HIGHGATE busary and admissions advice

I'm not a Highgate parent but do have experience of North London 11+ process.

Please don't be put off applying. These schools are actually desperate to attract a diverse intake and good bursary candidates.

About Highgate being competitive - yes it is, but the number of applications is misleading. They might get 900 applicants but lots will take up offers from other schools so it's not 1/10 getting in if that makes sense. They will make a lot more offers than the number of places they actually have. In terms of tutored students not getting places, the 11+ process is designed to heavily weed this out (for example flagging up English creative writing which is clearly preprepared and interviewers not taking it at face value when 10 year olds tell them how much they love Shakespeare.)

As a bursary applicant the bursary application is totally separate to the academic application. Your child would be offered a place or not then you would be offered a bursary or not separately based on financial evaluation. It's quite a high threshold in terms of income and assets and I'm not sure if you living with parents would affect your application if they own the house.

In terms of diversity I would agree with others that City of London and South London privates have more black children but Highgate is more diverse than other local competition. None of of them are particularly white British but it depends what you mean by diverse.

If you are seeking a bursary place North London I would encourage you to do what most parents navigating the process do and apply for a range of schools with slightly more/less academic reputations. If you're in NW10 that's on the Jubilee/Met line maybe so you might look at John Lyon for a less competitive option? Agree with others that boarding can be amazing for bursary students as there's a bit more of a level playing field at school. Good luck!

Hi there @saintrockz, here are some answers to your questions.
1: Yes, Highgate is super competitive: for every 10 applicants (approximately), one will be successful. Might sound like bad news, but just have your kid do lots of practice papers before you get in - this helps a lot.
2: There is an ethnic mix. Most pupils are the kids of middle class professionals, who are generally quite a diverse group. I don't really see why this would be an issue, but if it is for you... there's your answer!
3: I can't find any videos online, but you can get a free tour by emailing their office. Hope this helps!

@saintrockz can't tell you about the bursary process, but I've heard that bursaries at Highgate and Latymer Upper are both reviewed annually.

Highgate was really tough to get into this year at 11+, even for those who are tutored, and has pretty high academic standards.

Not sure where you are but if you will consider boarding, do consider Christ's Hospital which has bursaries.

Yes, Highgate is uber competitive.

Highgate’s website gives details of its 11+ written papers for this year, to be sat at the school on 6 December 2021.

*am I right

...and since you mentioned bursary applications in the same breath as Latymer, as I right in thinking you meant Latymer Upper rather than the grammar school?

OP, are you able to say roughly where you live? You mention Highgate and Latymer, but it’s not clear whether you are in between them or elsewhere. I’m sure people will want to help with further suggestions for you to consider.

Anyone telling you that Highgate is other than highly selective is very out of date. It’s completed a wholesale transformation from the unfancied all-boys’ boarding school of my youth to a highly-desired co-ed day school. None of which is a reason not to apply for a place and a bursary, but it’s important to have eyes wide open about just how tough the competition is for this and similar schools.

Has your tutor been able to advise as to a suitable shortlist of schools for your son to sit for? Is DS currently in Y5?

I was just wondering where in London you are, because there are other schools which offer large bursaries.

I'm a current Highgate parent. I don't know anything about the bursary application process, I'm afraid.

In terms of facilities, sport, music, it's absolutely superb. Sporting facilities in particular are outstanding for a London school.

There are lots of children of different ethnicities (and nationalities) at the school, although it's not as diverse as a typical London state school would be.

The one thing that makes me think it maybe not be the perfect school for you is that you describe your child as "not a high flyer". 20 years ago Highgate wasn't an especially academic school and you may get the wrong impression if you talk to people who don't have more recent knowledge. The school is now much more academically-focused and pressured and entry is extremely competitive- it's a great school but not for everyone.

Another idea- what about Mill Hill? They have wonderful facilities and a good bursary scheme and might be a better fit academically. (Obviously I don't know how academic your child is- I'm just going on your posts here.)

And, if you want to increase your chances of a substantial bursary, you might be wise to consider boarding - at both prep and senior level. The best established boarding schools have quite surprising amounts of money available for bursaries.

Obviously it would have to be something you and your child are both enthusiastic about. And the application processes can be relatively involved and long drawn out. On the other hand, major public schools in particular (the ones everyone has heard of) do attract an international student body - so they're naturally ethnically diverse ...

I know a boy who was offered St Paul's, City and MTS. Indeed all the schools they applied to but not Highgate. And a girl who was offered Habs, South Hampstead and Francis Holland as well as a scholarship at Belmont but didn't even get to interview stage at Highgate. It's definitely not an easier choice.

If you think your child IS academically rigorous (and male) I think City of London presents as the most truly diverse private environment. Many other schools talk diversity but are quite mono ethnic even if not primarily white British

im sure you are asking why highgate, well my DC is smart but not an acadmic high flyer, loves sport and music i was told that highgate offer wonderful bursaries so thought I would try whats the worse that could happen!

Hi OP. This part of your post made me think that Highgate may not be the right choice for your DC. It's a very competitive school and due to the co-ed element half the places available will be going to children of the other sex. It's extremely hard to secure a place and very academically rigorous. By all means give it a shot but if you child isn't an academic high flyer you may be better off exploring schools like Mill Hill

We are already booked for one of the virtual open events, but the 25 May and 7 June ones are still showing as bookable - perhaps try again, unless the school has told you they are all full?

As far as I understand it, bursaries are part of the general application process, ie they don’t need a separate exam etc. Some North London schools have banded together to run a single entrance exam, but Highgate is not part of this and sets its own papers. These are written (rather than computer) tests in English and maths. My child applied for a gazillion schools this last year (for which I will never be forgiven) and found the Highgate exam tough, but not the toughest. One thing to bear in mind is that many applicants will have had quite a bit of tuition outside school.