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Original poster

Highgate v UCS 7+/Junior School

51 replies

crankingup · 30/01/2013 11:43

Think I may be choosing between these 2. I can see they are different and have read old threads on the subject. I think my son/DH and I would be equally happy at both.
Any new info to help me decide?

OP posts:
emanuela · 30/01/2013 11:48

Have you visited the schools? Ucs is single sex, more liberal. Highgate more formal and structured co-ed.

I will have this dilemma (I hope) in two years. I like the idea of single sex schools, but I am not sure about Ucs ( maybe too liberal?).

What about Westminster under?

Original poster
crankingup · 30/01/2013 12:24

I looked at Westminster Under and felt it was in a different category to UCS and Highgate. I was put off by what seemed to be being emphasised as uniformly extraordinary standards of achievement. I liked it that UCS and Highgate were bigger and therefore you get more of a range albeit they all have to be doing pretty well to get in anyway.

OP posts:
Turniphead1 · 31/01/2013 13:40

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Turniphead1 · 31/01/2013 13:42

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Original poster
crankingup · 31/01/2013 14:41

Yep, Turniphead1. Got UCS offer and waiting for Highgate decision. You?

OP posts:
seandoob · 31/01/2013 14:54

Hi - I am similar position, holding UCS offer, waiting on Highgate, also have Habs offer. Have been doing some research on UCS and crankingup you must bear in mind both UCS and Highgate have changed in recent years so older threads not as relevant. UCS really seems to be more for the liberal, self motivator but super good on pastoral/nurturing side. Highgate, when we visited seemed very keen to be a super school allrounder. UCS also seems to have a bit of a cool factor, and Highgate more traditional.

I am really confused about UCS versus Habs, am N6 based travel is a factor - still confused though. Any thoughts?

new2013 · 31/01/2013 14:57

Hi! Same here, got UCS and expecting Highgate...and confused. Wonder if building works at Highgate will be very disturbing for the next couple of years and if this should really be a factor..

seandoob · 31/01/2013 15:00

Potentially. Especially if the children spend the 4 junior school years in constant building works!

new2013 · 31/01/2013 15:12

I hear Habs and UCS though are totally different animals. But dont really have any inside knowledge. I liked UCS a lot when visited but just a bit concerned by all "too liberal" comments.

seandoob · 31/01/2013 15:21

new2013 - what is your ds like? Mine loves rules and structure, not sure he'd be so suited to a self motivated environment - but UCS does have a lovely feel to it and I prefer single sex to co-ed. Only comparing UCS to Habs atm as it felt like masses were interviewed at highgate so unsure if we will get an offer plus we had loads of siblings in our year applying...

And yes, know Habs and UCS are probably opposites but feels wrong not to fully consider Habs...

new2013 · 31/01/2013 15:37

Bit of a dileme seandoob, as ds on one hand is quite into rules, is very social and sporty, but on the other hand can be very sensitive. So nurturing aspect is important. But then again I guess both schools are very good. And yes, seems like everyone we know got a Highgate interview, so not sure at all on the outcome.

new2013 · 31/01/2013 15:38

*dilema!

seandoob · 31/01/2013 15:47

Mmm - think your ds sounds very Highgate pupil as they're structured, social and sporty. My dd is at channing (since 4yrs ) and a few left for Highgate in yr 7 for their super sporting facilities ... let's talk after Highgate results!

btw new20133 do you know when they're being posted? There's been so much confusion about dates of offers going out. Have already spent nerve wracking days accosting postman for the UCS/Habs letters!

new2013 · 31/01/2013 15:53

Highgate will post on Monday 4th from what I understood.

Turniphead1 · 31/01/2013 19:11

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Original poster
crankingup · 01/02/2013 11:59

The leaflet given out when the children did the academic papers said Highgate offers posted Wed 6/2/13, says same on the website.

Not sure I get what people mean about UCS being "liberal". Sure it doesn't do religion. But it's hardly Summerhill!! Maybe it's that Highgate is quite hot on discipline and UCS feels "liberal" as a result of this comparision. Similarly the "self-motivating" comment in relation to UCS, surely not in the Junior School? Presumably if this is true it's something that they get introduced to through the Junior School so something the boys can do well as they go through the Senior School but even then they can't be totally left to get on with it? What teenager would self- motivate themselves to get respectable grades and that's what they get at UCS and Highgate, reasonably comparable.

OP posts:
Original poster
crankingup · 01/02/2013 11:59

The leaflet given out when the children did the academic papers said Highgate offers posted Wed 6/2/13, says same on the website.

Not sure I get what people mean about UCS being "liberal". Sure it doesn't do religion. But it's hardly Summerhill!! Maybe it's that Highgate is quite hot on discipline and UCS feels "liberal" as a result of this comparision. Similarly the "self-motivating" comment in relation to UCS, surely not in the Junior School? Presumably if this is true it's something that they get introduced to through the Junior School so something the boys can do well as they go through the Senior School but even then they can't be totally left to get on with it? What teenager would self- motivate themselves to get respectable grades and that's what they get at UCS and Highgate, reasonably comparable.

OP posts:
Turniphead1 · 01/02/2013 15:24

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Turniphead1 · 02/02/2013 10:16

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Original poster
crankingup · 02/02/2013 14:51

Yes, got ours as well.

OP posts:
ostneelie · 02/02/2013 15:50

@turniphead1 @ crankingup: Did you both get Highgate places today then? What are you leaning towards?

We (as of today) also have offers from both UCS and Highgate. I'm leaning towards Highgate because we're on this side of the Heath and we have a younger girl as well (although we also have younger boys too). Does anyone know the sibling policy at UCS?

I heard that only 6 out of 27 siblings got places at Highgate this year.

Original poster
crankingup · 02/02/2013 18:04

Yes. DS got Highgate and UCS. I can see there are differences between both but both are great schools and I am really stuck as to which one to chose. We are N1 but have an older child at school in NW3 so my school runs are difficult anyway and we will get invbolved in shares. We know families at both schools so logistics will be tricky to either but can be overcome and we will end up moving anyway, the question still remains which school aaarrggghh!

OP posts:
new2013 · 02/02/2013 18:06

Got both now as well!! Completely confused! Have a little one in nw3 school as well.. So not sure what to do.

seandoob · 02/02/2013 18:19

Hi Osteenlie, we have got offers from habs, ucs and Highgate today. We have been very confused but ds and dh( old Highgate boy) really want Highgate so like you leaning towards it , though will attend the talk on the 6th re the proposed building works.

We can also walk to Highgate school and have a dd at channing so practically makes sense. My only issues are the coed for later when there are distractions and that atm older years currently not as academic as other schools but they are rapidly improving academically . If your have a younger ds and dd , Highgate really sounds perfect for you...

Ucs definitely has more of a sibling policy for sure , have seen it in action with other friends of ds's

suzwuz · 02/02/2013 21:41

Hi

DS has just received offers for 7+ entry from Habs and Highgate and we are suddenly unsure about what to do! The proposed works at Highgate are putting us off and the talk about this is not until 6th, but we have to accept our Habs offer by Monday 4th....so unsure about what to do. Both are amazing schools, but do I want DS to travel to school on a coach for around 45 mins each way to Habs, or sit through in a building site for the next two years??? Those of you who are in a similar situation, what are you all thinking?