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Original poster

North London secondary schools - faves please!

88 replies

ZucchiniPie · 10/05/2018 13:44

DD is in Year 4 so the secondary school question is beginning to loom. Having rented for years in Whitehall Park N19 and driving myself crazy that we haven't bought, I guess it does mean that if we want to think about moving house for schools, we are in a good position to do that.

So, without any dramatic geographical shift (i.e. I don't think we're contemplating a sudden move south of the river or way out to the west), which schools/areas might we want to consider?

I know bits about all the usual suspects near us (Highgate Wood, APS, Fortismere, Acland Burghley, Parliament Hill) but not necessarily the most current information. But for instance I only even heard of Hornsey School for Girls' existence yesterday and it sounds quite good! So that's an example of my general ignorance on schools.

And no doubt there are others further away from us (Hackney, etc.) which we might seriously consider doing a house move for if we found out we loved them.

No definite preference for mixed or single sex. The main concern I have (other than wanting a good standard of teaching and value placed on music, art, etc., not just strict academic performance) is behaviour. Just somewhere where kids treat each other with decency and respect.

Thanks all!

OP posts:
BackByDopeDemand · 13/06/2018 17:12

tiny

BackByDopeDemand · 13/06/2018 17:11

Barnet (borough) has good secondary schools and of your thinking of buying it’s going to hurt a lot less than further in (especially N1).

Fortismere and the like have stupidly Tony catchment areas.

What sort of vibe of school are you looking for?

endofthelinefinally · 13/06/2018 17:10

You won't find a school in North London that doesn't have a drug problem. You will find that some acknowledge and tackle it and others pretend it isn't happening.
I would rather my dc had attended one of the former tbh.

NWgirls · 13/06/2018 17:04

Yes! But could be worth a try if she has a knack for those kinds of tests, which include VR and NVR, can work fast, and you see it as a free lottery ticket. (Tons of tutoring going on for this, not to mention enormously oversubscribed/selective, so please don't expect a place)

Original poster
ZucchiniPie · 13/06/2018 15:40

Sorry to have gone quiet on this thread and thanks for the last few replies. I'd forgotten about Henrietta Barnet - thanks. DD is bright and fairly academic, but not top-of-the-class academic. Is it extremely competitive to get in?

OP posts:
MercedesDeMonteChristo · 01/06/2018 20:16

We know a lot of girls at PH due to where our primary is and all are very happy, any issues addressed quickly and overall very positive.

Maths9 · 31/05/2018 19:06

Oops I meant DD, stupid autocorrect

Maths9 · 31/05/2018 19:05

I’m not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but if your dad is academically inclined, she could try for Henrietta Barnet school in Hampstead. From what I’ve heard, the school is hot on academics, but has a very good pastoral side too. They don’t give too much homework in the younger years.

Mediumred · 27/05/2018 11:15

Sounds like you have some quite good options without moving. How does your neighbour’s girl like PH? One of the older sisters of DD’s friends goes there and seems to like it and her mum is pleased with the pastoral care and the academic side and the girl has made some good friends. I like that it does not have a uniform and the mum told me they mix up the forms every year so can address friendship issues that way. I don’t think we are in catchment and it would be quite far for DD to travel. We are def closer to Hornsey girls if we go the single-sex route. A previous poster said Hornsey was predominantly Muslim. It does have a large number of Muslim girls but I wouldn’t describe it as ‘predominantly Muslim’ and it wouldn’t worry me or DD if it was.

A couple of people at work have kids (boys) at AB and are happy with that too. Seems like it has loads of extracurricular stuff for the kids.

Surelyyoudontmeanthat · 27/05/2018 07:49

further east but closeish to your old stomping ground, have you thought about Stoke Newington comprehensive?

Original poster
ZucchiniPie · 25/05/2018 11:13

Thanks Mercedes. We're currently in the catchment for PH where we are - a neighbour's daughter a few doors down from us has started there this year. Our son is only in Yr1 so we have several years before having to make a decision for him anyway.
That is good to know that William Ellis is good - I know people who went there in the 80s (!) but had heard anything recently.

OP posts:
MercedesDeMonteChristo · 23/05/2018 15:08

Oh, I missed the Green Space comment - Hampstead Heath here too :-)

MercedesDeMonteChristo · 23/05/2018 15:08

If you end up in the catchment for AB, I can also recommend William Ellis for your son. I am opposed in theory to single sex schools, but DS1 really excelling and he picked it even though he wouldn't know anyone there. I think actually relocating closer to AB/PH/WE etc is a good move as the schools are really all good in their different ways. Our friends at AB are also really happy.

Original poster
ZucchiniPie · 14/05/2018 13:22

Have you been to any " meet the parents" events? Thanks, I hadn't come across that and looks good!

Re Marylebone, I guess the first step is to go and see it, before we think about a move. I think I'm inclined (and the finances are probably more realistic) to move somewhere that puts us near APS or another north London school, rather than try and move more centrally. We like the green space around here!

