How intensive are schools such as Habs and Highgate?

[FrankWelker]

I'm still in a quandary about whether to sit my DS for the 7+. I know these schools are really difficult to get in to. What I'm really asking is that once you are in is it really intensive and pushy on the kids. He is a bright boy but not super super bright so would definitely have to work hard. I just don't want him to get in to one of these schools and then spend the next 10 years miserably trying to keep up with me and the school pressuring him. Any opinions about these schools would be great. TIA

If he is not bright enough then he won't get in. If he passes the exam then he should be fine.

I have had no experience of these schools, but surely the best thing is to visit a range of schools and decide where your son might best fit in. There are plenty of nice private schools in that part of the world for children of all academic ablities.

But us he bright enough to get in? That's what the exams, assessment and interview are for. You will find that all the boys who are offered places are very bright and your son could fit right in. Whether it is intensive is all relative to the child's ability. I don't know how old your son is but download some past papers and see what he is capable of doing. If he is already at a pre prep then they will obviously be getting them ready for the 7+ and 8+ anyway.