'Good' schools in N London

[cockles]

An considering moving from our current north london borough, where the schools are pretty dire. Can't afford Highgate/hampstead; where else would you look at? Where's a good bet for both primary and secondary (state) schools - crouch end? muswell hill? (Not as far out as Barnet or Enfield though) I'd love any tips, thank you!

Muswell Hill has great primaries (?Tetherdown) and a desirable 2ndary (Fortismere). Not cheap, though. E. Finchley possibly also in the Fortismere catchment, not quite sure how it works. The Fortismere catchment is where everybody from all the rest of N. London moves to when their oldest child hits 10.

Tufnell Park has good primaries and Acland Burghley, which is considered a desirable secondary, though it is quite, ahem, urban.

Stoke Newington school is not dissimilar.

Horses for courses really, you'd have to say more what you're after to get more specific advice.

Camden also has good schools. Kentish Town is in the catchment area for Camden girls'.

Muswell Hill schools are a complete bunfight to get into. You will have to live practically on the doorstep to Tetherdown & Fortismere to get in, and if you don't, it's slim pickings elsewhere unless you're religious.

I wouldn't recommend Stoke Newington, to be honest. SN School is the only decent non-denominational secondary school around there, although the primaries are decent.

Why discount Barnet and Enfield? Both boroughs have some excellent schools.

Don't be rude about Stokey, MrsM! Though it wouldn't be to my taste, I admit, but I know loads of people who are happy with it. If you're okay with urban, then Mossbourne in Hackney is considered desirable, and the catchment is more affordable than most.

I lived in Stokey / Hackney for years and my DH taught in SN School for a bit. Just my opinion!

I know it's hard in London. What do you do? 'Sell out' and move to a better area if you can afford it? 'Take a stand' and send your child to the local sink school on principle? It's a minefield. No getting away from the fact that hackney, as a borough, has some pretty grim schools...

Yes, there are some pretty rough options in Hackney (though possibly not as bad as it was a few years ago -- Kingsland school, anyone?) Even so... I know someone who has just been offered Haggerston Girls'. To say they're not jumping up and down would be an understatement.

If OP can afford Muswell Hill, that would probably tick most boxes and avoid compromising principles too much.

I'm IN Stokey anyway! And outside the catchments of all decent primaries, and at this rate, SN school. I like the urban grit (hence not Barnet or Enfield) but I guess i don't like it that much. Actually I hate the idea of moving at all but am really, really stuck. Thanks for all these comments, I know there's no easy solution, I guess Fortismere really is the only one!

cockles, are you looking for a primary school? Stokey primaries are OK. William Patten and Betty Layward?
That C of E one on Church St?

Out of the catchment, like I said. Not by far, but far enough. And there's a big gap between those and Princess May, tbh.

lots of people where i live (not a stone's throw from you cockles) are banking on the St Mary Magdalane academy (brand new, so hard to tell)

Princess May is the one on the High St going up towards Dalston, yeh? No, not great from what I've heard. Isn't there a decent primary school in Shacklewell?

cockles do you have boys/girls?

Mm, Princess May. Er, no thanks. Tufnell Park or Camden would be ok, though Camden doesn't have many co-ed schools, so you have to plan your strategy.

There is at least on MNer whose child is starting at Mary Magdalene in September.

st mary magdalen sounds a bit religious... just a bit... I don't think we can bear to do the church thing though who knows.
Yeah, shacklewell is prob where we'll end up. 'Struggles with the more able pupils' says ofsted. ho hum.

boy, but I don't think he is going to be genius enough for Latymer!
Gosh everyone is helpful thank you

I know people with children at Shacklewell who are very happy with it. Dd2 used to go to a lovely nursery a mere stone's throw from there and lots of kids from Shacklewell, Colvestone and my dc's old school did the after-school club there. It all seemed reasonably civilised.

Benthal primary is ok if you're over the high st. As is Jublilee.

st mary mags not overly churchy. imo

friend teaches at jubilee, it sounds a great school.

JUbilee is lovely. It has a LATIN club. Now that's what I call a school! Oversubscribed now, though.

The MNer whose child is going to StMM is definitely not churchy. Prob quite a tight catchment though.

The Petchey Academy looked as if it is panning out ok.

lots of highbury mums banking on stmm, not sure if there's a % of places allocated eg from st john's etc

Just looked it up and the catchment for Fortismere last year was 0.5 miles, in case anyone else is interested!

Frogs - is Petchey really turning out ok? It's in such a horrid part of Stokey - I cycle past in the mornings and there are kids arriving whilst the prozzers from last night clear off..

My son's old nursery in Stokey had a great Ofsted report. I used to wonder if the blokes who blew crack smoke in our faces as we entered the building each morning had been off sick the day the inspector came

Muswell Hill has Fortismere. Large, liberal, good results. You would need to live in their grounds or near as dammit.

Primary school wise you can't really go wrong in Muswell Hill.

Crouch End has Rokesley (another live in their garage catchment areas). Not hugely sure about the Crouch End schools... though St Aidan's is good (again catchement is an issue).

Senior schools are harder though Highgate Wood is improving year in year out.