Notting Hill & Ealing high school

I would also be cautious of those who always praise certain schools - not just once, but repeatedly posting only good things about them, and dismissing or silencing any slightly negative feedback or experience. This could be because of survivorship bias, which makes us more likely to hear positive stories on mumsnet. But I don’t think there is a perfect school a world that suits everyone, personal experience is very personal after all. Negative experience is also representitve.

I would say that I’m adding to a recent post and was only on mumsnet because I was looking at accepting a school place for my younger child and was looking at school reviews. I laid out my experience of the school and noted those of parents I know whose daughters went to the school.

I would be cautious regarding any posting on mumsnet. No one opinion can reflect the entirety of experience at any school. I would however be particularly wary of the motivation behind a post put online by someone claiming to have little connection to the school. Why on earth would the mumsnet review be on that individuals radar? I can imagine a gdst governor or teacher keeping an eye on posts but an unconnected mumsnet member seems unlikely.

There are indeed many parents happy with the school and I’m sure they are free to write outlining their opinion, but there are also others who are not -I was one of those Nothing I wrote in my post is false. Some truths are unpalatable that doesn’t mean they should not be told. My daughter left last year. I should have written then.

Potential NHEHS parents: always be wary of posters suddenly popping up on MN just around 11+ decision time and - apropos of nothing - making serious allegations on a thread (especially a thread that's two years old).

I have no vested interest in NHEHS - although I know a lot of happy girls there - and would always be mindful about the possible motivations of negative posts about a particular school that appear out of nowhere.

I know a lot of parents are happy with NHEHS. I just want to add my opinion - pastoral care is sub optimal.. the emphasis is very much on running a smooth ship. We found the head of pastoral very rigid and lacking in empathy. A very cold individual. Who often didn’t follow school regulations in dealing with our daughter.

There is a problem with eating disorders at the school. This may be no different from other academic girl schools, but I know two families with girls who were dealing with anorexia at the school who felt the schools approach to less than sympathetic and coordinated. . In one instance the girl’s medical records detailing her condition were e mailed to all the year group parents. We were told by a member of staff the school has a double sheet of A4 of girls with eating disorders.

Bullying isn’t always effectively dealt with. Friends who had two girls at the school who were being bullied following a rape allegation felt the schools handling to be at best chaotic and at worst placing the schools interest above the well being of their daughter.

Drug use is prevalent. With instances of class A drugs being taken on site (again this may not be unusual in private schools).

The school hasnt been without scandal as was reported in the Sunday Times. A charismatic male teacher who had been harassing girls for years and allowed to do so despite girls complaining was forced to leave after the story went viral on the internet. I believe criminal charges against him for images on his computer were subsequently dropped. But it is important to note that girls’ complaints were ignored and subsequent discussion of the incident quickly quashed.

Academically the school is pretty good. Although they have struggled recently to get girls into Oxbridge and some of the top Russell group universities.

Has anyone had email come through for NHEHS?

How is Notting hill and Ealing school? What's best place to live nearby? How safe is the area?

They have never shared the number. Good School Guide says the head doesn't want to share the number of applications each year in order to not discourage people.

Purely anecdotal, based on our own experience and few other families we know, I think the NHEHS interview matters -

Two years ago DD had a pretty good score (based on interviews/offers she had from other consortium schools). Unfortunately her NHEHS interview didn't go well - started with a hard maths question, DD became very nervous, and it went downhill thereafter. DD didn't get an offer.

Similar experience with two other families - one of them received an offer.

My understanding is - high score alone isn't good enough; NHEHS really uses the interview to select academically. The interview questions test maths and reading comprehension skills.

Not sure about the reverse though - whether a relatively low score, and a stellar interview result in an offer? I don't know, but my guess would be no.

I don’t know the answer but I am also curious of this…

Anyone aware how many places are offered at NHES? Interviewing all girls that did exam is a tremendous feat, do they actually consider them all, independently of exam results??

@SJCW I would repost this in the primary school forum - this is the secondary school forum, so parents are doing 11+ rather than 4+. Good luck!

All, we love the school and recently got the 4+ assessment results, for my daughter - she is on a waitlist, for which the school have not given any specifics. My wife and I are getting quite anxious as this is our top pick and we wish to relocate to this area but can't make that decision until we know for certain.

School has not clarified where she is on the waitlist nor have they said how likely there will be a positive outcome. Anyone who is already attending and who knows a little more about the process, kindly help!! (DM me please). Much appreciated.

Thanks in advance

@Daftapath Many thanks for your feedback! Appreciate that greatly.

