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Original poster

Henrietta Barnet catchment

32 replies

Cantaffordvat · 30/10/2024 20:58

Hi, hope everyone is well. I would like some information on how or where I can measure house distances to Henrietta Barnet school as we are planning to move and buy a house within the catchment to get priority as we have twin girls and can’t afford the fee VAT increases at independent school (we will be moving from private to state for year 7)

We have listed our current place on the market and looking for our onward purchase in the catchment

When would we need to move in by to consider? Also, once within the catchment does the distance matter like if I lived 0.1m vs 2 miles away? My DH is saying we should get a place right next to the school but I didn’t think that was necessary?

also what are outstanding comprehensive school in the catchment area?

thanks x

OP posts:
Original poster
Cantaffordvat · 30/10/2024 22:19

Thanks @EasyComfortDishes (love your name btw) - we looked at North London as it’s closer to my DH’s work (from Surbiton, the commute is a pain) but thank you for the suggestions.

OP posts:
Original poster
Cantaffordvat · 30/10/2024 22:18

ClareReeve · 30/10/2024 22:00

OP what is your definition of a good school? Is it based solely on academic results, dictated by selective intake grammar schools? Or is it more holistic, with diverse settings, local students, and extracurricular activities that provide a well-rounded education?

Good question, we would want our ideal school to be academically focussed as our two girls are quite academic (one wants to be a doctor and one wants to be in something STEM related but haven’t figured out what), they aren’t big on sports and doesn’t matter if mainly local students or not (as they are twins, they are each others best friends already). Not sure what diverse setting means - do you mean ethnic or socioeconomic?

OP posts:
EasyComfortDishes · 30/10/2024 22:09

If you considered the Surbiton/New Malden/Berrylands area you would be in catchment for Tiffin Girls and Nonsuch grammar schools for the girls and also two outstanding comprehensives - Tolworth Girls and Coombe Girls.

ClareReeve · 30/10/2024 22:00

OP what is your definition of a good school? Is it based solely on academic results, dictated by selective intake grammar schools? Or is it more holistic, with diverse settings, local students, and extracurricular activities that provide a well-rounded education?

Original poster
Cantaffordvat · 30/10/2024 21:56

We are currently in a comprehensive catchment black hole which is why we want to move somewhere anyhow….

OP posts:
Original poster
Cantaffordvat · 30/10/2024 21:50

Thanks for your reply - our girls are definitely not geniuses but their tutors have said they have an above average chance ( they are near the top of their current independent school) but a lot of other children are probably in the same boat. I hadn’t realised until I reviewed the FOI information (which I didn’t know exists) that 90% are not from the catchment and even those that are within, most would have got in regardless due to the high score. Ideally if we can move to the catchment but also have good comprehensive nearby to hedge our bets (as due to change in circumstances and VAT, we can’t continue the private route) - is there such an area?

OP posts:
DibbleDooDah · 30/10/2024 21:36

That’s a lot of eggs to put in one basket!!!!! Only the top 300 get to sit the second round test and then there’s only 104 places after all of that. Plus you have twins - unless they are off the scale geniuses then how likely is it they would both get a place?

I know it doesn’t answer your question but every year I see children who don’t make the grade for grammar schools (in Bucks) who everyone thought would be pretty much guaranteed to pass. Even the brightest children could have a bad day.