Channing vs Highgate

[isitwinetimeyet16]

Hi all,

Am currently awaiting a second round Highgate interview with DD2. DD1 is at Channing and loves it. We also have a younger DS. Trying to decide if we got a Highgate offer whether to take it for our DD or whether to stick with Channing. Anyone with experience of both schools able to offer advice?

Bump?

Anyone?

If it were me, logistically I'd have both in the same place. From speaking with friends who have children at Highgate the traffic is horrendous. Throw in Channings drop off and you'll be tearing your hair out in no time. Unless your experience at Channings is that bad, I'd stay with what you have. Both schools are through to 18 and both have good reputations.

Thanks so much @icantbelievethis001. We are walkable to both so hopefully logistics wouldn't be too bad...but traffic is a nightmare in the village!

Highgate is a better school.

Thanks @FoggySpecs. Do you mean academically?

Yes, although I do know some impressive girls from Channing. Highgate is better on Stem and is consistently higher in the league tables but Channing are investing in this area. They have quite different atmospheres.

@FoggySpecs that's interesting, thank you. Would you say the tradition image of Channing as being nurturing vs Highgate as pushy is fair?

no competition, Highgate is a dynamic school with excellent teachers and it's very much a notch above the traditional, if I may say rather dull channing. There are of course bright kids at both but the atmosphere at Highgate is much more dynamic and forward thinking. I also wouldn't worry about the commute a both schools so close to each other it isn't an issue but yes traffic in the area is notoriously bad.

Thank you@Oakleycakes! Do you have children at either?

I have A number of friends in the area who have a child at both schools and a friend that has one daughter at Channing and one child at Highgate. My response is echoing what they have unanimously said. I myself went to Channing many years ago but that’s not relevant to your question I suppose. I’m not saying Channing is not a good school but if you have the choice of Highgate I would definitely go with that one

That's v helpful @Oakleycakes thank you.

Highgate may have better STEM facilities, but what you really need to consider if you have a girl is what the take up of those subjcts is for girls. In single sex schools, a much higher propertion of the girls do maths and science than when they attend mixed sex schools. Whether that is to do with unconscious bias in teaching or social pressures is up for debate, but if STEM is important, I would look at the numbers of girls taking up those subjects at Highgate over and above their facilities.
I looked at both schools and was really struck by the fact that Highgate (having previously been a very middling boys school) shot up in academics and ability by bringing in girls, but really hasn't considered in sufficient detail the different needs of girls or whether their teaching ought to have changed to reflect mixed classes. It really felt like they "used" girls to improve their results, but are not focused enough on their particular and specific needs.

Highgate has so many more extra curricular opportunities and space. I'm not sure I'd want my daughter in a all girls academic senior too when the time comes, which is worth thinking about.

I'd want to make sure Highgate has sorted out the alleged rape culture issues first.

Hi, my daughter is in Highgate (Y4), the school is brilliant! They do a lot about rape culture issues at the moment, further investigations, strengthening sex education etc. Lots of after school clubs and very bright bunch of kids. I heard positive feedback about Channing as well. I guess the main question is whether you want co Ed or single sex. I do not believe in the saga of girls doing better academically in single sex and blah blah. If your child is bright, curious then he would do great anywhere, same applies to STEM subjects choices for girls which is very much encouraged in the school.

Thank you so much all for your thoughts, really appreciated.

Channing is a real forward thinking school (not only on paper) - the focus is on both academic and personal development and all the girls are really happy. Highgate focus is on boys.

Sorry but what a load of rubbish Mosurgia. Channing is a very traditional school with many staff there for 15 odd years and they don’t even have a dedicated pastoral person. Very old fashioned teaching style and light years behind Highgate in maths and sciences. Channing is a decent school with some lovely girls but not on par with Highgate academically. To be honest the schools feel very different from each other have you gone to visit? I’m sure you would have had a preference.

My niece was at channing from reception, she was offered Highgate and many other places too. She graduated from Cambridge with a first. She thrived at the school as did many of her friends. Although you need to throw in all girls vs co ed. It suited her as did all boys suit both her brothers. They are both good schools but you need to decide what suits your DC

Of the pupils in the 6th form, Highgate and Channing have roughly the same number of people capable of taking at least 2 facilitating subjects at A Level and those 2 groups perform almost identically.

Highgate then has a further 100+ students who do not take more than one facilitating subject.

So I don't think you can really assert that Highgate is much better academically.

Sorry, should have said capable of taking at least 2 facilitating subjects and gaining at least AAB.

Really interesting 2reef. Having attended a rather unpleasantly pushy private secondary school, that makes me wonder whether students who Highgate think are less likely to get good grades are persuaded to take other subjects. That certainly happened at my school.

We have very different personal opinions/experience AndersS - I have both a daughter in Channing and a boy in Highgate and I would never move my daughter to Highgate. My children have also been in very selective schools in US and to these days I have not found another school as good as Channing. I don’t know which school is stronger in math and science but I know that my daughter’s love of learning started with Channing. We all get to 18 that we can read War and Peace but not everybody wants to. This being said I understand that we all look for different things when looking for a school. All the best.

Would you say that at Channing, brillant girls are still encouraged to do their very best? Is it still quite pushy for the very academic ones?