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Original poster

St Michaels Girls (Finchley) v.s. Newstead Wood (Orpington) Or Latymer Secondary in Edmonton

36 replies

lovestravel · 26/10/2023 16:46

Hi all, i would very much appreciate your thoughts and guidance on choosing the right school for my daughter. She has a high rank at St. Michael's Girls Catholic Grammar school in Finchley, a 436 rank at Latymer coed school in Edmonton and a descent score at Newstead Woods Girls Grammar school in Orpington (Bromley). We will need to move closer to the school, are willing to do that but would be helpful if you have gone through a similar decision process and made a choice. Thank you.

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stokesoo7 · 23/10/2026 16:42

Hi, I appreciate this is an older thread, but I wondered if anyone could share more recent experiences of St Michael’s Catholic Grammar School, particularly from parents with daughters currently in Years 7–9.
We’re considering the school for our daughter next September. While its academic reputation is excellent, I’d really like to understand more about the pastoral care, how strict the school is with discipline and detentions, and how approachable and responsive teachers are when parents raise concerns.
Most importantly, are your daughters happy and enjoying school?
I’d really appreciate honest feedback, both positive and negative. Thank you!

Busgirl29 · 30/10/2023 06:59

If you live in South London / Kent at present, would it even be possible to move to north London by the start of January for the Latymer place? I doubt it to be honest. Not a purchase for sure, and even rentals here in N London are like hen's teeth, plus Christmas etc. You've really only got six weeks to find, and move to, a new permanent address.

The St Michael's policy gives you more time for a more leisured move, but surely it would be less disruptive for everyone to accept that your Dd was going to the best school in your current area, and then you could move nearer to N.Wood in your own time if the commute proves too much.

Ask yourself what is St Michael's going to give you that Newstead Wood won't?

Original poster
lovestravel · 28/10/2023 22:32

Thank you. Yes schools in Bexley are really good. My daughter received a deemed selected too and we like all the schools you mentioned however is a one hour commute by public transport which is the reason we are looking at grammar options that we can move/ will be walking distance too so in any case will need us to move if we are keen. I was therefore seeking thoughts on these 3 schools as with Bexley schools we will need to be in the catchment by end December.

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Original poster
lovestravel · 28/10/2023 22:28

Thank you for sharing your experience. That sounds like a well rounded school.

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Anotheranonymousname · 28/10/2023 22:27

How did your DD do in the Bexley and Kent tests? I know girls who are at/have just finished Newstead Woods, Chis & Sid, Dartford Girls and Bexley Grammar as well as girls at various of the Tonbridge and Maidstone area grammars. I also know lots of girls who didn't go down the academically selective route but have taken up musical aptitude places at other girls schools or have made a positive choice to choose a girls comprehensive (some turning down guaranteed grammar places for an all girls comp).

It seems strange to choose a Catholic school unless you're very keen Catholics or to consider a mixed grammar that would require a house move, especially given there are lots of grammars in Bexley and thereabouts.

If your DD was deemed selective in the Bexley tests then I'd suggest Bexley Grammar might be a good fit for her; there is lots of sport on offer as well as a very active music department.

bellocchild · 28/10/2023 21:37

Newstead is very academic, and has a co-ed sixth form.

AutumnAmber · 28/10/2023 20:32

All girls are encouraged to play an instrument and to join one of the choirs, there is a big musical ethos at St Michael's. Drama is part of the curriculum and they also offer LAMDA as an extra curricular. Sports wise my daughter plays football and netball at lunchtime and after school clubs, I think there are other sports available but that's not really her passion. They offer a lot of day trips too.

Original poster
lovestravel · 28/10/2023 20:03

My experience so far with state primary has been that they do not focus much on providing for children who are already demonstrating a good level across the subjects. This is not a bad thing but given she is inclined academically, I would like to see if grammar schools provide a stretch. We are happy to move and try a different place so it won't hugely inconvenience us.

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Lavenderflower · 28/10/2023 18:28

I would say St Michael's but it depends if your daughter prefer an all girls or mixed school. Latymer is also.

MarchingFrogs · 28/10/2023 18:24

lovestravel · 28/10/2023 14:47

I will be moving nearer to school regardless. We are within 9 miles of Newstead but will still involve an hours journey as none of the schools are really close by. We have visited select schools eg. Townley, Dartford Girls, Newstead Wood and St. Michael's.

So on what are you basing your decision that all of your local non-selective schools are worth uprooting your family to avoid?

Original poster
lovestravel · 28/10/2023 14:47

I will be moving nearer to school regardless. We are within 9 miles of Newstead but will still involve an hours journey as none of the schools are really close by. We have visited select schools eg. Townley, Dartford Girls, Newstead Wood and St. Michael's.

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MarchingFrogs · 28/10/2023 10:22

So where do you actually live at the moment, apart from within 9 miles of Newstead Wood, if your options for that are a 'long' journey, or to move nearer to the school?

Out of curiosity, how many entrance exams did your DD sit - and all without visiting the schools for which they might qualify her, or did you do the rounds of Bexley and Kent grammars and decide that there were none you woukd want her to attend, as these woukd seem to be the logical tests to go for if you are starting from within catchment for Newstead Wood?

