ucs or highgate what to do

[headlesschicken]

any north london parents doing private can help? sorry if this sounds a bit crap as I know am really lucky to get a choice but am trying to choose between UCS and Highgate for 7yr boy and need to decide quickly - if anyone knows about either from experience and has any input would be so great to hear!

They are both great schools and if you think there's a good chance he will stay for senior school I would give serious thought to location if the journey from where you live (by public transport) is much different between the two.

It's easy to forget at age 7 that within a few years they will be needing to journey to and from school independently.

Hi GypsyMay thanks for reply, the trip is possible for both by public transport at senior (walk and overcrowded commuter overland train to one and bus to other). The juniors involves grotty school runs whichever, though hampstead village is probably worse I suspect. Do you know kids at the junior/seniors - any views if so on how happy they are? Impossible question sorry...

I know boys (and girls in the case of highgate) at both schools, junior and senior. All very happy, but they are quite different schools especially in the senior part.

The major difference will, naturally, be the coeducational element. Which do you feel happier with for your DS?

I also think that there is a big difference between a stereotypical "highgate" senior schoolboy and a UCS one. Just hang out around Highgate village or Finchley road at the end of school and you will see quite different personalities and behaviour. (This is of course a HUGE generalisation!).

Where would you ultimately want to see your DS in 5/6 years time? Choosing the long term school now will be a huge advantage.

I kind of prefer idea of co-ed but not strongly enough to push, and am interested in knowing what people think too about how it affects kids - perhaps boys-only is better, I don't know... I agree the aim would be to stay there through to seniors, if all works out - can I be cheeky and ask what the differences you think are (accept that is huge generalisation, can't say really etc!)??

Highgate is a great school with very happy kids and all the better for the girls being there, so I've heard from those who knew it as boys only.

The Hampstead school run is HELL, although I have heard very good things about UCS too. I only know 6th form girls there.

What does your ds prefer?

he likes both but is drawn to UCS a bit more I think as knows some kids going there...

First of all, congratulations on getting offers at both of these schools. I don't know much about UCS (have a DD) but I know that Highgate is very hard to get into, especially since it went co-ed.
I think that what you need to bear in mind is that if these schools have made you an offer, then they really want your son. Therefore, if you are unsure, I would ask whether you can talk to the schools again, explaining that you are also holding an offer from the other school. I would then go in and ask all the searching questions you can think of, e.g. what sort of boy is particularly successful at the school, what do they do if a boy unexpectedly underperforms in one or more subjects, to what extent are they able to take into account different learning styles, what do they do to challenge boys that turn out to be esceptionally good at a subject etc etc. If your DS is currently at a school that sends quite a few boys to one of these schools and you rate the head, ask him or her which they think would be better for your DS.
Good luck - this is a very important decision.

It's hard - in the end neither is going to be 'wrong' choice. I'm in similar quandry over 4yr entry for DD though not sure yet what choices are. Would be good to know the unspoken-about differences which creditcrunched mentions as you can't tell that from the prospectuses! Also it is easy to be swayed by the hard-to-get-into thing as you feel can't then turn it down!

What schools talksnonsense?

The schools for girls? She's entered for channing, st christopher's, and phoenix (too late to apply for highgate pre-prep) - we live sort of in-between - am waiting for the letters so perhaps best not to stress out yet in case don't get a choice anyway (!). I liked the schools but would love to know the things you don't find out on a visit like what the word is on the ground about the type of school it really is and the girls that fit better in each.

Hi, that's what I was getting at too about the two boys' schools - what do people see as the main differences because hard to tell from outside...

I'll save my opinions until you know more, talksnonsense

UCS - more liberal school, treats boys more as students than pupils. Have to be self motivated. Gets better results than Highgate although this is negligible. Discipline is more lenient, never seem to be wearing proper uniform, 6th form seem to stand outside school smoking! Less sporty.

Highgate - probably more of a traditional school, stricter discipline. When it was all boys (could be different now) boys appeared to be rougher than at UCS. Could be what creditrcrunched meant? A friend who lived in Highgate sent her son to UCS cos didn't like the type of Highgate boys that were hanging around the streets in breaktime! That doesn't mean UCS boys are angels.

