PrivateSchools

[Bhuvanakarthik]

Hi all,
We have moved to London recently. Planning to choose the area "Harrow on the Hill" .
We have two girls of ages 8(2008 April) and 5(2011 April). Looking out for some really good private schools for them. It can be either girls or mixed.
Really need all your valuable inputs in this.

Look at the Good Schools guide - you can search by area and it'll give you descriptions and results of the local private schools.
A good starting point

Your issue will be getting them in. Good schools will be over-subscribed for reception and have competitive assessments for year 3 and 7, so you'd be looking at sitting your 5 year old for the 7+ (yr 3 entry) and your 8 year old for the 11+ (yr 7 entry). Before that it will be a case of finding a school with two spaces, which is likely to be tricky. I'd suggest a state application too in the short term.

Aldenham isn't a million miles from Harrow and I think isn't as over-subscribed, might be worth a phone call.

Some of the more academic schools only open places to children from families who've relocated. So do contact all schools you might be interested in.
How academic a school are you looking for?

Well the first one on your doorstep would be Orley Farm. Ring and see if they have spaces, you sometimes get movement towards the end of term as families plan to relocate over the summer.

Hi mums,
Thank you so much all of you for sharing your experience. As u all said I'm keeping my options open as I need two seats.
I need both academic as well as some sports and some arts & crafts as both my kids love those a lot.

Please do share your opinion about schools near the areas Finchley road and st.johns woods

that's a long way from Harrow! have you decided where you are going to live

NW London schools are fiercely competitive with about 10 applicants per place at reception and children are tutored for at least a year for the 7+

If you're looking in Finchley/Golders Green/SJW then your best bet would be to get your 5 year old into a pre-prep that will prepare for the 7+ - try Annemount, Golders Hill, The Avenue or Hampstead Hill.

Then you could try one of the less selective preps for your older one like Devonshire House or Northbridge House and sit the 11+ from there

another option would be St Margaret's in Kidderpore Avenue, Hampstead which is a lovely and very small school that goes to 16 - they are flexible with class sizes and so might be able to move things around to fit both girls. Head is Mark Webster and he's very approachable.

Thank u so much bluecarpet. I have made a request for school visit to few schools. Let's go ahead and see whom we like and who gives us admission.

The blackheath high GDST has given us school visit. But I'm a bit bothered about the safety around that area if we have start living near the school.

I really need all your views in this regards. Please do share ur views

A friend's daughter goes to Haberdasher's, which is round there.

Habs very unlikely to have space, they only take 6-8 girls at 7 and the 11+ is very competitive so you'd need to go full whack with the tutoring.

Blackheath High would not be a good choice if you were to live in Harrow. We live fairly close to Blackheath and I think it's a lovely area; lots of beautiful parks, young families involved in community activities, lots of arts opportunities through places such as the Conservatoire, Blackheath Halls, easy access to London and a positive feel. Visit Blackheath and see how you feel.

Oooo. That's really a good news. Will go there and have the feel

A quick choice between The village school and Devonshire House preparatory school. Please post your choice between these two.

No personal knowledge but lots of previous threads so worth a search

I don't know the Village but my old boss's son goes to Devonshire House and is very happy with it.

Thank you for the info momies 😊

Blackheath High? You won't be able to travel to Blackheath from
Harrow with two kids every day.
As for safety, please do go and visit Blackheath. I can't imagine what safety issues anyone could possibly have in Blackheath. In my opinion it's a far safer place from some of the NW London places you've mentioned.