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Original poster

HIGHGATE busary and admissions advice

34 replies

saintrockz · 13/05/2021 11:16

i am finding it difficult to find information on the 11+ admissions process on Highate. I have contacted the school but they keep pointing me towards the website, there are no videos on the bursary process, the 11+ admissions process. I wanted to get a prospectus or a video showing the facilitates but i cant locate any links. I am a single parent living with parents and wanted some advice on the bursary process, is it a company is it an interview? would anyone mind PM their experience of the process and how they found it?
I am also wanting to find out why have the number of applicants increased so much. I thought that it was UCS and the single sex St Pauls, City(boys/girls) westminster that were the most applied to. am i right that 900 applied last year?
What is the ethnic mix like, being of ethnic background I would hope that the school would be mixed like london is but as i do not live in hamstead I am unsure.
If there any other information hidden on the web please let me know i just dont have the patience to wait till sep tember for the open morning.

thank you all you kind hearted people.

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!

OP posts:
JBX2013 · 13/05/2021 12:53

Hi @saintrockz !

We applied to Channing next door just before Highgate opened up to girls from Year 7. I can only echo earlier comments and Highgate families we know corroborate my understanding: it is now a fine school, transformed by the Head and the admission of girls fully. And yes, it's very popular, especially as it means the schlep out to Habs can now be avoided and, of course, a lot of European families naturally prefer co-educational schools.

Good luck with it all!

MayIDestroyYou · 13/05/2021 12:47

If the two later dates for Virtual Open days are already full it's unfortunate that they don't make that clear on the website.

You're right, OP - tone doesn't always translate in a post. Of course it's sensible to seek out the opinions of people who know a school - it's just the rest of your post sounded just a little panicked and slightly demanding, as if you felt the school was specifically withholding information from you. But if that's not what you wanted to convey I apologise for misapprehending you!

Nevertheless, it's a long road - one for which optimism, determination and good organisational skills are required by the bucketload. (And if I were not in a position to completely empathise with your concerns I wouldn't have responded ...)

Fartypants1 · 13/05/2021 12:44

And on your question about the grounds and facilities - magnificent. Lots of sport areas, a great design and technology and art space, big music school, fantastic clubs.

itsallgooditsallgood · 13/05/2021 12:43

Hi Saint, I dont know much about this school specifically however I might be able to help answer some bursary questions. FYI it does differ by school or even by application so bear that in mind and you compare experiences.

And also just to say you have every right to have questions able the ethnic mix of any school. I am a parent of colour and this has always been on my list. Everyone will tell you to make sure the school will suit your child, well this is part of that consideration feel free to PM me

Fartypants1 · 13/05/2021 12:41

Hi @saintrockz - 11+ is a bewildering minefield isn’t it? My child recently went through it including an application to Highgate though not going there. I think you will find that applications go in November-time and that you apply for a bursary on that application form www.highgateschool.org.uk/bursaries/11-plus-bursaries/

We didn’t apply for bursaries but my understanding is that the application follows the usual process (exam then interview) as the bursary application is really based on means. The Highgate exam is pretty tough.

As for the school itself, I think the increase in numbers is down to the fact that there are very few mixed private schools in North London, and the school itself has improved performance-wise. My impression is that it is not particularly diverse, but no doubt that is true of many schools.

The headmaster is apparently very approachable and on the open day we found the staff very helpful, so when you go to the virtual open day you can hopefully ask questions.

Best of luck to your child (and you)

Original poster
saintrockz · 13/05/2021 12:31

i did read the information and contact the bursary department and wanted to see if anyone had gone through the process .

I wanted to get a feel for the grounds/facilities the website has wonderful mentions of the facilities but i wanted to see them, childish i guess but i am more than happy to wait till the open event happens and see the school.

OP posts:
Original poster
saintrockz · 13/05/2021 12:27

i am not sure of my tone in my post, but if in any way i sound like i am the only single parent applying for a bursary then that is certainly not what i meant.

I think on the other hand your tone is a little harsh. as a person of colour it is important to me that my child fit in, as my educational experience was not very inclusive ad i do not wish that for my child. How can i get to know the school? i assume that is by asking other parents who can share their real experience rather than a gut feel from a glossy website.
The events are all full and the school simply gave the website as a place to get information from and for me there isn't any great depth of it.
Thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed and insightful response

OP posts:
PatriciaHolm · 13/05/2021 12:24

There is lots of information on the site, both on admissions and bursaries, including that you need to fill out an assessment form and have an interview with the admissions team, as well as guideline award values.

www.highgateschool.org.uk/bursaries/11-plus-bursaries/#page-tabbed-content

Is there any specific reason you wanted a video?

As PP said, register for a virtual open day too.

MayIDestroyYou · 13/05/2021 11:59

Have you registered for any of the upcoming Virtual Open Days? The first is on May 18th - see photo. That is when more info on bursary application will be made available.

You need to take a breath. You are not the only single parent thinking of applying for a bursary to an independent school. You're not a special case - you need to read the information provided calmly, note down the deadlines and make sure you are on top of all the different stages.

Your other queries ... Why not just get to know the school? And any others you're interested in. Either they're schools you think will suit your child, or not - and that will be about the whole ethos, surely, not about a headcount of different ethnicities in the pupil body.

HIGHGATE busary and admissions advice