UCS from Muswell Hill or stay in state - please help!

[munchymoo]

Hi all, DS sat 7+ this year and has received an offer from UCS and a rejection from Highgate (not even on reserve list!). We didn't sit for any other schools. He's currently in a local state primary, happy ish but I think bored a lot of the time and isn't getting too much attention as he's a bright child that reaches all the required stages.

We had our heart set on Highgate as we prefer co-ed and also it's a much easier journey from Muswell Hill, so right now despite having an offer from a brilliant school, I am feeling quite emotional and disappointed.

But - onwards and upwards. The choice we have is:

a) accept UCS where I think he'd be really happy, but we have to get there and back from Muswell Hill every day, is this going to be horrendous? The traffic isn't great, parking is hard/non-existent and public transport options are very long winded so it could be really difficult, I don't want to be driving him to school until he's 18!! or

b) stay in local state primary and re-apply to Highgate/UCS/also grammars at 11+. There is a lot to be said from staying in a local school and having a good quality of life, local friends, easy walk to and from school but I don't think he is being stretched too much and if I am able to offer him more why wouldn't I? Plus the idea of sitting for 11+ is fairly stressful. AND we have 2 other younger DC, if we decide to keep DS in state now do we still allow them the chance to sit 7+, would that be unfair to not give them the chance but also unfair if they do get in somewhere and get a private education from an earlier age than DS?

Plus state is co-ed, UCS single sex - not sure I'm too happy about single sex...

I have a week to decide. DH is 100% pro sending him to UCS and says we will make it work, he is committed and will play a very active role in getting him to and from school, as would I. I am all over the place. I don't know what to do. Please help!!! Any thoughts welcome. Thank you for reading this far xxx

UCS is a wonderful school. Did you consider the journey before he sat the exam? Personally, I would accept the offer. You will probably be able to find someone to share the school trips once he is there. We chose UCS because we wanted single sex but DS joined a dramatic society so met girls anyway.

Hi OP
In my mind the idea of DS languishing in state school is the worst outcome. I understand your concerns re commute. I was in a similar situation last year : DS in state school, very bright getting bored etc, Highgate was our preferred choice too being coed, but DS didn’t get offered a place. We took a chance with UCS though it wasn’t our top choice and DS is so happy and thriving here. If I were you I would take the place at UCS at try Highagate again at 11+ if you and he still keen coed at that stage. Good luck with your decision!

@munchymoo I would take it. It’s coed from 16-18. We got a place for ucs too. Highgate reserve list. Let me know if you take it :)

If it were me, I’d 100% stay where you are for now and re apply at 11. That commute at such a young age is a nightmare, and single sex 7-11 isn’t ideal if you prefer co ed. He’s clearly a bright boy. I’d keep him local, and then apply to your ideal schools at 11. Just my two cents!

I really like UCS (I have a lot of friends with kids there) but we’re local to it and I can see your point about travel as we had to decide if it was worth it for our DD to travel for school each day.

If you remain keen on Highgate then I’d say you’d be better staying in the state system up to 11 and trying again. I believe that they have different pass marks for the exam depending on state or private primary and it would be harder to transfer from another independent than from a local state school.

We’ve just been through 7+ with my daughter and it’s a truly horrible and random process. So many really bright kids get rejected from all these schools, so try not to take it personally. Good luck with the decision.

Take UCS, fab school. Single sex at primary is better for boys.

The drive is going to be horrendous. Every day. Twice a day.

I wouldn't. Muswell Hill is blessed with great state primaries, and the commute would be awful. Could you get him additional tutoring out of school to give him that stretch?

We’ve just been through 11+ - it’s horrendous. I’d take the UCS offer without hesitation! A bird in the hand and all that. There’s no guarantee he’d get offers from Highgate or even UCS at 11+ and it’s a brutal process for the child as they are so much more aware of what is happening and affected by rejection than a 6/7 yr old.

Depends where you live in Muswell Hill but could you travel by tube (northern line changing at Camden)?

If anyone does take ucs year 3 from September, send me a pm … maybe we could get boys together before ? I’ve done the 11+ twice before, they didn’t get into ucs. … there fore did 7+

@Mumofboys25 I've got a boy starting UCS Year 3 in September - will PM you!