I understand that FHSS has quite a few girls who are from families whose parents are in London for a few years for work. So they don't stay for long. I also got the impression (and it was only an impression as dd obviously didn't go there!) that many of the girls are from very wealthy backgrounds compared to NHEHS.

NHEHS, I would say, has girls who stay mostly until completion of six form. Recently some have left to go to other sixth forms but the main cohort have stayed.

I don't know much about LEH as we didn't apply there but G&L has a much bigger feel than the FH/NH, it's more academic and will have girls from a range of backgrounds.

I hope that your dd is happy wherever she goes.

Dear all,
Luckily we got offers from Francis Holland SS and Notting Hill&Ealing and in the waiting list for G&L and LEH! Any thoughts on FHSS and Notting Hill& Ealing? Not want to keep my hopes high for the waiting lists but fingers crossed 🤞Hooe everyone managed to get a place at one ofcthe favorites 😊

DD is in year 10. She isn't sporty so she did netball club in year 7 along with everyone else but now does sport for enjoyment, ie she often goes swimming at lunchtimes but only to have fun with her friends, and she plays netball but in a relaxed uncompetitive team. Music is great, there are umpteen clubs and bands and choirs. My only gripe is their chamber orchestra is strings only and the main orchestra also oriented towards strings, but there are so many other bands DD is happy to play in them instead. There are concerts at least once every term where every band/choir gets a chance to perform. Drama there are lower school and upper school plays and the girls are encouraged to do Backstage Pass which is lighting &c plus lots of them do LAMDA. Lots of clubs every lunchtime in maths/languages etc which the girls do seem to attend frequently. DD has increased massively in confidence and is joining in much more than I ever hoped (far more than my sons and their friends do at their school, though that may be a boys v girls issue) and I feel that's a lot to do with the "have a go" attitude at NHEHS. Her friends are really nice, live locally, not at all stuck up. Who knows, the school may do something to p. me off later but at the moment I'm a satisfied customer.

Thanks @Boardingorday that was really informative.

I think the down to earth feel really shines through when you visit the school.

May I ask what year your daughter is in? How has she found clubs and sports?

Just to clarify, I only meant that Chinese isn't easy to pick up so if, like my DD, you aren't linguistically talented you don't get very far. Of course Chinese is a wonderful language and it would be absolutely fantastic to be able to speak it!

Another NHEHS mum here. Can't say enough positive things about this lovely school. I had wanted G&L as it was more local but my daughter didn't get in and now I'm so glad she didn't. NHEHS has the most lovely atmosphere, like a girls' school 30 years ago, the girls seem really chilled and busy and happy. Of course there are girls politics but, anecdotally at least, there's less bitching/pressure to conform/cliques than at other central London girls schools. Academically excellent, fantastic head, great facilities, fun lessons and, apparently, delicious food. The girls all get the bus up the hill from the tube, it doesn't seem to bother them at all. Lots of emphasis on entrepreneurship, public speaking and self-confidence which I think is really important for girls. I'm trying to think of a negative to balance it out but can't really - oh yes it would be good if they had cookery lessons like G&L do, and I think all the time spent learning Chinese in years 7 and 8 is a waste of time. Maybe not for those living further south, as the centre of gravity of the girls is definitely west, but if you live west of Shepherd's bush roundabout and north of the river you really can't go wrong.

Fascinating reading this. I went to this school around 25 years ago now. It always prided itself on producing well rounded girls rather than hot housing to get the best exam results (though they were hot on academics too).

G&L was known for producing anorexics in my day. Hopefully that's changed.

It's certainly much less shabby than when I attended. No pool or fancy glass entrance in the 90s. But I imagine the fees have gone up a bit too!!

Hi @Workhar yes she was asked maths and comprehension, was quite difficult I think! Although hard to get much of a summary out of mine, apart from liking the interviewer.

Thanks @Daftapath -- Is your DD happy there? How does it compare to the school your other DD is at? Is it welcoming to girls starting in Year 7 (as so many will know each other from previous years). I feel I shouldn't really be asking these questions until results come out 😶

@Londonmum1234567 the girls mostly get one of the two buses that go up/down the hill from the tube. Occasionally they walk but that is mostly down the hill!

I love this school, and the girls really impressed me with their straight forward down-to-earthedness. Literally the only issue is that it’s 20 mins travel in the opposite direction from my work. Public transport to get there would take an hour, there doesn’t seem to be a school shuttle from the closest tube unless I’ve missed something? The pool and D&T facilities are excellent - most of the girls schools don’t have d&t which seems short sighted and irritatingly gendered considering the world we are in.