Highgate

[gr650]

Hello, we are planning to move from SW London to Highgate. We have 2 girls, but I am a little bit concerned about schools, since there are only Highgate and Channing in Highgate.

Are those schools very competitive or I can reasonably sure that my daughters will get into one of the two?

Er you might want to re-word your post. I'm fairly certain those aren't the only schools in Highgate...

They are competitive schools. Entrance tests at 3+/4+ , 7+. Massively oversubscribed. Hth.

You definitely can't be sure, you may have to drive to Hampstead or Golders Green. I've found North London Schools a bit more oversubscribed than SW schools in general.

Both have at least ten applicants per place, so no, you can't be sure. All private schools in N London are heavily oversubscribed.

To be slightly more helpful, how old are your girls? Highgate takes in at 3,7 and 11. Channing at 4 and 11. Both have over 10 applicants per place, but most will be applying for five or so schools.

A backup option would be a non selective preprep which goes on waiting list and will then prepare them for the 7+, for example the Avenue in Highgate, Golders Hill in Golders Green, Annemount in Hampstead Garden Suburb. Norfolk House in Muswell Hill goes to 11 and prepares for the 11+. But it depends how old they are , if they are past the typical entry points you are basically casting round for occasional places, which are similarly oversubscribed.

Sorry to be so gloomy! N London private education is a truly mad world.

Tableforfour, that's very helpful! Do you know anything more about Annemount? Their website looks really nice!

I have a friend with children went there. Now at UCS. She speaks extremely highly about the school, as do her boys. My understanding is that it has a good record of getting girls into schools like SHHS and CHanning, but leaver destinations may be on the website or the school should be abel to tell you

I went to annemount! But that isn't the most up to date info. Supposed to be very good for girls, not so good for boys.

Table - might I ask why?

I've heard independently from three people that the head seems to understand little girls better than little boys and interprets normal boy roughhousing, say, as naughtiness. But its hearsay only!