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Original poster

Henrietta Barnett School vs North London Private Schools

32 replies

user1477356791 · 25/10/2016 02:08

My DD is in Group A after the second round of the HBS 11 plus exam, which means she is likely to get a place. She will also be sitting NLCS, SHHS and Highgate. I think she has a good chance of getting into all schools.
My DD currently attends a selective private school in SW London but we will be moving to Hampstead, so we are looking for a school in North London.
I wonder if HBS offers altogether less with regards to general opportunities compared to private schools and is mainly very academic.
I was extremely impressed by the Head of NLCS and then heard she will be leaving!! Less impressed by the Heads of SHHS and Highgate.
Any advice on HBS compared to North London private schools would be greatly appreciated.

OP posts:
Original poster
user1477356791 · 25/10/2016 19:46

Thank you for all comments! I cannot believe that parents still tutor their children for GCSE, if they go to such highly academic schools.
We have not visited HBS yet, as we were on holiday already on their open day. We really liked NLCS but I am a little concerned the Head will change, as the Head has such a profound influence on the school.

OP posts:
Bue · 25/10/2016 16:47

My friend went to HB and her twin sister went to NLCS (they were each allowed to choose their schools). Both went to Oxford and both have done well career-wise. I suspect if the schools were reversed they still would both have gone to Oxford and ended up in the same careers. So I'd simply choose the school that's the best fit. (I'd add that my friend is considerably more down to earth than her sister, but that may be just be personality!)

Original poster
user1477356791 · 25/10/2016 16:40

To be honest my opinion is that a child of high ability will do well at any of the very selective schools, so this would not be so much my worry. HBS in fact sends between 20-30% to Oxbridge. I wonder if there is a broader range of non academic areas such as sport, art, music etc. and more opportunities for personal development, confidence building, debating abilities etc. in a private school. On the other hand a state school would have more "normal" pupils with less of a sense of entitlement, which is a good thing. Apparently, there seems to be less bullying etc at HBS but I don't know if one can say that categorically.

OP posts:
Threeschools · 25/10/2016 15:59

"A friend has a girl at each and has said that the local tutors are booked full of girls from both schools by the GCSE year." Shock

Threeschools · 25/10/2016 15:42

Following

user1474361571 · 25/10/2016 15:22

NLCS is more likely to get her into Oxbridge.

Schools don't get pupils into Oxbridge. Pupils get themselves into Oxbridge, through their ability and potential.

I am far from convinced that any good school does particularly better than another good school in helping pupils get into Oxbridge. The different statistics mostly reflect the selection of the school e.g. Westminster gets a lot into Oxbridge but it selects based on Oxbridge potential. Provided that a school sends pupils to Oxbridge regularly, which HB does, then they don't have a disadvantage at getting pupils to Oxbridge relative to a school that sends a higher percentage of pupils to Oxbridge.

For NCLS v HB, it really depends on what you are looking for. Private schools have better facilities, co-curriculars etc because the funding per head is higher. I doubt that the A level results for a given child would differ much between either school. Both are somewhat pressured schools that wouldn't suit every child.

evenstrangerthings · 25/10/2016 13:57

Looking at the "end of the road" - Uni destinations- HBS gets around 10% into Oxbridge whereas for NLCS it's 30%+ (check the websites for the latest figures). A friend has a girl at each and has said that the local tutors are booked full of girls from both schools by the GCSE year. My daughter was at NLCS from reception until end of Year 3 when we moved abroad. She's now in 6th form back in the U.K. and I suspect she'll end up going to the same Uni (not Oxbridge) as she would have if she's stayed at NLCS for all those years. If your daughter is a high flyer - NLCS is more likely to get her into Oxbridge and it does have excellent facilities and an amazing track record - but you do have to weigh that up with the costs and also consider which school your daughter prefers from her visits.

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