getting into Henrietta Barnett- link nursery and primary schools

[Kdns]

My daughter is 2.3 years and we've been told we need to look at link nursery and infant schools for Henrietta Barnett, now.

Do you know of any?

Our finances can strech to just about 3-5 year for private nurseries but if there are state ones, of course, that is the better option.

We know that Henrietta Barnett is selective and it all depends on her passing the test.

We have moved to Finchely Central.

Your help is appreciated.

Hi There,
I don't live around the area, but I thought that everyone has to pass the test. My niece goes to a private school to boost her changes of passing the exam.
Hopefully someone else with more knowledge will come soon.

Thanks for replying.

Yes, everyone has to pass the test and the private option may well help.

Which school does your niece go to?

We can put our child through private nursery but state schools from there on, as our finances are stretched.

I was wondering if anyone new any private nurseries or schools that were linked to HB. I know for example, Hampstead Hill have several secondary schools they are linked with.

Alternatively, any state nurseries or schools that are linked with HB to boost our chances of getting in.

Thanks.

HB is not linked with any primary or nursery school. It is a selective state grammar open to all. What determines whether you get in is how well you do on the exam, not where you went to primary school.

I wouldn't waste your money on a private nursery hoping it will "boost" your dd's chances of success, at that age state nurseries are more than up to the job

Yes, you are right it's totally selective and to some extent it doesn't matter which nurseries or infant schools you've been to.

What I understand to be the case, is that some infant schools have a higher in take to HBarnett. They are likely to be state schools.

This is what's known as a link or feeder school. No official links are there, just that some schools have a higher proportion of thier pupils going there.

For example, when I was at school a very long time ago, my infant school had a high in take to Latymer.

I was just curious if anyone knew of any schools that seem to have a large proportion of pupils going onto HBarnett.

Thanks.

I very much doubt that such a school exists; the competition for entry to Henrietta Barnet tremendous, and selection entirely on the basis of the entrance exam.

If you want to consider putting your daughter in for it I would advise two things:-

1. About year five get your child assessed by an Ed Psych to see if they are a possible for HB. If they are, then hire a tutor to coach them. Coaching for the test has only a small effect BUT may in such a competitive situation make the difference.

Hi Kdns,
The school where my niece goes in Manor lodge. For what I have been told by my SIL, they very strict with homework from Reception. She just started in Y1 and we haven't had time to talk, but I know last year, they had to read everyday and from January they had spelling test every week.
She looks very happy in the school.
I don't know what the percentages are for primary private or state. I know people that had been stated educated in primary and they are now in HB, they come for some miles away, so living in the area I don't know if it helps or it's just grades in the exam.

I used to live in the London Borough of Barnet and as I understand it entrance to HB is purely through passing the entrance exam. A friend who's DD's state primary school boasted of the number of girls that went onto HB each year told me that for several years every single one of these girls had been tutored outside of school. The primary school itself does not broadcast this fact, unsurprisingly! So take care to look beyond the information provided by the primary schools.