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Original poster

Haberdashers Askes (Boys) or City of London?

33 replies

Fillybuster · 19/02/2016 15:26

So, on the one hand, hurrah - ds did brilliantly and received offers from both Habs and City in the post this morning. Very very proud of him Grin.

On the other.....which to choose????? I've been totally refusing to engage in this discussion with dh for the past 6 months since it wasn't a real question until ds has actual offers....but now we are actually going to have to make a choice.

Both schools are totally brilliant, but this is my PFB so I haven't got much fact based evidence on secondary ed to help make the decision....would love to know what other MNers think please?

(Ps to avoid drip feeding, ds has been offered a small academic scholarship for Habs. Doesn't make much difference financially (& City is still cheaper) but maybe this should feature in our decision making process?)

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7plus11plus · 18/02/2022 09:13

Thank you @Tilly2b
It’s a very hard decision!

Tilly2b · 18/02/2022 01:08

Sorry - didn’t answer your question. We did choose Highgate over City and Habs.

Tilly2b · 18/02/2022 01:06

It’s closer, DS is very sporty and had a slight preference for Co-ed. Turning down City was difficult but I have been really impressed with Highgate so far. It seems to have a much less pressured approach/less homework etc than any other independent school I have come across but the breadth and depth of what he is studying is really very impressive.

7plus11plus · 18/02/2022 00:45

@Tilly2b Did you choose Highgate over City and Habs? Can I ask your reason? DS has Highgate offer but we prefer City…

Tilly2b · 17/02/2022 23:21

We ended up going for Highgate! Very indecisive in our household…

Braveheart35 · 17/02/2022 22:12

@Fillybuster

So, on the one hand, hurrah - ds did brilliantly and received offers from both Habs and City in the post this morning. Very very proud of him Grin.

On the other.....which to choose????? I've been totally refusing to engage in this discussion with dh for the past 6 months since it wasn't a real question until ds has actual offers....but now we are actually going to have to make a choice.

Both schools are totally brilliant, but this is my PFB so I haven't got much fact based evidence on secondary ed to help make the decision....would love to know what other MNers think please?

(Ps to avoid drip feeding, ds has been offered a small academic scholarship for Habs. Doesn't make much difference financially (& City is still cheaper) but maybe this should feature in our decision making process?)

A plus, I would think for Habs is having the girls school on the same campus & much meeting at the 'gate'. Habs are pursuing an integration programme with mixed teaching for 6th form and many more mixed clubs & social events. He might appreciate this as he gets older!
Confusedmom53 · 17/02/2022 21:55

@Tilly2b what school did you go for and how has your experience been? We are in a similar situation right now

Tilly2b · 23/02/2021 16:30

I would be really interested to hear what decisions you made and how it worked out for your DSs. We are faced with a similar dilemma.

schoolmadness2016 · 08/03/2016 13:25

we also went for Habs ( over Highgate and UCS ). My DS is very sporty and fell in love with the school grounds. He also said the assessment played more to his strengths. I am a bit nervous about the distance ( we are in Hampstead ), but from what other parents say the travel time on the coach is similar due to Ham/High school run traffic. THe latest sunday times ranking also reinforced our decision :). Best of luck with the decision - I feel like you cant really go wrong with your options.

doesitevermakesense · 08/03/2016 12:56

Where did you choose? Am very happy that I chose Habs for my (non sporty) DS. It actually wasn't my first choice initially, but now I am pleased I chose it :)

MamaTaxi · 07/03/2016 21:33

Checking the results, they are very similar. Agree with you on the grounds.

DeoGratias · 07/03/2016 20:51

I always thought Habs got much better exam results than City but I might be wrong. I would prefer habs but am biased as had a daughter at Habs girls who did terribly well there and we loved the school. Also rather nice to have all those grounds and horses in the field next door etc. Nicer non city environment.

MamaTaxi · 07/03/2016 20:16

Curious about your decision. I went through the same one and while I love the facilities Habs offer, I am worried about the lack of diversity. I did end up choosing Habs though and now I am worried whether I made the right choice.

Original poster
Fillybuster · 22/02/2016 18:38

Tamesa, whilst that's obviously an issue for you right now, I can't help but wonder if you've posted on the wrong thread?! Grin

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Tamesa · 20/02/2016 18:49

The boy has French gcse oral in a couple of months and his accent is shocking. His French master says it is too late (and why he didn't raise this earlier is a question for the school!) but I want to help him.
Obviously there is the French conversation tutor option but I think he needs more than that and that shorter frequent bursts would be more helpful so an app or something like muzzy for 15yo if such a thing exists. He is a bright lad and I reckon we can do it when we establish where to start.
Fwiw: in the mocks he got A for reading and writing and c overall... The listening and speaking were so bad!

anotherdayanother · 20/02/2016 18:38

The City matches are mainly during the week I believe.

SAHDthatsall · 20/02/2016 17:22

I don't know either school but do watch out for sports fixtures both in Y7 and later down the school. The location of the sports ground could be a pain for you (or not) for say Saturday morning matches if you are a keen spectator as I am!

Original poster
Fillybuster · 20/02/2016 13:03

Ok, time to break out the spreadsheet!

Thank you :)

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Cookingwine · 20/02/2016 11:32

But fees are an issue. I too have 2 other DCs. I made an excel spreadsheet last year including lunches, transport and an inflation rate of 6% over 7 years and that was an eye opener. We also went for the open days for families with offers which helped too.

Cookingwine · 20/02/2016 11:19

If we would have had an outstanding academic school locally we would have chosen it I think. We did have a place at LU but I didn't like it even if it was our local-ish school, no doorstep playing fields, co-ed, a bit too "cool" and dare I say it snob. But it really depends on whom you bump into at open days etc and your impressions can sway either way I think. Habs sounds like a good choice. Hopefully first hands Habs parents will join the discussion

Original poster
Fillybuster · 20/02/2016 11:10

It's the diversity and ethos of City that really appeal - so glad to hear that's what you're seeing irl. But although travel time to Habs is similar, the catchment is mainly our area so there's more chance of good friends close by.

But far less diversity.

Obvs we are hugely lucky to be in the position to have a choice, and that we can stretch to fees (although will be more of a stretch if dcs2&3 follow suit...) but still, this is tough!

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Cookingwine · 20/02/2016 10:52

None. But they all network on whatsapp for homework last minute panic and Skype each other and met on virtual worlds...I am not particularly overjoyed with this but he is by no means isolated IYSWIM. Having grounds and playing fields on your doorstep (I assume this is what Habs offer?) is certainly a positive asset! The ethos at City is excellent, the school is really diverse in terms of ethnicity and means, I do like it.

Original poster
Fillybuster · 20/02/2016 09:36

Cookingwine can I ask how many of your ds' friends are local to you? Or does it just not matter?

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Original poster
Fillybuster · 20/02/2016 09:34

Thanks for the comments - really helpful. I tend to agree that there's enough years ahead for the commute, although it isn't that bad from where we live...I worked almost next door until 6 months ago and could do the journey in around 50 mins door to door. But only when thameslink and tubes were running properly....!

I think the main thing is that ds prefers Habs - even though he's not very sporty, he loves the amount of space around the school and the overall look and feel of the place. Funnily enough dh prefers City, as he thinks it has a nicer ethos. I'm entirely on the fence!

Hopefully either choice will work out well - it's obviously a pretty close call :)

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Cookingwine · 19/02/2016 22:02

This is second hand information but apparently Habs culls at sixth form, which is not really nice IMO, but with a scholarship you are probably safe?

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