Latymer, City, Highgate, UCS 7+ 2021

[Surfermum40]

My DS is sitting for the 7+ exams this year and January 2022. We already have an interview call for city boys. Still waiting to hear Highgate. Any other parents here prepping for 7+ in these school?

Add: I’m talking about their senior schools here as DS is doing 11+. (I originally joined this thread for DD’s 7+ choices)

Thanks @7plus11plus. That's interesting about Highgate as we only saw the junior school (which is amazing) but not the senior school.

Do you have any views on diversity of the student population? I got the impression that UCS and Highgate seem more mixed than Habs (could be wrong)

We will be letting go of UCS and City and going back to both offer holder events for Habs and Highgate this week.

@SnoopyForever Yes Highgate junior school is amazing. It feels very difficult to refuse it for DD but we have to focus on senior schools.

Re diversity

Highgate and ucs are mainly white. Habs has more Asian families due to the location. I think City is so far the best “mixed” school if you look at diversity.

@Surfermum40 well done for narrowing it down to 2! We're also going to the events for Habs and Highgate this week, although I wish the Habs one included the kids as well

@7plus11plus re UCS senior being much smaller - it also does have a smaller student population than Highgate/Habs? The new 6th form centre and library are pretty swish :)

@SnoopyForever Latymer is in the mix now! We are looking to give up Habs too as we prefer co ed for our DS. Latymer is such a strong school too but we will be looking to move if we decide to send DS there.

@Surfermum40 wow congrats to your DS for all these offers! I'm sure the families on waiting list will be delighted to take up the ones you let go of :) Latymer is miles away from Highgate. Where do you live?

@SnoopyForever Thank you. I live in North London (Mill Hill). We will be looking to move by brook green/hammersmith if we decide to take up Latymer Prep.

Does anyone know North London schools for 8+ boy (or co-Ed) admissions other than UCS? We’re thinking we wait another year and go at it again, having only recently moved to this country and not understanding the full 7+ process.

@kallmanskate I believe only UCS has a small intake at 8+. Habs, Merchant Taylor prep and Highgate are only 7+ before they take on at 11+.

@kallmanskate There is also St Margaret’s in Bushey - newly co-ed, so it’s possible they might have an occasional place for a boy outside the usual entry points. It has quite a different feel from the others mentioned in the thread, but perhaps worth a look if you are rethinking your approach.

Hi, May I ask what was your opinion on the senior school of Highgate? I absolutely loved the junior school but had not the same feeling for the senior school. Any opinion ?

@surfermum40 Hi we live around Mill Hill as well and contemplating between Highgate and Habs offers. Do you know what's the transport options to both schools from Mill Hill. Habs has a coach but I'm not aware that Highgate has one and the daily school run fills me with dread. or do you think its doable?

@mominator7plus both schools have a coach service. Highgate however doesn’t cover our postcode as yet but Habs does. Highgate coach routes are in this link- tour.highgateschool.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/02/Transport_090221-reduced-size-1.pdf

@BelsizeParkMum123 I have never had the chance to visit the senior school at Highgate unfortunately. The junior school is super impressive. I'd love to hear what you thought of the senior school as obviously the kids go on to there afterwards!

I loved the junior school for the modern, and warm environment. The senior school gave me the opposite impression : very old and outdated furniture, old dark classrooms, long sad hallways … a good renovation clearly needed. The Church is lovely but compulsory, once a week… which I don’t feel comfortable. Library fantastic. The children need to go back to the buildings near the junior school for DT, swimming. I have very mixed feelings about the senior school. Happy to read other opinions!

Hi all. Our son has offers from Habs, UCS, City, Highgate and Belmont. We have lots of friends with children at Highgate who love the Junior School but the enthusiasm seems to wane upon Senior School. While the facilities are tired, that isn’t a deal breaker for us but students and parents becoming despondent with the school is an issue for us. I think it’s intentional that they don’t show or provide much access to the Senior School. Obviously their rankings are fantastic but if we’re in it for the long haul, we want to be certain we’re not doing this again at 11 or GCSEs/A levels. Curious to hear from others.

@MillHillMama what is the reason for children feeling this way at the senior school if not for the facilities and looks? We had asked at the open evening on Wednesday regarding upgrade of senior school and they mentioned they are continuously looking to update and have some building projects. I tried to find some information and got this- www.highgateschool.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/CapEx_Building_Projects_Brochure_spread_web.pdf

Thanks for the information about the coaches @Surfermum40 do you know what’s the traffic like during school run times to Highgate ? We are leaning towards Highgate so trying to plan ahead

@MillHillMama I’ve got very different feedback from senior school parents who are very happy with the children’s progress and balance of academics and pastoral care.

In case you choose Highgate are you planning to drive for the school run from Mill Hill? We will have the same commute and would love to hear about the options