Henrietta Barnet catchment

@Cantaffordvat what did you decide in the end?

My twin girls are in year 7, we’re not in London but in a super selective area. It’s stressful going through the process of the 11+ with twins and I would advise parents going through this to consider if they are academically similar. Thankfully mine are despite being very different in personality and interests and so much so that they chose different grammars (we live near both but there isn’t a catchment which means thousands apply from all over the country).
Yours both sound academically able, best of luck!

You just provide a utility company letter but they do their own separate checks, particularly for people who moved recently.

Once you move to HBS catchment when HBS ask for address proof and which address proof is valid?

Have you taken into account how much you will be paying as Stamp duty compared to a 20% free increase?

Yes we did. Competition is fierce and I work and didn't have the time to do it all on my own. I wanted the guidance of a tutor.

Yes you have to put it first

Assuming you prioritize DAO first on your CAF form due to the sibling policy?

We live in n11 and are in three mile radius of Henrietta Barnet and also in catchment of dame Alice and Latymer. We also have twins and they are in y6. One got through to second round Henrietta Barnet (and so will qualify for a place) and scored well at dame Alice (guaranteeing her sister a place as they have a twin policy). If your daughters are doing very well at school, then go for it. To get through to second round Henrietta, they need to get around 85 per cent. Being very strong in English is essential. The exam was hard but everyone found it hard. There are local outstanding comprehensives (Compton) but feel a bit rough. I would have felt very uncomfortable sending one twin to grammar and the other to comprehensive, but maybe you'll be able to afford private for one child if necessary.

Or you could move with in a stones throw of the school and get in under the 22 children rule.

If you move near Henrietta Barnet, you can also try for Latymer. St Michaels is also local but it’s a catholic grammar school.

The girls are in year 4 so won’t be getting 95% now

Before you trust your tutor, who is incentived for you to keep working with them, have you given your girls a test yourself and checked the score? For Henrietta Barnett they really need to be scoring 95% on the 11+.

You will likely need a tutor in addition to secondary school, whether it's a grammar school or not. While grammar schools can ensure high academic intake, they don't necessarily guarantee high teaching quality.

Yes agree. This area and the boroughs around it have exceptional comprehensives offering an incredibly broad range of GCSE options. Look at those too.

As pps say, HBS is insanely competitive- to move solely to get in catchment when that’s not really the deciding admissions factor would put enormous pressure on you all and your daughters in particular, and unfortunately carries with it a high risk of failure.

The question is then what your guaranteed back up is and whether you would genuinely be happy to have relocated for it.

My friend’s son is extremely bright (near genius level) and sat for a similarly competitive school but made a couple of silly mistakes in the exam and has got a borderline mark which probably won’t be enough to get a place. It can happen to anyone, even if they are well prepared. Thankfully they’d not moved for the school though.

There are lots of other very strong academic options where you would have a much better chance of getting in, particularly if you moved to catchment. And some schools have a sibling rule meaning if one daughter got a high enough mark and the other didn’t then the other daughter should be near the top of the continuing interest list and get a place that way (though possibly not until after her sister had actually started school).

eg Watford has some excellent grammar schools which are partially selective and partially just based on catchment, so if you moved close enough you would definitely get a place. Harpenden and St Albans have some high performing comprehensives (though catchment areas pretty small).

And some schools allow you to sit the test regardless of where you live but may require you then to move to catchment by a later date. So you could make a decision based on how well they do (appreciate the logistics of moving in a small timeframe may be challenging and not work).

good luck whatever you do!

It’s currently by 31.10 of Year 6. You have to live there by the CAF deadline according to their admissions policy. Admissions policies can change from year to year. With all ex private school lot going for the grammars now who knows what will happen.

Passing stage 1 is highly competitive though - I think something like 2700 applicants and only 300 get through. They are testing English, VR and NVR at stage 1. So an advantage being very good at English. If in catchment.

If you want grammar there are more certain and less competitive options. A superselective like HBS can never be guaranteed. Make two silly mistakes or let the nerves get the better off you and you don’t make the cut, however bright.

As others have said Sutton, Bucks, Kent, Bexley (latter three mainly in county based/distance) are less competitive. There are also good comprehensives with aptitude tests.
Twins is double hard because if one gets in and the other does not, then what. You need to consider that aspect very carefully.

Are your DDs in year 5 currently? For most schools it is fine to be in the area by the application date, but it might be worth checking specific schools as I believe a few require xx months’ residency (just going off what I have read on MN). So as long as you have moved by next summer. There are also dates of entrance tests to consider.

If it were me, tbh, I would prioritise living near a great comp to avoid the whole grammar school issue- as a pp says, what if one or both doesn’t pass?

This, but catchments are tiny.
And Camden Girls.

Dame Alice Owen?

Is Amersham too far for you? In the catchment for Dr Challoners High (girls grammar) plus Amersham School is a fabulous secondary modern if things don’t go to plan.

Perhaps consider supplementing homeschooling with tutoring.

Fortismere
Alexandra ParK School
Archer Academy

all outstanding state schools in that area