G&L, CLSG, SHHS, Highgate? Your honest opinion is needed?

Would anyone be able to give me a current read on South Hampstead versus Highgate junior school obvs for my daughter! Would love any opinions on where to send, as we are looking at both and difficult to choose!

@itinerant42 you are right on making that point there! I think best to really go on gut combined with a balanced views from both ourselves and DD’s

@Ohtobeasausagedog which are you deciding between? We are also waiting on state offers on Monday. Feeling just the same as you and @NewMum112 with lots of wavering, uncertainty and wobbles and if we had the same hand of offers would be farm more bamboozled! So can see your dilemma overall. We really enjoyed the CLSG event and a great mix of girls attending. Year 7 pupils seemed down to earth, enthused and very happy. Head and staff all so upbeat, passionate and warm. Still wish none of this was virtual and think that makes it all the harder, but DD came away feeling very positive.

The choice is difficult because they are all good schools. None of these can really be considered the wrong choice and your child is likely to flourish in all of them.

Bolshy is exactly what mine is like at home.

They seemed lovely. Confident but not bolshy, articulate, friendly, engaged. All had smiles :-)

What were the girls on the SHHS zoom like? DD was one of them but I wasn't allowed to earwig...

We were incredibly impressed by the offers events at South Hampstead. It felt warm, friendly, happy, the teachers were enthusiastic and excited about their subjects. The social action projects and links with other schools in the UK and abroad sound great. The computer science/tech side of things sounds like it is really developing but with a good balance of arts subjects too including textiles. It felt like it offered a wonderful range of opportunities both academic, co-curricular, pastoral, etc.

Confusion gets worse every day...is what I meant. My brain is utterly scrambled

I could have written that message myself. Confusing gets worse by the day. Every time we think we have decided then suddenly something else comes into play. It’s exhausting as well, we are literally talking about nothing else!

Thanks for clarifying @Oblonsky, that is helpful to know.

I was specifically referring to year 7 and 8 switches when things don’t work out. Sixth form is a whole different ball game and there is a generally a lot more movement depending on the school.

@TomorrowOnce Reading back, I think your astute questioning / evaluations make a lot of sense. Sounds about right to me :)

Forgot one

1. Boarding -> NHEHS (want day?)

@TomorrowOnce just seen your message and really helpful as always thank you. Your school research is impeccable!

@sw15sw15 so reassuring to know as well.

I am aware of the usual 13+ (Year 9) and Year 12 (Sixth Form) moves being easy transition points.

Expect the rest does depend on in year / chance vacancies becoming available and the school itself.

@Oblonsky thanks for the thoughts. Also recall your earlier useful posts .

On the switches you mention which you have personally heard of, are these at any specific years? From what I understood and heard those moves have mostly occurred for sixth form and some also go state and co-ed.

Do you have a DD at any of the schools?

DD is at a SW London school- they had a few girls join in y8 and a few left ( to go abroad). About 10 joined in y9 from other state and private secondary ( ie not from 13 prep schools) and abroad. There is more movement than you’d think.

As what the PP said, places become available - in single digits - because people move, etc.

I mentioned in my post before, during our grand tour of London schools, we met students who have switched from:

1. NLCS or CLSG or SPGS -> SHHS or Channing (less pressure?)
2. NHEHS -> G&L (better care? academic?)

And then for 6th form (we know of):
a. WHS -> KCS Wimbledon (for the boys :)!)
b. SPGS -> Westminster School (boys again!)
c. SHHS or CLSG -> State Grammar or Partially Selective State (?)

People switch subject to places becoming available, single digits of course but I am aware of recent switches from CLSG to SHHS and SPGS and from NLCS to SHHS.

I have a general but relevant question to ask anyone if they know how common or easy is it to switch schools outside of the traditional entry points? Should things really not work out based on various reasons.

Bearing in mind a blind decisions this year will be common for many who have not been able to physically visit the schools. A real gamble as visiting a school and watching in action (not virtually) is such an important part in making a suitable decision.

Hi again NewMum112!

All those schools are fine schools and your daughter will do well at all of them. My daughter has Cambridge friends from all of them.

Highgate has boys, which makes it distinctive. I know many European families which prefer it for that reason.

That said, we had an 8 minute car journey in NW London. Made a huge difference to our daughter's energy levels and the activities she could do easily, both within school and without. I would do the same again, to be frank.

The schools are all expecting people to take their time and to play a strategic game; they will fill their places so don't worry about them! Your decision is a critical one for your family so take your time!

@NewMum112 sorry last msg should have ended by saying don’t feel bad. Understandable under the circumstances this year and you won’t be alone. Many will have given up their offers and everyone is hopefully mindful of wanting to do the same and release what they can as soon as they can if not already.