First private school in Islington

I actually think NBH is on to something here. As a former NBH prep parent, I have to say that they are very focused at exit (post 11+ and 13+) on the kids who aren't cut out for selective indies. That isn't to say that NBH senior is made up of only non-academic kids- it isn't. Many people move into London with secondary aged DCs and find that they don't have many school choices. Some parents also find that their state secondary isn't satisfactory and decide to move. NBH is filling a real gap. For a mixed ability co-hort, their GCSE results are very impressive and it's a bit sad that they haven't had the facilities to allow DCs to carry on. Also, many parents are flogging across from Islington (or using the school's bus). It is just entering the Woodhouse/Brampton market but with a bit of built-in continuity for DCs who, in the past, had to leave at 16. As to 'why pay if the peer group will be mixed?', they will be mixed academically but they will all have parents behind them who are motivated enough to pay ( many at great sacrifice) and some DCs need a small school where they are well known and cared for and private schools live and die by results so they have every motivation to ensure each child achieves the best results they can. Many of the schools that used to do this have upped the ante academically and no longer risk offering places to DCs with SpLDs or or the not-as-bright- there needs to be a place for them in every sector.

For someone who's not interested in using it, you do seem very involved.

I may be wrong but I believe the lack of Sixth Form provision so far has been one of the main drawbacks of NBH Senior which otherwise seems to be addressing a gap in the market, in that there are not many other non-academically selective private senior schools in North London. Adding Sixth Form provision would presumably make it a more attractive proposition all round as it removes the need to look around for another school at 16. I suspect the first takers for the Sixth Form would come from their existing Senior School and they'd be hoping to build a reputation from there. Otherwise there's a fair bit of competition in the area with St Mary Magdalene offering IB and Islington Sixth Form Consortium doing well by all accounts. Not sure how much demand there will be for the younger years especially with many of Islington's state senior schools fast improving. But people may travel from other areas that are not as well served, or may see it as a fall back option vs more established/competitive private provision. Presumably they can use the sports grounds at top of Highbury Fields? Who knows, maybe Islington council can charge them good money for the use of facilities in the area which they can then plough back into improved facilities for everyone feeling optimistic today despite the crummy weather

They start with Year 9 in school's first year, add Year 8 in second year and Year 7 in third year.

MuswellHillDad, by all accounts Highbury Grove has pretty firm setting to the extent that it almost has a discrete grammar school within it at the top sets (i.e. the kids don't mix much).

I'm not sure what advantage actually moving them out of the building would make…

Interestingly enough, I think what Northbridge House Canonbury might be is exactly the opposite - a fee-paying secondary modern...

I think you can never underestimate the desire of some Islington parents to go private. There's almost an ethical objection to state schools in some quarters. There is one private primary near us that by most accounts is just pants and gets away with things that would never be allowed at state primaries, but the parents are desperate to go private but at the same time (understandably) don't want to trek to Hampstead.

I'm a bit sceptical about groups like Cognita so I don't think it would be my cup of tea. If I were to opt for private (which we might at secondary), I want to be assured that I was getting something really amazing for my money - facilities, track record etc.

What it might be useful for, in our case, is if we go to one of our local state secondaries and it doesn't work out then there's an option a bit like a crammer. I guess.

Is it not a whole new school from year 7 going through to GCSE?