Henrietta Barnett Sixth form

Also, check this site: www.thestudentroom.co.uk/
Mostly is by students so maybe your daughter can create an account, or just yourself. You might find a few girls who are already at HBS or joining this September which might help.

Definitely, worth checking with other children too and schools in the area. Hope you find a way which doesn't stress your daughter too much.

It's about a 20 minute walk from Golders Green as it is or a trip on the H2 or H3 bus both of which go fairly irregularly. There are no other tube stations within a reasonable distance of the school. The 102 bus goes to the Market Place and she could walk from there so you could see if there are any tube stops that are viable along that route. That said we live locally and considered Forest School for my son but ruled it out as the journey from East Finchley to Snaresbrook was completely unviable.

Apologies @EleniT we actually cross posted so my response wasn't in reply to yours! The bus does sound like it maybe a good option.

And yes, I agree about work, but also think if the journey is tested in the pandemic or holidays it won't be a true reflection of the real situation, and in two years time I think the vast majority of staff will be back working in Central London

We do do a commute to NW London schools from here (well, H&I off the tube) but it's a school bus so a bit different.

OP - I wonder if it's a good option to investigate with other parents and split the cost of a minibus, perhaps with other schools involved (schools taht don't have a service for their children).

My goodness, that is very long and I know what you are talking about.
BUT... have in mind that not everyone will return to work, so trains might not be so busy. Think is best to check the options and find out what's best for sure.

I would not let my daughter do this commute. I've done both parts of it (Golders Green to Euston and also Walthamstow to Euston).

It is absolute hell at rush hour - Euston you are often waiting in lines underground whilst two or three tubes pass. The platforms are extremely, extremely busy. She will not be able to study on the tubes at rush hour because it really is like a can of sardines - standing room only on the Victoria Line. I guess the Northern Line out of the city may be a little better, but it's a hugely unreliable tube line as well, with multiple signal failures and often cancellations.

The other option to look at is the Overground to Finchley Road from Walthamstow (with one change) and then a bus up to school - again Finchley road is awful at rush hour.

Just to note - I went from near Woodford to Oxford Circus and the journey regularly took two hours coming back in the evening.

You could also try to get a bus 210 from Finsbury Park? Goes to Golders green station too, and maybe further up which might be closer to the school.
If your daughter can get Victoria line from Walthamstow to Finsbury park and then bus 210 but you need to check the times etc.

Walthamstow Central, Victoria to Euston, change onto the Northern for Golders Green? Does that work at all?

It's great school. well done to your DD.

She does sound really determined, perhaps she needs to do the trip a few times over holiday to make sure she understands what it takes.

On the other hand, I guess, is just over 1.5 years and that will give her a very good sense about long travelling. Problem will be that it will be rush hour that's the only down thing.

Maybe you will find a way to drive her part of her way to school to make it easier for her, you might think of something until September.

Good luck to her and yourself and well done for getting the offer.

How about LAE Stratford. I can see how long it can be for your daughter to travel to HBS if you live near Bancroft's school.

As someone who has to travel to work on public transport I believe anything more than 45 minutes would be too much. You need to consider also days where there are delays etc. which can be annoying but also stressful especially in the morning. It will be horrible in the winter months.

Is there any way for her to live near the school Monday-Friday maybe, so that she only has to travel twice? Any relative she can live with?

Have you considered Woodford County High grammar school, like HB, a girls school and no need to travel far as it’s literally next door to Bancroft’s?

tbh, my advice would be to tell her she's staying at Bancroft's.

She was also looking at St Marylebone and Camden School for girls but they don't have DT/DE which is her favourite subject; however Greycoat does and that will be much easier for her to commute too, just one bus. Would be nice to have more options for Six From though.

My dd was at HBS from Years 7-11, she moved for Sixth Form so the other way around.

She had a very good education there and it suited her intellectually. However the pressure is immense. The school try to underplay this but when you get a lot of super clever over achieving girls, of course the pressure is going to be an issue.

Teaching was generally good but you will get some average/poor teaching like you do in any school.

One of the reasons dd left was because she didn't want to do 4 A Levels and this is encouraged at HBS. One subject can be dropped but not till the end of Year 12. The new A Levels are a lot of work, even doing 3 is tough, I would advise anyone against doing 4. Universities only want 3, even Oxbridge.

@Tash45 sorry but it would be madness to put your dd through 3 hours travelling/day. A Levels are tough, she will be exhausted with that travel.

People are often under this illusion that HBS is the gold standard of schools. It is just a school, certainly not worth travelling hours for.

I think this website will tell you: tfl.gov.uk/fares/

Also check the: tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/ and put maybe the postcodes of the journey and see the options.

If you need help to workout which is the best route, let me know maybe the from station/postcode and I can check for you, I don't mind.

Sometimes with travelling, you might find that if you take your girl to a particular station (by car) then it will be better.

Yes, also it's only for 2 years.