Habs boys or good local comprehensive - some advice please

[VRK]

Hi all, I would like some advice please. Our son is now at a relatively good part selective local comprehensive in Y8 - top in his year group, overall happy and thriving. He had an offer from Habs boys - we would love some advice please whether it is worth the money and effort to settle in. Also his current journey to the school is about 15 mins, for Habs it would be over 30mins on the school coach. But stating in his current school means leaving for A levels. Not sure what is best -any thoughts or experiences from Habs will be much appreciated

Where do you live and what are local state options? Loads of kids come in on the school coach network so 30 mins isn’t that unusual.

We live in mill hill, very close to the local school he is in currently. It is mainly a question of whether habs is academically significantly better than the local good comprehensive

Habs is outstanding. I'd be inclined to say if your ds got in (especially without tutoring) than he'd thrive there academically. My ds went there.. the extra curricular are second to none.

@ParsnipPuree thank you for your response! May I ask what is the feel inside the school, how supportive are the teachers? How easy is it to make friends? Overall is it a caring environment?

If you're highly an academic you'll thrive. The teachers are supportive but it isn't known as a particularly nurturing school.. they don't want kids with problems. My son wasn't happy socially there so I moved him for 6th form. But it gave him an outstanding education, confidence in his academic ability and at interviews.

It can be quite cliquey.. you have to find your tribe early on.

Thank you @ParsnipPuree may I ask what was your son unhappy about socially

I think Habs will offer your son far more opportunities than any comprehensive in North London/ Herts. So if you can afford it and if he is a reasonably secure individual, then do the move.

I found there was the Jewish crowd who had been at primary together/families knew eachother.. the non-Jewish crowd and the Asian crowd. My ds had a lot going on in his life in year 7 and I think he just missed the boat socially. We live round the corner from Habs but If you're considering sending your ds on the coach, he'd meet people immediately.

I had a daughter at the girls habs. I would definitely pick Habs over the comprehensive (but then we paid school fees from start of primary school as did my parents for me so I am not saying I am neutral on the topic).....
30 minute is not long to travel to a sixth form. Good luck whatever you decide.

Ds was the only boy in his primary year group to get into Habs so didn't go with anyone. Didn't help..

Habs over local MH comps? If you can afford it go for it.

Only worried about the social aspect and he doesn’t want to lose his school friends.. Thank you all for your comments!

Forgot to us but how much homework do boys get at Habs? DS has a lot of out of school activities every day which he doesn’t want to drop. Please any feedback

Lots of homework but lots of the boys do a lot of extra curricular activities and still manage to get it done.

I would imagine it will be easier to attend Habs Boys now when you have an offer than wait until 16+ entry and the GCSE grade requirements are very high- the teachers are first class at Habs and there are lots of extra circular activities where you can find like minded friends. Your son might find he can do the same activities at school that he does out of school which makes life easier. They don't accept many boys into y9 despite many applications so he has done well to get an offer as it's highly competitive.

Thanks all for your valuable Inputs! How is habs dealing with bullying? Any experience/thoughts please