Henrietta Barnett, Latymer or Dame Alice Owens

81 replies

choosingtherightschool · 27/09/2021 11:31

We are currently struggling to decide which one is the best for DD.

DD is in a very fortunate position to have passed round 1 of HBS (and we live within 3 miles), and very good chance of getting through to both DAO and Latymer. Music is a massive part of her life, she plays mutli instruments and has already achievement very good grades in them. She also loves sports, enjoys various types, such as running, football, basketball, tennis, table tennis. She’s very competitive and loves challenges.
She is in a mixed primary school, where she gets on with boys and girls equally well. She is not fussy at all and doesn’t mind go to either girl or mix school.
None of these schools are very close to us, all approx. 40-50mins by bus, but DD feels more independent to travel by bus.
We also have a DS who is in year 4 and I always wondered if its better to send them to same school for the closer relationship and easier life, DAO’s sibling rule is obviously very attractive, but we have to choose what’s best for DD for now.
We want to choose an academic school that also provides all round education, and outstanding in music/performing art/sport, most importantly where she will be happy for the next 7 years.
It’s very difficult at the moment that we can’t visit all of these schools properly apart from DAO offers open days. Anyone has recent experience of these schools please kindly provide us with some insight!
Thank you in advance!

OP posts:

Moominmammacat · 28/09/2021 08:57

DAO for the music. We had a similar choice and went for DAO, for the music and for the sibling policy, no regrets.

Anydream · 28/09/2021 08:06

One year group had accusations of racism on one occasion that the school has dealt with. My children weren't from that year group and, other than the letters the school has sent out, explaining how they are acting, I don't have any knowledge so can't comment further really. Almost all of 2 of my children's friends are not white and I have asked them (the friends, not my children who are white) how they feel about the school and specifically asked a few of them about the allegations and they were bemused by it all. That's not too say there wasn't an issue for those children who raised it though - just that it's outwith my experience and that of my children/friends.
I would definitely say it doesn't have a widespread racism problem but that obviously any allegations need to be taken seriously and that they were...

sammyvine · 28/09/2021 00:16

@Anydream

This is just my personal opinion and I really hope you will get others coming on to give varying views because it's always healthy to have debate and not everyone should feel the same about every school.. But... We were in the same position as you 8 years ago. My eldest is a girl and has younger siblings but we were adamant that she had to go to the school that was right for her not just an easy route for her siblings. Having said that, DAO won hands down for both us as parents and for her. She and I both loved the feel of the school so much more than that of the other two. Our feeling was that Latymer would not have helped build her creativity as much and that HBS was just too much of a hot house. DD has had a number of friends at HBS and I have many friends with children at Latymer. She has always been glad she didn't go to HBS - she says that her friends always seem so stressed and anxious - obviously this is a snapshot and she knows very few compared to the whole school population. My friends with children at Latymer have been a bit unimpressed by the results their children have achieved - it definitely isn't a hot house but they have felt that their children have been left to coast too much. Again these are only small numbers and I can't comment on the school as a whole. My eldest has now left DAO and I have two still there. It has, without any doubt, been a fabulous school for all of mine. One is super academic, another is very bright but less bothered by academia, the other needs a bit more support - they are all achieving / have achieved very well and more importantly are all incredibly happy. They have great friends and probably the thing I like best (bearing in mind I work with children and families) is that all my children and all their friends that I know feel free to be themselves and feel unpressured to act/dress/be a certain way. Compared to many of my clients or friends with children elsewhere (not at the other schools you mentioned) this feels a very valuable thing. I'm not saying there are no children with issues (there certainly are some children with significant MH issues / EDs etc) but they feel fewer than in comparable schools. I credit the school with a good deal of this - it feels like a liberal school where is ok to be who you are. I would say that it is becoming much more diverse over the last 8 years which is a good thing. I think it used to be more white than its areas of intake should have made it. Two of my children are involved in music there and that has been fabulous - so many opportunities and such high standards. The head of music there has moved from HBS but I've never spoken to her so don't know what she thinks of the difference between the schools. I have less knowledge of sport but the one child who does a lot of that really likes that as well and they seem to do well. I suspect the reality is that you have a really good dilemma and your child is likely to do well wherever she goes. It's a shame you can't visit the others to get a sense of where she would be happiest but hopefully other parents will comment on here about the things they like about them to help you choose.

Doesnt DAO have a racism problem?

Anydream · 27/09/2021 21:40

This is just my personal opinion and I really hope you will get others coming on to give varying views because it's always healthy to have debate and not everyone should feel the same about every school..
But...
We were in the same position as you 8 years ago. My eldest is a girl and has younger siblings but we were adamant that she had to go to the school that was right for her not just an easy route for her siblings.
Having said that, DAO won hands down for both us as parents and for her. She and I both loved the feel of the school so much more than that of the other two.
Our feeling was that Latymer would not have helped build her creativity as much and that HBS was just too much of a hot house.
DD has had a number of friends at HBS and I have many friends with children at Latymer. She has always been glad she didn't go to HBS - she says that her friends always seem so stressed and anxious - obviously this is a snapshot and she knows very few compared to the whole school population. My friends with children at Latymer have been a bit unimpressed by the results their children have achieved - it definitely isn't a hot house but they have felt that their children have been left to coast too much. Again these are only small numbers and I can't comment on the school as a whole.
My eldest has now left DAO and I have two still there. It has, without any doubt, been a fabulous school for all of mine. One is super academic, another is very bright but less bothered by academia, the other needs a bit more support - they are all achieving / have achieved very well and more importantly are all incredibly happy. They have great friends and probably the thing I like best (bearing in mind I work with children and families) is that all my children and all their friends that I know feel free to be themselves and feel unpressured to act/dress/be a certain way. Compared to many of my clients or friends with children elsewhere (not at the other schools you mentioned) this feels a very valuable thing. I'm not saying there are no children with issues (there certainly are some children with significant MH issues / EDs etc) but they feel fewer than in comparable schools. I credit the school with a good deal of this - it feels like a liberal school where is ok to be who you are.
I would say that it is becoming much more diverse over the last 8 years which is a good thing. I think it used to be more white than its areas of intake should have made it.
Two of my children are involved in music there and that has been fabulous - so many opportunities and such high standards. The head of music there has moved from HBS but I've never spoken to her so don't know what she thinks of the difference between the schools. I have less knowledge of sport but the one child who does a lot of that really likes that as well and they seem to do well.
I suspect the reality is that you have a really good dilemma and your child is likely to do well wherever she goes. It's a shame you can't visit the others to get a sense of where she would be happiest but hopefully other parents will comment on here about the things they like about them to help you choose.

Original poster

choosingtherightschool · 27/09/2021 14:24

@HoverParent yes we heard the good news.

OP posts:

HoverParent · 27/09/2021 13:39

They're all great choices!

You should hear today by email from Latymer, if your kid was a music candidate!

Exciting times!

Unflip

1 2 3 4

Swipe left for the next trending thread