Northbridge House Canonbury and Hampstead

[Madhuri79]

Hi grateful for feedback from current parents at these schools. Our son is at another school and we are thinking of moving to one of these in year 8. He is bright but not always focused or motivated unless he’s very interested in something, so a highly academic/competitive school won’t work for him (and 13 plus will be a nightmare based on 11 plus experience!). We haven’t been super happy with his current school and it’s central London location isn’t great in terms of air quality (he is asthmatic) which worries us. We want somewhere nurturing but which will stretch and engage him and where he can make a good group of diverse friends (we are an Indian/European family). And then we also wonder whether we should move him at all… We need to decide before term ends so any responses much appreciated!

Sorry to say that I'm withdrawing my child from the Hampstead school after a year that started in underwhelming fashion riddled with poor comms and is ending with so little having happened. Next to no trips, supply teachers galore, clubs that no one seems to be able to navigate and a real lack of positive drive.

The real issue though is bullying and a poor culture in taking it seriously and a repressive atmosphere that is not acknowledged or dealt with. It's been a stunning waste of money and the slack uniform, constant swearing and other issues are really depressing. I would avoid Hampstead.

Can only comment on Canonbury but we have been very happy there. My son joined at year 7, going into lockdown soon after, but he nonetheless made a really good group of friends and gained an impressive set of GCSE results. He has always felt known and appreciated as an individual, so much so that he has stayed on for sixth form.
In our experience, the teaching has been very good and they do know their students well. It’s been a really lovely, supportive community - sure, not as many bells and whistles as at bigger schools, but there’s plenty going on. Drama and music are first rate, for example. Plenty of stretch for the academically ambitious and equally good support for those who need some extra help.