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Original poster

N London 'Plan B' private schools.

28 replies

luceeannjay · 13/10/2025 18:35

Hi All
We currently live in N5. Closest state schools are Stoke Newington and Highbury Grove, which we would prefer our son did not go to. He is bright, but doesn't like being pushed too hard. He does have tutoring in preparation for Private / 11+.
Our current shortlist is NBH Canonbury (really like the small classes), Forest and Highgate. But we are really worried that if neither of these options come off he will end up in one of the state schools above.
2 questions -

  • Any views on how easy it will be to get into one of the three above? Particularly Canonbury - we know the others are v popular
  • Any suggestions of Private plan B options for other schools that we could shoot for if these three don't come off?
Big thanks
OP posts:
Original poster
luceeannjay · 13/10/2025 20:08

Thanks both. Yes in terms of academics we are aware that NBH Canonbury is much lower than Forest and Highgate is highest. DS is bright - but he's our only kid - its hard to tell how he compares to everyone else.

Re NBH Canonbury - since it is non academically selective we are not clear how they will select (anyone know?) and are presuming that they too are over subscribed and getting in might be hard. Perhaps we are wrong in assuming they are over subscribed but we don't see any data points to guide us.

OP posts:
Foxesandsquirrels · 13/10/2025 19:41

If you're having doubts about getting into NBH Canonbury than there's no chance with the others. That school is people's plan D! Usually only chosen if the kid hasn't even got a state space like SNS. The more sought after NBH is Hampstead and even that's for the people who have money but don't want state and won't get in anywhere else. I heard a lot of NBH parents are also worried due to the cognita money worries and are moving their kids. I wouldn't pay NBH money to avoid a school like SNS. Forest you're more likely to get than Highgate but try Mill Hill/ Belmont as well. It's more academic than NBH but not as much as Highgate. They have tons of coaches. If you're in LB Islington you can also try for the handful of places Dame Alice Owens reserves for Islington kids. The commute from Finsbury Park is fairy simple but it is an academic test and the school is a lot more academic than SNS.

Revise15 · 13/10/2025 18:37

Highgate is in a different league to NBH. I would say NBH would be your back up school choice.