City vs Habs senior schools

If sporting provision is important, I'd not pick Habs. It has many strengths but is pretty average at sport.

Our prep school head tried to dissuade us from accepting our Habs offer as they felt it was a compromise for sporty kids. Great school in lots of other ways though and friends with kids there like it.

Plus (sorry it’s early!) my message about city relates to the senior school, which I note you haven’t visited, but we all loved! I found the facilities to be v g given very central location (sports halls, swimming pool, small football zone; plus as above, they coach the boys out).

I realise this is for secondary level, but similar picture at 7+!

we completely loved city. I don’t think the No-sport thing is valid, since they take the kids out, and do have sports facilities in the school too.

But they don’t join in with the saturday leagues that many of the other private schools engage in (my sons at one now!). In the event, we went to a different school that’s nearer to us. And higher up the leagues. But the league table position wasn’t why, since I preferred the vibe at city. it was the distance that swung it.

And honestly, go for distance/catchment every time. Why? Because my son has a network of more local friends, and no arduous 50 min train commute across town. plus they all meet up in this area. I hadn’t realised how important that would be (my child gets to experience independence but I know he’s near by, and that there are many other parents locally too). Children who commute in (and there are of course many that do) are more isolated, and less involved in an out-of-school social life.

Interesting. Why would you pick UCS if you don’t mind me asking?

UCS every time, personally, if travel not an issue. But I'd probably say whichever you're closer to as the traffic is so awful in school run time.

I'm interested in people's views on city/UCS/highgate too. We're waiting for 11+ results, and in the highly unlikely case that we have a choice, i don't know how we'd choose between them...

It's so frustrating @bstrong0805 it won't give me access to the inbox yet I receive emails saying I have messages. I will contact MN for support.

@bstrong0805 I'm trying to work out how to access PM. Request received but access denied 🤷🏽‍♀️

Congratulations @bstrong0805 . I'm so happy for you and your DC. You beat me to it with your thread. I was about to start one myself to enquire about City. I haven't visited the school properly yet but will attend the offer holder morning next week. I'm quite torn, we have to choose between City, Highgate and UCS. Highgate and UCS are convenient location-wise but City isn't hugely out of our way either.

Sorry to hijack your thread, I was hoping someone could shed some light on rumours that a few children are looking to leave having only started last year. It could be nothing and just that the parents want to get into WUS or SPJ. Anyone with boys at City? Are boys adapting well with teachers and in an environment which was originally a girl's school? Teaching an all girl class can be very different to teaching a mix of boys and girls. Any feedback would be much appreciated 🙏🏼.

Ah I think I'd definitely go for city in your shoes. Given that you both work and you're both in the city and closer to it, I think you'll find a lot more like minded parents and easier playdates. This is really the years you make friends with parents and unless you want to be driving to Stanmore every weekend, I'd go with City.
I find for boys coed is a nicer balance in the primary years. Habs doesn't have a reputation for churning out kind boys but I believe they're going to work with the girls school more.

City has better academic results and ranks higher on the Times list than Habs (11th and 19th place respectively). It also gets more Oxbridge offers. I have a 6th former at SPGS and a GCSE student at Westminster. They both have many friends at City boys and I can confirm that many sporty and musical boys go to City. City has some links with the Guildhall of Music as I recall and generally the boys we know there are sportier than the Habs boys. Habs does have the reputation of being the SPS of the North and is strong at Maths, but City seems to be doing better at the moment.

Hm I don't know about those timings but I suspect you'd be lucky to get the 40mins to Habs. For junior Habs the kids do tend to be a bit local, very north London centered. I think you will likely find playdates and general enjoyment of primary years a lot more if you go to City. It's a different type of parent too. Do you work? If not than you might find Habs suits you more.
I once went to an interview at the courts the City school is based at, it's really quiet and lovely but it's not really an area of London that's much use for young kids. No large parks or museums.
I think if you want the classic fields, sports, drama and academic than Habs. City will be a very inner city centre experience with all the pros and cons of that. It's hard to compare really as aside from the academic side, they couldn't be more different. I'm talking about both Junior and Senior when I say that.

@bstrong0805 am assuming you’ve seen the option to see the City senior school - linked in offer email.

I have visited City boys on a general event and it was clear there are a huge amount of extra curricular things going on. True that sports fields are a coach trip away.

Hmm. I'd take those coach times with a pinch of salt one way or the other.

It's more than an hour from city to Habs, so where do you live that is 20 minutes to one and 40 minutes to the other? one of those timings is optimistic.....

Is the route to Habs 40min on the school coach? Or public transport with multiple changes?
Is city 20mins on one train or bus?

You came on here just to say that?! OP may not be English so perfectly valid and actually a more logical abbreviation in some ways - why add an "s" when you're abbreviating.

Math is not a subject. Maths or mathematics, thank you.