Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

North London private secondaries for non-academic boys

29 replies

Rrelaxo · 02/03/2021 14:44

Hello all,

I have just recovered from the 11+ saga with my daughter, who was lucky to get a place at South Hampstead. After a short week of relief, it is time to start thinking about my son. He is in Y4 and is a July baby, so one of the youngest. He is now at a good state school in Hampstead. Relatively strong in math, awfully behind in English. We have gradually started giving him additional support and thinking about secondaries.

He is a bright boy, but still too immature to take 11+ process seriously and he definitely wouldn't do well in a high-pressure school (if he even got in). So probably the likes of UCS, Highgate, etc are out of the question. I am looking at alternative schools with nurturing environment and good sports facilities. Mill Hill is one obvious option, but maybe you could recommend other worthy options to consider that will not give me grey hair in terms of preparing my son for entrance exams and not making him lose any interest for learning along the way if pushed too hard? Thanks a lot!

For now slight preference for boys-only, but will also look at co-ed to evaluate all options.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
JessyCarr · 06/11/2021 13:45

Honor we find the teaching to be strong and the school is ambitious for each child to fulfil their academic potential. This was important to us as DS is actually pretty strong academically, but was feeling unduly stressed by the build-up to competitive 11+ exams. If we hadn’t been satisfied that St Margaret’s would get the best out of his ability, we might well just have gritted our teeth and carried on with our intended applications to Habs etc.

What’s lovely is that he is enjoying his learning (they still do 11+ In Y6, but their progression to the Senior School does not depend on it) while no longer looking like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders. There’s time for lots of fun and lots of physical activity. He’s enjoying being 10, which for a while was looking unlikely!

HonorHiding · 06/11/2021 11:18

That’s good to hear, Jessy. By all accounts they are strong pastorally and on extra-curricular. What’s your impression on the academic side?

JessyCarr · 06/11/2021 03:01

For those interested in St Margaret’s Bushey, we have a DS in Upper Juniors (Y6) who is loving it. Obviously they have only just recently gone co-ed, and our pioneering boys are still significantly in the minority, but it feels like there is a momentum about it and we have been very pleased so far. Back in the summer we thought we were all set for the North London/Herts 11+ bunfight, but have no regrets about electing for all-through in the end.

HonorHiding · 19/10/2021 14:08

@mammmamia

Does anyone have any information about how the co-Ed thing is going for St Margaret’s Bushey and John Lyon?
Hopeful bump! Would be especially interested in how many boys are at (& projected to join) St Margaret’s, Bushey.
mammmamia · 12/03/2021 12:14

Does anyone have any information about how the co-Ed thing is going for St Margaret’s Bushey and John Lyon?

Soma · 12/03/2021 12:02

Ditto regarding St Margaret's Bushey, excellent pastoral care.

London1305f · 12/03/2021 11:40

@XelaM thank you. I will have a look at these. I always thought St Helen’s was quite academic though.

XelaM · 04/03/2021 00:38

@London1305f I have a daughter and I was looking for nurturing schools with easier entrance exams in North London.

These are the schools I would recommend going for:

Queenswood,
St John's Senior School,
Mount House,
Aldenham,
St Helen's (although we didn't apply, but heard it's lovely),
Palmers Green High School (but they don't have a 6th form).

TomorrowOnce · 03/03/2021 22:05

St Margaret's Bushey is lovely lovely - used to be girls only, now co-ed

John Lyon will start to be co-ed from Sept 2021

These are co-ed as well:
Maida Vale School (opened in 2020)
Eaton Square Senior School
Kensington Park School
Knightsbridge School
Portland Place School
Heathside School
Thomas's Battersea (opening in 2021)
Radnor House Twickenham

Additional for DDs:
Northwood College GDST (lovely grounds)
St James's in Kensington Olympia (likely oversubscribed, fab A-levels)
St Helen's (lovely grounds, likely oversubscribed)
Queens Gate (likely oversubscribed)
QCL is oversubscribed (lovely head)
More House School in Knightsbridge (lovely school, loved their choir/orchestra when we visited)
Palmers Green High School (lovely school, girls in pink)
St Margaret's Hampstead - tiny school, likely oversubscribed (besides SPGS which is understandable, the head here claims that there is such thing as a St Margaret's girl, really?)
SCHS (Streatham and Clapham) GDST - (likely oversubscribed)
Blackheath High School GDST (likely oversubscribed)
Croydon High School GDST (likely oversubscribed)
Sydenham High School GDST (likely oversubscribed)
Sutton High School GDST (rising star, likely oversubscribed)
Bromley High School GDST (likely oversubscribed)
St Catherine's Twickenham

Polly99 · 03/03/2021 21:45

For a DD look at Queenswood. It's mildly selective, has a rep for sports but I think gets the best out of girls on an individual basis without excessive pressure. I know of girls who have done extremely well there. If it's a bit far they have flexi boarding I believe. Also Queens College (at the back of Selfridges though).

