Independent 7+ for girls

[cokibeach]

We are moving back to London from abroad. We need to be at an independent school because of the longer holidays. We live near Finsbury Park and are looking at SHHS, CLSG and NLCS. We wonder about the commute to NLCS and the diversity at all of the schools. We recognize that an independent school is not going to be very socioeconomically diverse but some schools place more priority on that than others. We feel certain DD can get a good academic education at all three. Also wondering about putting a seven year old on a coach. Part of me feels it may be a nice lead in and unwind and I love the idea of large sporting fields and a nice campus (NLCS). Any advice? (we already registered at CLSG btw so we do have a spot to try for admission)

NLCS lots go on the coach and they arrange for older girls to look after the younger ones. They have a relatively small entry at 7+ , about 10 places I think, whereas SHHS takes another whole class. If you're prepared to look further out have you considered Habs, but they also only take a few at 7. St Margarets's in Kidderpore Gardens takes at 7 and is a very small, friendly, possibly more socioeconomically diverse school. Channing might have occasional places so worth being on their list, and Highgate has a big entry at 7.

also consider northbridge house and devonshire house as backups.

my daughter started CLSG in year 3 and commutes from NW3 area. This distance was a bit of an adjustment at first, but they adapt pretty quickly.

What is more of an issue with attending a school far away is that all of the birthday parties/play dates are not local--you are traipsing across the city on the weekends to attend these events.

That being said we are really happy with the education she is getting.

Thanks all. St. Margaret's does look inviting. I've heard CLSG draws from all over the city. I am pleased to hear that about the bus. I too thought it might be a friendly place. My DD likes those kind of bonds and I like the idea of playing fields. My only worry is that I won't be able to spend much time at a far out school like NLCS but maybe it's different from American schools and the parents aren't at school for concerts, or committees that often.

We live in North London and decided not to take up offers from NLCS and CLSG, despite the excellent education and facilities, mainly because of the commute, opting for the local grammar instead. Having said that, lots do the commute painlessly and love the schools.

My impression was that CLSG was more diverse than NLCS, particularly socio economically, perhaps because the fees are lower, but my DDs don't go to either school, so I may be wrong. They preferred NLCS on the open days though; the concrete of the City didn't appeal. But as I say, I know lots of families at both who love it.

Good luck with whichever school you choose.