Original poster
lovestravel · 28/10/2023 08:25

Thank you very much for sharing your experience of your children in both schools. Agree that these are unfortunately common problems today and as parents we need to work with the school to support and provide guidance. It's hardly specific to a school. I am glad you have positive experiences of both. Is St Michael supportive overall of extra curricular activities like singing, drams and sports? My daughter has loved these activities in her primary school.

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Radiohorror · 27/10/2023 20:11

How can you think of sending your child to a school you've never visited? Where will they go to primary for the rest of year 6? You will be expected to give up all connection to your old house to prevent you from moving back when you have the place.

AutumnAmber · 27/10/2023 19:30

I have two children at Latymer and one at St Michael's. Very happy with both schools. They do have different approaches, as they are different schools, religious emphasis, structure, playing fields etc. The main one my children notice is that there is a lot less homework at Latymer.

I know girls from Year 13 down to Year 7 and I cannot say I recognise the overly pressurised environment described above at St Michaels. This doesn't mean I don't acknowledge some girls will be suffering from eating disorders, anxiety, stress and the entire awful plethora of issues that are unfortunately all too common amongst teenagers, especially girls.

You are in a wonderful predicament, and you can't really make a bad choice!

Original poster
lovestravel · 27/10/2023 15:05

Yes. I haven't visited Latymer but have friends children going to that school. I think the main difference is Latymer is coeducational but agree it looks like it has more sports fields which is encouraging. Though both are quite academic ( might not be as academic as HB and QE) and children can feel they might not have the time to focus as much on sports etc. Also one is a faith school and the other isn't. For me the main challenge is catchment for Latymer so St. Michael's feels like a more relaxed option given we can move in end of year 6. Thanks

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Original poster
lovestravel · 27/10/2023 14:59

Thank you very much. Really appreciate you taking the time and sharing your experience. Yes we need to be careful regardless and it's pragmatic to accept a place where we have most chance of acceptance.

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Dido2010 · 27/10/2023 10:27

Hi @lovestravel ! Firstly, congratulations to your daughter on her 11 plus results.

My daughter has university friends from each of these schools; all ended up at Cambridge. They are all 'normal', were all happy at their respective schools and all did well subsequently, too. Any pressure comes from within the individual. And the selective school type of pupil is likely to be driven and putting pressure on themselves, even if some do not show it.

I would focus on the school at which my daughter's place is most secure, avoiding the upheaval of moving if possible. And for travel, realistically, moving to within 'walking distance' is ambitious and may not work out. A bus ride is more realistic for most families.

Some people are against Latymer Edmonton on safety grounds. But no school area is really that safe, especially for girls.

I am writing to you by Private Message with with some detail on more personal experiences.

Original poster
lovestravel · 27/10/2023 09:07

Thank you for sharing the ranking. We are not in the catchment and rank 436. Though the email says there might be several at that rank. We would also need to move into the catchment by 6 Jan. Yes I have friends with children at Latymer who are happy. Parent only called out that during the winter when it gets dark it's not a great area to have a child on their own walking towards the bus stop etc but I think that they are in big groups so should be ok. Thanks for sharing about East Finchley etc as I have that in mind too if we choose St Michael's and we move in that area. She can then walk to school or is a very short bus ride away that saves sometime in her day.

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Ichangedmynameonce · 27/10/2023 08:53

It sounds as if you haven't seen the schools? St Michael's and Latymer are extremely different on numerous levels.
E.g Latymer has lots of outside space, St Michael's has very, very little.

Stokey · 27/10/2023 08:36

@GloomySkies not a particularly helpful comment. Plenty of children go to Latymer from all over London and don't experience any issues.

@lovestravel I have no experience of St Michaels but DD1 has friends from East Finchley, Muswell Hill, Enfield so would recommend looking at those areas. I think if your DD is 436 at the moment, she should move up to mid 200s once the out of catchment children are removed so should get a place, but maybe not in the first pass in March. My DD was around 530 initially and got a place in August before Y7 to give an idea.

Original poster
lovestravel · 27/10/2023 08:27

Thank you. I recently spoke to a parent and they said they really supported the transition to secondary very well. Thanks for sharing your experience with your nieces. I do feel nervous that the eating disorder can be an issue and some girls being impacted by it though think it's something true of all school children/ teenagers and more with girls. I make a conscious effort to talk about healthy food, being active and that we are all different.

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Original poster
lovestravel · 27/10/2023 08:23

I can appreciate it is frustrating though it is a reality and everyone just wants to do their best.

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Original poster
lovestravel · 27/10/2023 08:21

Thank you for sharing your experience of the school. Also religious studies. I appreciate the teaching though did they create an open environment to discuss and debate topics? Especially as you progress through the years? Hope you enjoyed the overall environment and made good friends.

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mugboat · 27/10/2023 06:23

Well it explains why it's practically impossible to get into the grammar local to us (that we pay for with our council tax)... people from way out of catchment are spending £££ and time tutoring their kids to within an inch of their lives, pushing up the scores so high so that it's basically an arms race as to who tutors their kids the most.

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