London1305f · 03/03/2021 21:30

This thread is very helpful. Are there any options I can add to this list for a DD?

mammmamia · 03/03/2021 16:03

Also interested in this topic

lpsandmore · 03/03/2021 06:58

Heathside if you want local, they've just had go ahead for GCSEs. St Christopher's in Letchworth if you don't mind travel. They have a whole bus system going to N London with reasonable timings. It's like a more academic version of KAS.

TomorrowOnce · 03/03/2021 01:04

Wetherby Senior, Maida Vale School, Eaton Square Senior School, Kensington Park School, Knightsbridge School, Portland Place School
(all in pretty much central London)

XelaM · 03/03/2021 00:34

Aldenham, St John's Senior School in Enfield, Mount House School

afewtoomanychoices · 02/03/2021 23:36

Look at Wetherby Senior?

Original poster
Rrelaxo · 02/03/2021 16:39

@cakefortwo

Hi *@Rrelaxo*

I feel your pain! But well done on South Hampstead :)!

I agree with @Joy93 - KAS and Heathside are both really good schools - not fair to say not academic though - both schools stretch their children but are inclusive at entry. The Head of KAS was the interim Heads at Heathside - hence the similar ethos. Dukes Education now back Heathside, so financially sound as well as being an amazing school.

Always worth exploring both .... then you can choose !!

Yes, super proud of South Hampstead (less happy with the grey hair I got throughout the preparation process :).

Yes, Heathside is on our list. Our daughter actually got offered a massive scholarship there, which we declined. But i quite liked the school for our boy.

KAF hard to get into, i hear.

OP posts:
Original poster
Rrelaxo · 02/03/2021 16:37

@Love2dance

Also heard good things about Aldenham (and the site is lovely) and St Columba's re pastoral care and nurturing. So difficult to decide I really feel for you. DS1 it at St Albans but DS2 was a very prem summer baby with dev delay, dyspraxia/DCD and possible ADD. We knew StAbs just would be too much for him. We are in N London and due to COVID have not managed to move so do not feel DS2 would manage the journey anyway. We have decided to go state (Marylebone Boys) as heard v good things about it (from an ex-prep school parent). Good luck.
Thanks for the tips and it is never too soon to start thinking about this! With our daughter's school in Hampstead, we will need to find a place to live that would work for both kids (also if they have to travel in the opposite directions :). But i see that most of the schools further out offer school bus options.

We will be visiting the open days and forming more opinions.

OP posts:
Reeewwwww · 02/03/2021 16:31

Forest School? Or is that too far? And it's mixed.

Love2dance · 02/03/2021 16:30

Also heard good things about Aldenham (and the site is lovely) and St Columba's re pastoral care and nurturing. So difficult to decide I really feel for you. DS1 it at St Albans but DS2 was a very prem summer baby with dev delay, dyspraxia/DCD and possible ADD. We knew StAbs just would be too much for him. We are in N London and due to COVID have not managed to move so do not feel DS2 would manage the journey anyway. We have decided to go state (Marylebone Boys) as heard v good things about it (from an ex-prep school parent). Good luck.

cakefortwo · 02/03/2021 16:30

Hi @Rrelaxo

I feel your pain! But well done on South Hampstead :)!

I agree with @Joy93 - KAS and Heathside are both really good schools - not fair to say not academic though - both schools stretch their children but are inclusive at entry. The Head of KAS was the interim Heads at Heathside - hence the similar ethos. Dukes Education now back Heathside, so financially sound as well as being an amazing school.

Always worth exploring both .... then you can choose !!

Soma · 02/03/2021 16:15

King Alfred is a very nurturing school, but tricky to get into for year 7, as there are so few places for new pupils, on average about 10 a year. OP could try for an occasional place before then.

Joy93 · 02/03/2021 16:15

@Rrelaxo

KAS or Heathside - both really lovely nurturing schools, co ed, relaxed, supportive. KAS has progression through to their senior, while Heathside has amazing 11+ progression data. Although both tricky to get into Year 5 Prep.
Good luck :)

Camdenish · 02/03/2021 16:06

I know a few sets of parents who are v happy with North Bridge House.

King Alfreds?

Soma · 02/03/2021 16:00

I think St Columba's College going co-ed, might be in part due to St Martha's in Hadley Wood going co-ed and changing to Mount House. They used to do socials etc. together.

Yes, the pastoral care is supposed to be good at Aldenham, and learning support helpful. If your DS is musical, then Mill Hill is much better than Aldenham.

Swipe left for the next trending thread