Ashmole Academy and Highlands school (Southgate)

Can’t comment on Ashmole, but can on Highlands as I have a child there. It’s a great school, highly sought after, the new Head is great, focusing on a positive learning experience for all. My child is doing very well there and I expect that to continue. Pastoral care is very good. I also went to the recent open evening and there is a buzz about the place and lots of local families were very impressed. In normal non-Covid times, there’s lots of extra curricular, sports, drama etc. I also hear about Wren, Enfield. It has a good reputation from its Wren Finchley site, Parents are to date very happy with the school. I know people in the catchment for both, and many are still choosing highlands. The catchment for Wren is shrinking if you are non church going (approx .7 mile from memory). Many church going families from winchmore hill are even moving closer to guarantee themselves a place. If you move to Winchmore Hill which is lovely with its cafe culture and period houses, you might be out of catchment for Highlands, in with a chance for Wren (church place) but guaranteed Winchmores, which is a school most definitely on the up. I am deciding today between Highlands and Latymer.

I recently went to Highlands School open evening - I have to say it just felt like a breath of fresh air. I don't know if you decided on one or the other - pastoral care is excellent in one and it came across. The other open evening in Ashmole was like - "we are what we are - we don't have to try to impress" our school is a feeder school to Ashmole so it is highly likely our dd will get in due to catchment etc. We decided to rank them low on our list as though our child is bright we don't want a latymer situation where she's in a school where if you perform you are nurtured. I want her to attend a school that will inspire her to learn and she will have breathing space. Highlands seems to fit the bill. Both schools offer excellent facilities - the vibe seems more fun in Highlands, Ashmole seems more "executive"

[quote goteam]@Mitchellernie I have heard from friends of friends who go there that they really push the kids to get the results they do. This friend of a friend was in catchment but actually decided on another school because they didn't think their child would work well under pressure.

But that is just anecdotal. I guess, you need to visit to get a real feel for it.[/quote]
I guess this could be a good thing and a bad thing
Their results are very high but i always think there is more to a school than results

Not as diverse as say, Broomfield down the road. Affluent families move to the are for the school, so it skews demographics a bit, but not overwhelmingly white for London if that's what you mean. id say a good mix

The family did live on the other end of the street, but still the same street! My dad lives about a mile away and all the neighbours talk about it when a new family moves in I think Ashmole was in a national newspaper a few years ago as the 2nd best comp in the country or something

I know a family that live on the same street as Ashmole and didn't get in as they were outside the catchment, that's how small it is. The school opened their own primary a few years ago and that's their feeder now, quite hard to get a look in. Know two families that tried to get in through the music test, one failed despite having a tutor, the other got in as his dad was a music teacher and drilled him. Very very good school, and they have high standards to keep it that way. They have a priority list for admissions on their site, number 1 is kids in care, 2 is children of school staff. So if you can't find a house directly next door I'd say try and get a job there

[quote goteam]@sammyvine the 'Absence and Student Population' part will tell you what percentage on free school meals and what percentage are EAL to give socio-economic and some demographic data. Not sure where to find breakdowns by ethnicity etc[/quote]
Whats the website you go on please?

[quote goteam]@sammyvine there is data on the government education website about demographics of schools. I imagine it is but haven't checked myself as I take London state schools being diverse as a given.[/quote]
Where do you go on the website to find out how diverse schools are?

I actually disagree, some London schools are not diverse.
For example Fortismere in Muswell Hill and The Archer Academy in East Finchley are mostly white.

I would avoid Winchmore - I know people with children at both ashmole and wren and they are all happy and don't describe the schools as being overly strict

The Edmonton site is temporary- they are moving to a site near Enfield chase hospital next year - easily commutable by bus from Winchmore hill or Southgate

Ashmole does much better academically than highlands. Lots of local families who used to opt for highlands are also choosing the new wren academy in Enfield so its intake will change over time. Wren Enfield is run by same team as the highly successful wren Finchley school. If I was choosing a local comprehensive ashmole would be my choice but I would also look at wren Enfield (church school but they do also have community places).

Is Ashmole diverse?