UCS v Highgate School at 13+ entry

[wantingthebestforDS]

I've read with interest the 7+ UCS v Highgate debate. My son is currently at St Anthony's, and has been offered a place at UCS for 13+ entry in 2011. He also wants to sit the Highgate entrance exam in January. Neither he nor I know which school would be better for him. I know they are both good schools, but how do I choose between the 2 if he gets offered a place at Highgate also? My priority is more that he enjoys his school days, and that he is encouraged to become a confident, friendly, well-mannered and self motivated individual,rather than just exam achievements.The co-ed thing isn't really important to me either way, but I suspect that he may prefer to go to a co-ed school! Does anyone know how the pastoral care compares? What are the pros and cons of each? What sort of boy does Highgate turn out vs UCS?

Hi,
My son would be the year above yours in UCS (current year 9). I looked at Highgate and loved it (The new head is a big improvement) at 7+. I think that Highgate is more traditional. They care about hair length. Have the odd chapel service. More discipline.
UCS requires them to self motivate. The pastoral care is very strong. I've had phone calls to say that my DS looks a bit glum and is there anything they need to know. But, if they aren't working very hard, you might not hear about it until the end of term ( I mean lazy not hopelessly drowning). The boys must learn to pull their own socks up. Discipline is very low key. You would have to really mess up to get a detention and they incentivise the boys well. It is a very laid back, non-traditional school. They never crush the quirky ones nor do they cull.
I hope this helps. I actually favoured Highgate because I thought my son needed an iron fist (very dreamy and forgetful) but he has been really happy and learned that it feels good to do well.

I remember a thread on this question a few months ago. Worth doing a search.

Hi housemadmom. Thanks for your answer - if you actually favoured Highgate, what made you choose UCS in the end? I too, really liked the Highgate head, but I have a leaning towards UCS still. It's just because my DS is so keen to try for Highgate that I'm now dithering... It's such a big decision. And thanks norflondoner, I'll do another search. I'd be interested to hear from more mums with boys at either Highgate or UCS senior school.

My dcs are at Highgate. I don't really know UCS from the inside but I know it has this reputation for being very relaxed and that the boys need to be self-motivated etc. I actually think Highgate has got the right balance between encouraging the kids to be self-motivated but making sure they don't fall through any nets and end up finding it's all a bit too late to put things right. Highgate's GCSE results were actually better than UCS's this year although I think they're pretty much on a par over time. There are key differences on curriculum though which you might want to look at. I believe at UCS you have a more flexible choice at GCSE and don't need to cover all three sciences i.e you can do biology and chemistry single sciences and drop physics if you want. Highgate is also moving more subjects to IGCSE. UCS seems to have a wider choice of subjects at GCSE.

I'd also suggest that where you live is a factor. Which is the easiest journey? UCS kids tend to come more from the Hampstead side and Highgate has more and more from Muswell Hill/Crouch End and I think this shows in the feel of the schools.

Don't discount the difference the co-ed/all boys factor makes as well. Your dc might not mind but co-ed really has made a difference to Highgate - all for the good I think. We're very happy with it. DS could have gone to UCS but Highgate definitely suits him. But of course if he'd gone to UCS we might have been saying the same thing about there! I'd probably let your ds sit the Highgate exam and see if you get the choice.

Hi,
DS had the option of staying to 8+ at his pre=prep and let the examiners know when he sat at 7+ that he had no intention of going before he had to! We were rather peeved at the time with him. When he sat both at 8+, Highgate let us know that they weren't sure they would have any places at all (very honest) and offered DS a reserve and said they were so sorry that they couldn't take him. We had the misfortune of sitting 7+ in the first co-ed year when Highgate was wildly popular and shot to the top of everyone's consortium forms. DS was perfectly happy to go to UCS as most of his mates went there.

I think that both schools are lovely. I wouldn't worry about the lack of girls until 6th form at UCS. The boys do plenty of socialising after school! See which one your son feels at home with.

Thank you for your very informative answers sweeet16 and horsemadmom! It sounds as if both are great schools and we may have another look round both schools, and leave the choice to DS (if he's lucky enough to get offered a place at Highgate)! We live nearer Highgate and he could walk to school, so that may be the deciding factor in the end. Although I still think UCS may suit him better in the end, as he's a bit of an individual, and even at prep school, refuses to wear his school uniform, or get his hair cut!

We are nearer Highgate too. the 613 or C11 (depending on which side of H'gate you are) or a walk across the Heath are doable and plenty of boys travel criss cross. If you are your DS are nervous, you will always be able to find travel buddies.

New UCS innovation- they can wear any solid colour shirt. Hmmm. Bright purple shirt with the magenta and black striped blazer.Boys delighted- mum getting a headache.

What does the St.A's head think?

He said that they are both good schools, and that all the schools St A's traditionally feed to are very good... I'll make an appointment for a meeting to discuss, but as a full-time working mother I haven't had a chance yet. I thought it would be good to hear from the mum's with boys at the schools in question, so this has been helpful. Thank you.

I have a daughter at Highgate Junior who is very happy there. From what I hear from friends who have sons considering 13+, it's not so much a question of where you want to go but whether you are offered a place. Highgate is now hugely popular but has a limited number of places at 13+. At the end of the day, both schools are great. Obviously go and have a good look around and make an appointment to see the Head if you are unsure. I would second the advice about catchment area - Highgate has a lot of Muswell Hill and Crouch End families, and I think it makes a difference. Parking is no problem for Highgate but a nightmare in Hampstead. Bear in mind also that Highgate has a better site with fab playing fields - UCS is a bit cramped. Best of luck to your son

Taught at Highgate for ten years. Great school and getting better. Suitable for all sorts. UCS also a good school. Nice choice to have.

Thanks MichaelaB. Good to know - alhto we don't really have the choice yet - we're still trying to decide whether to take all the extra lessons, and spend Christmas revising when he already has a place at UCS. It does seem, as they're both so good, it would be better just to go with UCS even tho it's a bit further away.

I would love to be in the position of having to choose between the two! My DS is in year 5 and about to launch into the pre-11+ exam frenzy (or the frenzy that seems to grip most parents andway). We are really keen on both UCS and Highgate but I have heard that the Highgate entrance exam is far harder. Does anyone have any info or advice on the entrance exams at either school? I admit I am rather daunted by the whole thing. DS is very good at maths but struggles with English a bit. Obviously the area we need to work on.