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Original poster

UCS - why the negative comparisons?

25 replies

mumofboys44 · 03/02/2023 16:26

Posting in primary and secondary as would be interested to hear opinions from both. DS has been given a 7+ offer to study at UCS - we are delighted. We feel it's a lovely school, nurturing although high academic standards, in a lovely part of London, we really loved the headteacher and feel our DS will be happy there.

We also applied to Highgate, City and contemplated Habs but chose not to in the end owing to distance. DS didn't get into to Highgate or City but we are okay with this as UCS was our first choice.

Telling some people about our offer from UCS, they seem to be a bit "sorry", as if it was a shame he didn't get into Highgate. I don't understand. Why the negativity? UCS is a great school? Okay it doesn't have the league table results of WUS or St Pauls but I don't think I'd want my DS chugging into central London on the tube every day and being pushed to breaking point. Please help me understand - maybe I'm just talking to the wrong people but we are really happy and proud to be offered a place at UCS! Is it not considered "as good" a school??

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user2729 · 03/02/2023 16:56

@mumofboys44 I know exactly what you mean...DS has an offer from City and we also get the 'weird' looks as he did not get through after interviews at KCJS/SPJ..now I feel awkward telling people about City

smokeandfire · 03/02/2023 18:18

UCS is a brilliant school, part of the 12 Eton group of schools - Westminster, Eton, KCS, St Pauls boys, Highgate, Dulwich, etc. Anyone outside the bitchy parents of one-upmanship knows it a top school, in fact UCS is one of the best schools in the country, but for certain circles, its a second choice to St Pauls or Westminster, the same types who think its Oxbridge or bust. In other words assholes you shouldn't be listening to.

The fact is the academic results between a school like UCS and Westminster isn't large, in fact its tiny. The differences between St Pauls Girls as the gold standard and any London private day school is small a few percent.

The only top school is the one that fits your DC

FourFour · 03/02/2023 18:43

We had offers from two of the other 'top schools' and chose UCS! Anyone who thinks this is a shame is ridiculous. One of the schools felt like you would just be a number in the crowd and the other put me right off as on the open day the kids conducting the tours felt very highly strung and rehearsed. So not everyone wants the top schools just to brag about the name. We felt the exact same as you about UCS, and the first thing that anyone who has kids there describes it as is nurturing. There is great value in a nurturing school.

bstrong0805 · 03/02/2023 20:06

We haven’t made our choice yet but UCS is def one of the top on our list. We loved the school and felt very positively about it. It isn’t the SPJ or WUS type of school but those schools really don’t suit everyone !

Chickensoup4567 · 03/02/2023 20:33

UCS is very heavily sought after so don’t listen to it. It’s virtually impossible to get into at 11 so taking a Junior Branch place is a very sensible (and fortunate) option.

One size does not fit all - different schools suit different children (and their parents’ needs). I personally don’t like one of the popular local schools to us (for my three) but I accept that other people do. I’d chose UCS over other NW options.

Totally agree that the difference in academic output between these schools is marginal. Go with the one that feels right for you!

Toddlingturtle · 03/02/2023 20:43

Remember most of the NW London crowd don’t even have WUS or St Paul’s on their radar: it’s city, Habs or UCS. It’s usually decided by the location. The only observation I have is that due to location UCS, at junior level especially is more wealthy than Habs or city but it’s def not second tier amongst the people I know

Toddlingturtle · 03/02/2023 20:45

Chickensoup4567 · 03/02/2023 20:33

UCS is very heavily sought after so don’t listen to it. It’s virtually impossible to get into at 11 so taking a Junior Branch place is a very sensible (and fortunate) option.

One size does not fit all - different schools suit different children (and their parents’ needs). I personally don’t like one of the popular local schools to us (for my three) but I accept that other people do. I’d chose UCS over other NW options.

Totally agree that the difference in academic output between these schools is marginal. Go with the one that feels right for you!

And my choice would always be city but that doesn’t take away from the others

Chickensoup4567 · 03/02/2023 20:55

Agree. My top would be City but I wasn’t classifying that as pure NW.

