Highgate 7+ please share your experiences!

[Mamaof2London]

Hi there, I would be so grateful for some 7+ advice for my DD who is bright, sparky and playful. She’s not the loudest, is not one for attention. She has internal confidence and happy to speak/make friends and generally very happy. We are looking at Co-Ed independent schools for her as we feel it’s best suited for her. She’s currently just sat for Highgate 7+ and got through to the interview/group assessment. Can anyone share their views on the school from personal experience? She currently attends a nurturing small pre prep in another area, and we would be only moving her at this stage to save the 11+ anxiety. She loves arts, music and is very good at maths, reading and new experiences. A few concerns I have about Highgate is the amount of wealthy individuals and its impact on children who come from two hard working parents saving hard to send their kids there. Mental health and how children do - in some schools I hear of students approaching GCSEs with burnout having been pushed too much from an early age. Also the treatment of girls and take up of STEM. Another concern which I suspect is a problem everywhere is drugs. I never came across this issue (in my state school experience). DH did in his independent school and tells me it’s a problem in all schools/more societal. I really apologise for my overly long post (my first one too). Your insights will be much appreciated, and please be kind :-). Thank you again.

Bump as I am interested in Highgate too and your questions are very relevant, OP.

Highgate is a fantastic school, with a mix of very wealthy parents and less so (growing proportion of the latter in my experience). I have 2 chidren there (boy and girl) and hoping to send my third one as well. The issues you mentioned (academic pressure, drugs) will be there in any top academic independent schools in London, I would think.
I would have no reservation in recommending the school, keeping in mind is quite large and less confident children may be (possibly) more overlooked than in a small/nurturing school, but given the fantastic mix of children and provisions/subjects, I think everyone can thrive.
However, I don't have any direct experience elsewhere apart from local primary my kids attended until Y2, all is down to personal experience and priorities/perspective.

Thank you so much for your reply @8daisy. DD got a place which is wonderful. We are awaiting a set of results for one other school (local to us). This move would require a house move for us. We are used to space where we live, so not thinking of Highgate/Muswell Hill and looking more towards Barnet area (possibly Totteridge/Mill Hill but they are pricey and the space is not as much). Do many kids commute in? Do you feel it would adversely impact her social life and experience at the school? Thanks so much. Considering up to a 30 min commute in (accepting that 30 min could be 45 if not left at the right time or roadworks) x

@Mamaof2London I’m in a similar boat to you with my DD, who has just been offered a place at Highgate. We are currently not local though, and would have to move to make it feasible. Having carefully considered all the variables and done the commute a few times from possible areas we could live while we were waiting for an answer (total nightmare every time we’ve tried - which makes sense given how enormous the school is), we’ve decided to turn down the offer. We would rather keep her at her lovely prep school till 11+ and make further decisions at that point.
Regarding the demographic at the school- your concerns are justified. Most are wealthy (some very), many are local, and I suppose it’s up to you whether you feel the risk of her being left out of this is worth it at this age. We are pretty well off (going abroad for most holidays etc) and even we were a bit taken aback by stories we’ve heard from friends whose children go there about sizes of house, staff etc. It put us off a bit if I’m honest, as we didn’t want DD to feel left out.

@Mamaof2London first of all congrats for your offer, very well done to your DD! I think a 30/45min commute is doable for a certain period of time, but I would consider moving closer to the school at some point should you decide to accept the offer. My DS has been commuting from W9 for 3.5yr and my DD for 1,5yr and now that our 3' DS got a place we are moving closer to Highgate. Many children commute yes, but I do not think it is ideal in the long term, just my view. Good luck for the other school!

@Leapfrog80 In my experience, the demographic at HG is evolving, I have noticed a big change from my DS's in Y6 and my DD in Y4. Yes, some very wealthy families and some much less, I do not have any problems with my children mixing with others from different backgrounds. Our experience so far has been great, but living closer to the school is indeed an advantage. Just one consideration: the 11+ is extremly competitive, much more than the 7+s which - this year - felt more and more crowded than 2 and 4 years ago when my older children sat them.

@Leapfrog80, is it OK if I drop you a PM?