Hi, not sure if you're still expecting a reply to this, given it's from 12th.
My son has just started NBH Y7. He is very bright, lazy, gifted in his chosen subject, and a lovely sensitive boy, interested in current affair and politics and all sorts of stuff I didn't know existed when I was his age.
He is in a class of 19, mixed. Sits with girls. Has made friends. Is happy. Likes the food. Manages his homework. Has become increasing independent.
The school has a new headmistress who is very enthusiastic and vital. The school's ethos is making all children achieve their full potential, in a friendly secure work environment. He simply wouldn't be able to cope in a school where there is a lot of stress to perform, although he is capable of performing at a high standard, and although so far the work doesn't seem very exacting, I am hoping they are easing them in gently. I understand they work to reach a peak at GCSE, and therefore may appear to be working at a lower level than other schools like Highgate, but I don't know if this is true. I am just hoping they are capable to getting my son to work to his best standard, as opposed to letting him cruise, which he will if he isn't given a kick up the a**e every now and then. He was working at a high level of maths with a tutor, and got a grade 6 in the SATS, and says the maths isn't new or hard, but he is learning new ways of doing things. (As I am innumerate, the more ways you know the better!) They haven't yet done any 'settling' or any of the CAT tests I have read about.
I must tell you that NBH has a local reputation as being the dumping ground school where you go if you didn't get into your more prestigious school. i.e., conversation at primary school -"I don't know what's happening with our boys this year. if we're not careful they're going to end up in NBH."
That being said, it could -and is working on- improving its academic standard, and I think the new headmistress will be working hard on this.
It is a mixed ability school. So far I am very happy. Other parents seem very nice.
PM me if you want to know anything more detailed.