OP posts:
Fightthebear · 12/05/2018 16:33

Our babysitter goes to Fortismere and has an offer from Oxford for this year. He loves it.

He says there are stoners at the school but he avoids them.

doodar · 12/05/2018 16:28

APS
Highgate wood
Fortismere

Any of those 3, Hornsey school for girls is predominantly Muslim.

CrackingEggs · 12/05/2018 15:53

Marylebone has "open" places, at least it did until recently, although I've stopped checking their website for admissions updates as we decided against it. We have a child in the same year group as you and had an awful time getting a reception place so was panicked early on about secondary.

The most recent info I have is from 2016 when their 14 open places went
Band A 0.7111m
Bsnd B 0.7616 m
Band C 0.9665m
Band D 0.5721 mile.

So you would need to move and it's a bit decision for a small chance of a place. However you could probably play it a bit and be in the catchment for both CSG and St Marylebone?

Have you been to any " meet the parents" events? They have a website.

Buxbaum · 12/05/2018 10:10

St Marylebone has performing arts places but they are very competitive. This is probably your only shot if you are not churchgoers.

Visit Mossbourne if you are considering it. It is quite intense and very hot on discipline. It might not suit a more creative child.

LadySerenaCarlow · 12/05/2018 10:05

My kids (at secondary school in the area) say no to mossbourne.

Lots of drugs everywhere I think so you won't be able to avoid. I know people with girls at parliament hill and Camden - both like them, Parlie more than Camden actually. I know people with boys at AB - they love it. I'll be looking at it for my y5 son and his sister may follow him there.

Have heard about bullying at fortismere- friend with child in y8 not so happy.

Have heard good things about Marylebone but I thought you had to be a church goer.

On knives and drugs - think they're everywhere. My dds have had parties and (recently) group of boys from AB turned up with knives.

Drugs at all the schools I think

And smoking and alcohol rife. - but my girls didn't start getting interested until y10/11 really

Original poster
ZucchiniPie · 12/05/2018 09:57

Thanks for all those new thoughts and suggestions. I think even though we could move, we’d much prefer not to, as we love the area we’re in, don’t really want to have to move DS’ school, etc. So moving would be a big decision. It’s more that if we really felt the options here are too limited (from our POV) then we could. But I’m more and more encouraged that we won’t have to.

Mediumred I got very excited when I first saw that City of London we’re taking over Mt Carmel but then hadn’t heard any reports about it. We should go and see it but, like you, wonder how much it can transform into what I’m sure COLA are aiming for just in the next couple of years. Worth keeping an eye on definitely...

OP posts:
CrackingEggs · 11/05/2018 08:59

fluencycontent2-schoolwebsite.netdna-ssl.com/FileCluster/AclandBurghley/MainFolder/1_About_us/Ofsted-Inspection-Report---March-2018.pdf

Here is Acland Burghley's Ofsted report, I'm on my phone ( smashed screen and all) so it's probably not a clicky link.

I'm really pleased with the report, but that's coming from a patent who wants a co-ed comp and who can't move. It's interesting to think if I would be as happy if I had the choices you have. I think I would be as I know some great children who go, or will be starting on Y7. Who knows, but I am going to ponder!

Mediumred · 11/05/2018 03:03

We’re not far from you and DD (y5 so not long from having to make a decision) seems keen on Hornsey Girls. I did look round and was quite impressed. Outside of school and in groups the girls can seem a bit unruly (guess as any gang of teens can) but in school the atmosphere appeared studious and supportive.

We have friends with kids at Highgate wood who are very happy with it and the children who are willing to engage can really thrive there. The results at both schools are good.

Out of people able/willing to move, more seem keen on APS than fortismere now, definitely APS seems to be the sought after school for our bit of north London.

Also have you looked at the new City of London academy on Highgate hill? (Formerly Mt Carmel). I looked round there too and it was nice kids and teachers. They are starting from quite a low base in terms of exam results, this will be their first GCSE year so it will be interesting to see how they get on. Definitely the switch to academy status has brought a renewed focus on discipline/behaviour.

Good luck!

hardheadedwoman · 10/05/2018 23:24

Look at the Wren academy in North Finchley (134 bus route)

Original poster
ZucchiniPie · 10/05/2018 23:19

CrackingEggs that’s really good to know. As I’m new to secondary school intel gathering, I had only seen what Rightmove’s school checker tool had, which was obviously the old Ofsted. I hadn’t actually got to the stage of looking at the school’s own website.

How awful about that pupil. What a tragic thing.

Will definitely add to our list.

We know a family in Victoria Park whose daughter is in Year 7 at the newer Mossbourne so can ask how they’re finding it. I’d be happy moving over that way, having grown up in Hackney and with all my family in that area still. What always annoyed me as a child in East London was the awful transport links (which is why I love where live now as you can get anywhere so quickly) but I guess things have improved a fair bit with the Overground.

OP posts:
ScrubTheDecks · 10/05/2018 22:46

Camden School for Girls has music aptitude and music ability places.

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