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Original poster

Alexandra Park School vs Highgate Wood (APS vs HGW)?

34 replies

chillberry · 09/04/2021 16:04

We're currently in catchment for HGW and liked what I saw on a pre-covid open day. I had the impression the school has improved a lot in recent years and results look almost as good as APS.

But I also really liked APS and we now might have the opportunity to move into that catchment. We do like the area we're in right now a bit more than the APS area, but we're renting at the moment so don't have to worry about selling/buying and I'm wondering if a move would really be worth it.

Would love to hear more from people with current experience of these schools. DC is quiet, sensitive, academic type. How do they handle y7 transition? How has their covid provision been? Any red flags?

OP posts:
Polly99 · 12/04/2021 11:38

Sammyvine - that's right. The catchment now goes nowhere near Wood Green. Kids from up Alexandra Park Road towards MH - who previously would have applied to Fortismere- started to go to APS and the catchment shrank dramatically.
The kids who live towards Ally Pally station who would historically have gone to APS now get into to Heartlands (a new school near the station on the Wood Green side) which is basically how APS was a decade or so ago and I believe is run by the same trust. Diverse demographics, good academics and a growing reputation, and no sixth form (yet - I believe there are plans to add one).

sammyvine · 12/04/2021 03:59

@chillberry

sammyvine I think APS is pretty middle class, probably not as diverse at HGW.

I hear a lot about Fortismere results being largely reflective of the amount of private tutoring families pay for. I don't know if the same is said for APS. I think there's more socio-economic diversity at HGW and, if that's true and there's not as much private tutoring happening, then I suppose that says a lot about HWG teaching, as their results are nearly as good as APS.

Crouchendmumoftwo Great to hear your positive feedback. What year are your children in? Is there anything you're unhappy about at either school?

Wow so it seems APS has changed. As i said in another post years ago many kids that were living in Wood Green went to APS. It now seems that since the school is so highly rated, i am guessing they are taking kids that live in the 'wealthy parts' now, basically in the houses right next to the school?
sammyvine · 12/04/2021 03:57

@EnergyThieves

I'm local to HWS and have friends with children at HWS, APS and Fortismere. From my understanding Fortismere has by far the most tutoring, as *@chillberry* writes. But don't be fooled, I know many children with tutors at HWS too, but not to the extent as at Fortismere.

I really liked APS when I went to see it and I have only heard good about it. However, I would never move to get DC into APS when living within the "catchement" of HWS. I don't think the difference is that significant.

My understanding is that APS is less diverse nowadays. Fortismere is the least diverse of these three schools.

Oh really I am not surprised about Fortismere. I have heard great things about APS as well....when you say its less diverse these days is that because everybody wants to go there now and prefer it to Fortismere therefore they are mostly taking people that live in Muswell Hill? I remember many years ago children who used to live Wood Green (which isn't the best of areas) got into APS. I am guessing that is a thing of the past now and they are taking kids similar to the ones that Fortismere take?
EnergyThieves · 11/04/2021 22:40

I'm local to HWS and have friends with children at HWS, APS and Fortismere. From my understanding Fortismere has by far the most tutoring, as @chillberry writes. But don't be fooled, I know many children with tutors at HWS too, but not to the extent as at Fortismere.

I really liked APS when I went to see it and I have only heard good about it. However, I would never move to get DC into APS when living within the "catchement" of HWS. I don't think the difference is that significant.

My understanding is that APS is less diverse nowadays. Fortismere is the least diverse of these three schools.

Original poster
chillberry · 11/04/2021 16:46

sammyvine I think APS is pretty middle class, probably not as diverse at HGW.

I hear a lot about Fortismere results being largely reflective of the amount of private tutoring families pay for. I don't know if the same is said for APS. I think there's more socio-economic diversity at HGW and, if that's true and there's not as much private tutoring happening, then I suppose that says a lot about HWG teaching, as their results are nearly as good as APS.

Crouchendmumoftwo Great to hear your positive feedback. What year are your children in? Is there anything you're unhappy about at either school?

OP posts:
sammyvine · 10/04/2021 23:53

How diverse is APS? Is it very middle class? I know it's in a wealthy area which is Muswell Hill. Is it similar to Fortismere where most of the kids are middle class?

Crouchendmumoftwo · 10/04/2021 22:56

Hello, they are both good schools. I have children at both. I would say if you are in the catchment for HW stay there as the school is brilliant and my child LOVES it there. They are very agile and child centric and it has a great feeling and is in a lovely area. We are very happy with the school, the lovely teachers and the head.

Original poster
chillberry · 09/04/2021 17:06

I've read on the APS website that all students are expected to do 4 A-levels and they advise applicants to apply elsewhere if they think they'd struggle with four, so maybe some people interpret that as their child being "told to leave" if they're not super academic?

OP posts:
DelphiniumBlue · 09/04/2021 16:11

They are both nice schools.
Anecdotally, I 've heard that whereas APS will ask students to leave in 6th form if they are not hitting the required grades, HGW apparently doesn't do that and is more inclusive from that point of view.
I'm stressing that is just local gossip, and you might want to make further investigations. I can say that 3 or 4 years ago APS was definitely asking students to leave, I don't know if that is still the case.