girls is great (I used to teach there!). Parliament Hill good too but I would avoid A.B.

[AgonyBeetle]

I have a child at Parli and really rate it - good pastoral care, enthusiastic teachers, bouncy kids. Less intense than Camden Girls and much nicer setting.

Burghley has had a difficult few years but has come back strongly. I like the new head - go and look and see what you think. All the people I know with dc at Burghley are strongly supportive of the school.

Highbury Fields has a different intake than the Camden schools, but has a vg ofsted and reputation for being nurturing. I know a couple of people who have chosen it over Parli or Camden and not regretted it.

They’re all very different, you have to go and see for yourself to get a feel for what would suit your child.

[airyfairie]

Thank you for your replies.
AgonyBeetle- we are planning to see them. I know children experience school life differently and a brilliant experience for one is not the same for another child.

I didn't know H Fields has a bad rep. It came on our radar as a friend went to the open morning last year and said she preferred it over Camden and Parliament Hill. I'm interested to know, AgonyBeetle- what do you mean by H Fields have a different intake than the Camden schools? Although to be fair, I'm not sure if we will end up choosing it in the end as there will be a small public transport commute for DD for that school. I quite like the idea of her being able to walk to and fro school. We are at the moment closer to Camden but that doesn't mean she will get in. I know Parliament Hill has a further intake.

[londonista1]

Burghley is on the up. Excellent head and they filled Year 7 this year for the first time in forever with - in my experience people from the vg local primaries choosing it ahead of Ellis & Parli. However if you're in catchment for CSG then that still wins on academics.

[LarkDescending]

I am surprised to see pp saying Highbury Fields has a bad reputation - here on the doorstep it is well-regarded, having made great strides in recent years. Having said that, if I were in Camden in easy reach of the good local options I am not sure that I’d be wanting my child to bypass them for a commute to Islington.