THANKS lazymum that's sort of overview was after really - sounds like both have up/downsides but am beginning to wonder if DS more of a USC type (though also worry he'd slack and smoke too if left to it....). Would expect co-ed might have changed Highgate of course.

ucs is now in the second year of coed 6th form

Exactly what I would have said lazymum!

More sweeping generalisations:

(1) If you compare the two senior school heads, you can see the difference in approach very distinctly, especially if you watch their interaction with the boys.
If I were to sum them up, the UCS head really likes his pupils. The Highgate head really likes his school.

(2) boys who like structure, discipline and are social animals may be better off at highgate. Boys who are individuals and self-motivated may be better off at UCS.

I prefer UCS as an approach, but then I like the co-ed nature of highgate. I would also have your dilemma...and if we still had the income to pay the school fees

Good luck and let us know which you go for in the end!

Am very grateful for the candid sweeping generalisations, so thanks! Sounds like you have seen the schools in action, which I haven't. Am coming round to deciding on UCS, though suspect he would also benefit from bit of structure and discipline ... and he does get on with girls as well as boys...oh dear! . School fees, yes nightmare - not sure how can afford but guess will manage somehow if don't fix old house or old car or go away (ever again).

First and foremost well done to your DS for getting offers from two super schools. You should be very proud of him! (And pleased that unless you want to move him the exam stress is over!)

My two DCs are at Highgate. They are happy and thriving but UCS is also a super school by all accounts and if I lived on the other side of the Spaniards' would have cheerfully sent a son there. You can't lose really!

It is so interesting to see what others think of the two schools! I think the sketches of the boys is by and large fair. UCS boys seem to me to be more sophisticated and worldly-wise than Highgate, and Highgate is very sporty, even among the girls. Also, think about the denizens of Islington/Finchley/Crouch End/Highgate/Muswell Hill vs. St John's Wood/HGS/Hampstead and you get an idea too!

Crunch's comments ring pretty true, but Mr Pettitt is a book not to be judged by the cover. He has a clear idea about the appropriate role of a head, and he knows what he believes in. He really impressed me early on when talking about the challenges of raising kids in London. He has said very clearly that he sees it as part of his job to do everything he can to make sure our kids have the chance to be kids and don't grow up too fast. I thought that was marvellous.

Highgate is an older, more established public school, and perhaps the discipline is as you'd expect springing from that tradition. It also has a Christian ethos, lightly applied (the chaplain is a lovely man, and I say this as an agnostic), where I gather UCS has a more modern and secularist approach.

I'd be wary of giving you advice one way or the other. Most of our kids are happy, and we are no more informed about other schools. Sorry if that sounds like a cop-out. I also don't know your family, and what you value. You've seen both schools -- what does your gut say? Trust your instincts because you are the Mummy and you do know best, deep down!

Gypsy is right to stress practical issues like travel because they sometimes get overlooked and school travel is such a big mess up here in NorfLondon. Way back when, starting in the PrePrep, the school run, and later their commute, was a big issue for me and it's not any easier now. About the same time the other branches went co-ed and that is also a big, big plus for us.

Get someone to cover for you and do the runs, and try and park, at the relevant time in the morning. You'll be doing it a lot for a few years, and if one is much worse then keep that in mind. Getting stressed on the school run for five or six years is not good for your relationship with DS!

Then relax because I also agree with TalksNonsense. There is no right or wrong choice They are both good, just different.

Good Luck and let us know what you decide

I've got 2 at Highgate they both did 7+ and got in to Habs, UCS and Highgate. Chose HIghgate cos more nurturing - see teacher every morning and afternoon - they won't let kids go till seen the carer.
My 6 year old also just passed his 7+ exams and chose Highgate (no surprise there)!.
My other 2 in senior school now and very happy and thriving.

Headmaster of Junior school Mark James is lovely. You can really talk to him and he genuinly cares about all his pupils.

Both schools are great and results are roughly the same. Agree that UCS is better suited if you're self motivated. So probably comes down to do you want co-ed or single sex?