Haberdasher's girls vs Highgate

[September2015]

My daughter has just had her 7+ exams and she has got offers from Habs girls and Highgate.

We have to decide in the next few days and we are really stuck with our decision because we also have a son who is 4.5 and he will do his 7+ in two year time.

Other than anything else I am afraid that if we turn down Highgate, they definitely will not offer a place to our son and this school would be good for him.

Also I've heard that Habs may be pushy and that girls are unhappy there.

Does anybody have an opinion on what is the right choice???

My advice would be based on location.. If you're near Highgate please don't underestimate the commute to Have. Although 20 mins at quiet times, it would be an hour in traffic. However if nearer Habs I'd choose that and have my son join the boys school.

I would echo the Prince's advice - make your decision based on the ease of the journey. Both schools are fabulous. North London is a nightmare place in the morning rush and you'll be doing that journey daily for at least 4 years of the Junior School! We had a very similar choice years ago when our daughter got into Highgate and other high achieving North London girl's schools. We also had a son following on a couple of years later and chose Highgate for our daughter hoping our son would also go there. It has been a fabulous school for our daughter - no regrets at all, it produces very well rounded young women with oodles of confidence - but it is massively oversubscribed and our son didn't get in there despite being a sibling. Highgate understandably choose the strongest of their numerous applicants and there are lots of siblings every year who don't get a place.

Agree - my daughter is at Habs and we live in N London but very close to the A1/M1/A41 so only takes half an hour. Don't think I'd do it if we lived in Highgate. Habs does have a bus though but still a long commute for your daughter. You can look at the bus schedule on their website if you want to see what time they pick up from locally to you.

FWIW my daughter is only in infants at Habs but I don't think it's particularly pushy, neither is Highgate as it isn't a hot house/top of the league tables kind of place.

FWIW neither has much of a sibling policy

What did you decide OP?