Belsize/Hampstead "best" junior schools?

[Skiingmum1]

So....having missed the boat alreay on the nursery front I realise I need to start planning now for school entry (and my baby is only 7 1/2 months' old - so depressing..!) The Hall looks impressive (if a little intense), any views on Lyndhurst, Hereward House, Devonshire House or Trevor Roberts (or any other notable omissions?) Thanks so much.

Are you near enough to go to North Bridge House school? It's almost at the Camden Town/Regent's Park border. Heard good things about that one. Nursery places are very fluid (parents change plans a lot at that age) so worth going on a waiting list of one you like.

I believe in Home Tuition - I already have a staff of five covering various subjects including 'Junior Latin' 'High Chair Management' 'Nanny Psychology'
& 'Bib Etiquette' etc - best of luck..

Sounds like you've missed the boat to Broadhurst. (I registered DS at 7 weeks pregnant for a laugh -having missed the boat with DD at 12 months- and they still gave me an afternoon place). I did not send him there as a point of principle. I digress. At 7.5 months you have not missed the boat at most local nurseries. Hampstead Hill is a lovely place. They take them at 2 and keep them to 7/8. Prep tham for 7+/8+ (but lots also leave at 4+/5+). Devonshire House also very good (despite the uniform). (Don't try the January intake-it's usually only open to siblings). Again a number of kids leave at 4/5+ and 7+, but it has massive intakes at pre-reception, reception and occasionaly year 1. Lyndhurst is a sister school of Devonshire. Owned by the same people. Easy to get in as far as I know. North Bridge also good but gives priority to alumni, living within walking distance, fair balance of boys girls. Places do open up at 5+. The Hall and Arnold House are the most sought after boys' preps. Very difficult to get in unless dad alumni, seriously moneyed or boy is super bright (for the Hall). By all means though do register. Hereward also very good but takes only 18 boys at reception. Not easy to get into but places do open up. Hope this helps.

Thanks very much for your replies - they really help. I am going back to work in Sep for 4 days a week and was thinking of a nursery/nanny split (currently on waiting lists at both Active Learning and Asquith) until 4. Am now wondering if maybe we should do that (or nanny only) until 2 and then try the Northbridge/Broadhurst/Hampstead Hill possibilty (recognising that it will be tricky to get a place..!)...Hadn't come across H Hill before but its website looks good. Will arrange a tour. Grateful if any views on that..!

At the mo, we are in Belsize Park/Swiss Cottage but realistically may have moved further out by the time DS is 4 - makes things even more complicated! Sounds like the game is to register here, there and everywhere and then see what you end up with before making a decision. Think we should all start a school together - guarantee the best care/eductaion and there must be millions to be made....

All 3 of mine went to Hampstead Hill and go back to visit frequently as they miss it! They all got into top (!!!!)schools and we were well advised in our choices. It looks like utter chaos but no child leaves that school a wallflower. No child is allowed to be spoilt or rude. The parents are very cool and much more mixed than other local schools. High proportion of working mums because of the extended hours and holiday scheme. The teachers stay for decades and many children there have parents who were pupils at HHS themselves.

Go and see for yourself! Talk to any parents hanging around- you'll get a gooey reaction. Andrea Taylor is like an educational goddess.

My DS is currently at Hampstead Hill. I took out my older DD at about 3 as I had erronesouly thought it was a bity of a hike for her and regretted it instantly. My DS thrives there. HH is one of the so called "academic" pre-preps. They do numbers, shapes etc from 2 and they stat reading pretty early. They also have lots of fun. For example at 2 they have a cooking day every week when the little ones bake cookies, muffins etc. Lovely, nurturing teachers. Very nice parents. It is not difficult to get in (unlike Broadhurst which is tiny for example). Mulberry House at West Hamsptead is also an option (intake at 2 too), but much pushier (as I understand it from friends). HH recently opened up day nursery (Acorns) which I think takes little ones from 3 months. You may want to try this. I had/have a mother's help (am a working mum). Northbridge is more difficult (but not impossible) to get in at nursery (3) as they give priority to siblings, alumni etc.. By all means register though. Places open up at year 1 as people move around. The name of the game in the area is indeed to register everywhere. The prep schools in fact do tell you to register at more than one schools as the demand is incredible and they each have very few spaces.

Thanks so much again - your answers have really helped me. Will check out HH but I really like the sound of it and have applied to go on the waiting list(..!) Am also trying to get DS into Little Acorns but alas, once again on the waiting list. I guess if all else fails and we can't get a nursery spot in Sep, we could do nanny for one year and hope we get into HH (or others) at 2.

You could try for Golders Hill for pre-prep which feeds mostly into UCS at 7. It's a little out of Hampstead in Golders Green but even though they say they're full I know plenty of people who have got last minute places there at nursery or even reception.

Thanks severalyearsdowntheline - am sure you have many pearls of wisdom having been through all of this already! Given we may well end up moving a bit further out of town to get more space, Golder's Green may not be so far away...