SJW Secondary Schools (Ind. Schools)

[ConfusedBrit]

Hi all, I'm an American in London. What are good independent secondary schools in SJW area (or somewhat close by)? I know the American school is there, but I honestly am not impressed. What are the other good options? All the top secondary schools seem to be in the south? Maybe I'm missing something, can anyone help me? Do people just commute super far that live in SJW for the top schools? Seems crazy to me.

It's normal to take public transport to secondary schools in London. FHRP is walkable from SJW, and SHHS, City Girls, Westminster and QC are short commutes. NLCS is far but could be an option as it's on the Jubilee.

The Hammersmith schools are also not too bad a commute from there.

Boys you have UCS (University College School) or if you are looking really top flight. Westminster is accessible. Going coed and very competitive entry. Depending where you are Highgate also an excellent school Coed. Anther thing I’d to look at where the top North London Preps such as The Hall and Trevor Roberts send pupils on to.

Looking at leavers from my son’s school which is close to SJW: Westminster, City of London Boys or Girls, Francis Holland, Latymer Upper

This is from Arnold House Prep in SJW
https://www.arnoldhouse.co.uk/senior-school-destinations

Do you have boys or girls and are you specifically looking for co Ed schools?

Aren't Westminster and Latymer very far from SJW?

One of each so need both or coed

City of London and St. Pauls also look super far. Maybe I'm wrong?

Westminster is very easy on the Jubilee Line; Latymer is a bit more of a trek. I would say a commute of 45 mins via public transport isn’t that unusual in London though. It’s certainly what I did when I went to school admittedly 30 years ago now!

To get to City boys, get the jubilee line to Westminster then get the Circle / District line to Mansion House - will take about 20 mins.

To get to St Paul’s, get the jubilee line to Green Park then get the Piccadilly line to Hammersmith - will take about 50 mins.

Westminster is the shortest journey at about 10 mins.

BUT I will say that none of these schools are easy to get into. How old are your children?

Lots of girls at my DD's prep commute from 2-3 miles away, and I expect that Arnold House is similar. So just because the dc there have ended up at West London schools, they may not be travelling from SJW, they might be coming from somewhere further west anyway, or they might be moving house. I'm often surprised at some of the destination schools on our list. Some of them are 8 miles away, and nowhere near public transport (but some of them have a bus service I think).

For girls:

Queen’s College - get the Jubilee line to Bond Street and walk up to Harley Street (20 mins)

Francis Holland Regent’s Park - Jubilee line to Baker Street (maybe 12 mins)

Francis Holland Sloane Square - Jubilee line to Westminster then Circle / District to Sloane Square (maybe 25 mins)

South Hampstead - Jubilee line to Finchley Road (maybe 10 to 12 mins)

City girls - Jubilee line to Baker Street then the Circle / Hammersmith & City line to Barbican or Moorgate (maybe 30 mins)

It's less than a mile walk from St John's Wood station to FHRP or SHHS, 20 mins or so.

Also Wetherby Senior School (boys) - get the Jubilee line to Bond Street and walk up. Maybe 15 mins