Advice needed on Channing vs St Michael’s N6

[Mummyofahappygirl]

Hello! I would like to find out how Channing and St Michael’s CofE Primary at Highgate handle very bright children? My dd has a place at each school and we need to make our decision quickly. She is very bright and my husband and I would like to make sure that she thrives in school. We have absolutely positive opinion about both Channing and St Michael’s which makes the decision really hard. We would like our dd to be in a nurturing environment rather than in a hothouse but we would like her to progress in her own speed as well and get support from her teachers in that. Any advice would be much appreciated.

I suppose you try to compare state and private? Don’t know St Michaels at all but Channing is often a backup option for girls who are trying for Highgate and South Hampstead, a less academic school for “very bright” girls.

7plus11plus I am not sure what you mean. Do you have children at Channing?

Channing will be nurturing and most definitely not a hothouse. You’ll have the advantage of not sitting 11+ if you accept a place there. If your child is very bright, they probably won’t be sufficiently stretched academically. No experience of the other school.

DD attended the junior at Channing and moved to a school with more academic stretch and focus on STEM for secondary. She doesn’t miss her primary days as she was bored her last two years there.

Beware of exploding offers. If you take too long over your decision, you might find the choice is taken out of your hands.

@mbell Thank you, that was exactly what I meant. I know a few girls left Channing at 7+ for Highgate, SHHS and the like.

I have children who go to St Michael’s. It’s a lovely school, however it’s like comparing apples and oranges with Channing. As a state school there are strapped budgets and facilities. My child is deemed bright by the school, however she is not stretched, and can become bored. Don’t forget they are in a class of 30 children will all varying abilities. STM rely heavily on parents to fill in the gaps. The high achieving parents do this, myself included. Simple but fundamental things like they do not have enough books, so children can’t progress unless you make up the short fall. If you have a choice I would go with the school you know will challenge your daughter and have the facilities to do so. If you choose St Michael’s it’s still a great option, DC will thrive.

Thank you, that is very useful to know and I really appreciate your opinion.

Hello, just found this thread and we are in the same position! Have offers from both and still struggling to decide between st Michael’s and Channing for my daughter. Would be keen to know what decision you came to and how it’s going?