Hallo.
Although slightly out of place here- I'm an eighteen year-old male first-year undergraduate, I think (and hope) I can contribute to this discussion usefully.
I went to Latymer very recently, I only left it and came to university this year. I was there from year 7 to year 13.
I would definitely recommend it. The general learning atmosphere of the place is pretty ideal- the perfect mix of challenging the pupils and avoiding unnecessary pressure. I would second what 'Missmodular' said- "It's one of those places where the more you put in, the more you get out." This is definitely true.
In general the teaching is of a very high standard, and the teachers themselves are very skilled in what they do, without being unapproachable. Many of the teachers are true academics, with an incredible amount of in-depth knowledge about their subject which is invaluable to the pupil. What also comes with being a 'true academic' is palpable enthusiasm- the teachers have great academic attachment to their subjects which can be contagious and inspiring. I can think instantly of at least 5 teachers whom I'll always remember highly favourably, for the nature of their personalities and their lessons.
In response to one of your initial questions- I think the nurture:cramming balance of the school is greatly tipped in favour of nurture. There is an emphasis on the well-rounded development of the pupils; whilst academic achievement is obviously encouraged and considered important, it is not seen as the absolute be-all and end-all.
So it is, as ?madminnie? said, ?more laid back than you might expect?. I never felt under direct, forceful pressure from the school to act in a certain way or be a certain way. The teachers were almost all approachable and relatively informal.
The extra-curricular opportunities are bloody good. There a loads of student societies, subject-based ones like politics society, religion-based ones like Jewish society and interest based ones like juggling society. And there?s a great emphasis on getting involved with the societies which are about things relevant to you, or you enjoy. Sport and music are both very good, especially music, as ?missmodular? said. The orchestras etc. are amongst the best in the country.
Onto some of the negatives about the school that people have raised. Firstly, whatever school you go to there?ll be local tension, particularly with other schools. Muggings, also, depressingly, are a feature of modern life, especially in London. Both of these things will be present in some form or another, to some degree, at any school in any place in London. I don?t think there?s more inter-school tension and muggings at Latymer than any other comparable London school, really. I personally never had any issues specifically because I was from Latymer. It?s true that some people did, and there was an element of people being picked on because they went to ?nerdy? Latymer, but you?ll get that with any grammar/independent school. It?s an unavoidable symptom of the unarguably elitist nature of grammar and independent schools; those not privileged enough to go to them will, with some justification, resent others? advantage.
The other negative people have mentioned- travel, I think is even less well-founded. I don?t know anyone who had a really horrific journey on a daily basis, especially not people who lived in North London. I myself travelled from Hackney every day, on the train, which took me and hour, but was fine. If you?re willing to extend your search for a good school across a fair distance, it?s inevitably gonna lead to a bit of a journey. The journey from anywhere in North London, Highgate included, is not that bad. I know a fair few people who went to Latymer from Highgate and didn?t have great difficulty. The thing is, also, that there will almost always be other Latymer students doing the same journey as you, so there?s always somebody to travel with. And after a while you just get used to the journey, and see it as completely normal.
Final plus point- you can say that a good measure of a school is the students it produces. On a personal level, I made some friendships at Latymer that will last my lifetime, and met some fellow students who are some of the most admirable people I know.
Right, finally (sorry this has been so long and rambly!), negatives. I have very few, as you can probably tell. The only main one I have, as intimated earlier, is a general complaint about the nature of grammar schools- they are inherently elitist. Latymer has a huge majority of middle class/upper middle class students. There is a fair amount of homogeneity across the pupil body. People at the school quite often talk about ?the Latymer bubble?; a state of detachment from the facts of reality due to operating in such a homogenous, middle class environment. A friend of mine came to Latymer sixth form having come from a working class background and a predominantly working class school, and found the middle class homogeneity of Latymer alienating, to a considerable extent. But, as I say, this is an inevitable feature of any grammar or independent school, and for some is not even a problem, or is even a plus point.
So, all in all, from my point of view, bloody good school with only one real negative, the one I just explained. And, as much as I loathe the fact that saying this will sound like just dropping in a bit of a boast- I?m now at Cambridge, and I definitely wouldn?t have been able to get here without the support of Latymer.
Sorry again for the length and ramblyness of this. Hope it?s been useful, and I hope you find a suitable school for your daughter at which she?s very happy, whether or not that school is Latymer.