Chickensoup4567 · 03/02/2023 21:13

Further thought, I’d rather have a happy child than bragging rights about which school my child goes to (although I may be unusual in that in some parts of London)! 😀 The end result is so similar that wherever your child is happy is the main thing!

p.s. I’ve seen kids struggle to get into top schools at 7 and 11 and then emerge at 16 and 18 as great academic successes so it’s all up for grabs with no expiry date at 7 or 11!

Lily7050 · 03/02/2023 21:19

My colleague lives near Swiss Cottage station. I do not know which pre-prep his two DC attended. They took 11+ route, DD travels NLCS and DS to City. I am not sure what is wrong with UCS. I will ask him if I remember next time I see him in the office.

Toddlingturtle · 03/02/2023 21:23

Lily7050 · 03/02/2023 21:19

My colleague lives near Swiss Cottage station. I do not know which pre-prep his two DC attended. They took 11+ route, DD travels NLCS and DS to City. I am not sure what is wrong with UCS. I will ask him if I remember next time I see him in the office.

The girl def won’t be there as they don’t take girls vefore 6th form. I sat my DS for all of them. UCS just didn’t do it for us and it was our third choice but it really is a pick between really equal schools

Caps0218 · 03/02/2023 22:05

UCS is a good school, I would say it’s on the same level as Highgate and probably City.
But anyone who thinks the above 3 schools are on the same level as St Paul’s / Westminster is wrong…those 2 are and will always be the prestigious ones.
nevertheless, well done to your DS….UCS is a good school and hard to get into.

FlawlessSquid · 04/02/2023 15:11

UCS is a great school! Every UCS parents I know are very happy with their time there! It is our top choice apart from the top 3 London day school.

bstrong0805 · 04/02/2023 20:10

@Caps0218 agree with that too. SPJ and WUS I would agree are in a slightly different league.

Mumofboys25 · 08/02/2023 23:24

We’ve chosen UCS because of how nurturing it is. The head knows every kids name. Apart from the fact it’s on our doorstep, I haven’t heard one bad thing about it. My neighbour pulled her child out of Highgate for being bullied as the school did not handle the situation well. Well done to your son xxx

ASHAcoach · 12/02/2023 20:59

Has anyone received an offer from UCS to start year 7 2023? Wanted to know their thoughts! We have received a few offers and very confused !

ACYW939 · 16/02/2023 01:01

Hi, my son got an offer from USC Y7 entry in 2023. Happy to discuss the choices.

Momto1boy · 22/02/2023 09:14

Hello, My son received an offer for Year 7 2023 too. We have accepted the offer as this is his top choice.

mdh2020 · 22/02/2023 09:40

UCS was our top, if not only , choice and our DS loved it and did very well there as did all his friendship group. Very nurturing and caring and they encourage the boys in whatever they are interested in. Only wish we could have afforded it from 7 instead of 11.

ASHAcoach · 22/02/2023 12:18

Hi
We have received an offer too and looking forward to joining.
I am worried about the commute though as live in Winchmore Hill but I think it’s worth it!

crazymama123 · 26/02/2023 09:13

Very luckily we have a choice between UCS, Highgate, Westminster and City but we're not going to take Westminster (have to stay 2 more years at prep school which we don't want to do, and i don't think it would suit DS as well as the other schools), and city feels too urban and the sports fields are miles away. So we're choosing between UCS and Highgate and are really struggling! Any thoughts between the two schools would be much appreciated. UCS has more recently refurbished facilities and a later start time than Highgate, which is a big plus, but DS really wants Highgate...

FlawlessSquid · 26/02/2023 10:00

Biggest difference would be single sex or co-Ed. Once you decided on this, then it’s clear.

Mumofboys25 · 26/02/2023 19:54

Ucs is coed for a levels. For us I would say location was the biggest deciding factor.

nw1ldn · 21/02/2024 09:01

It’s my child’s 2nd year at UCS senior. We chose it over City and Westminster. It’s proved to be a lovely nurturing and academically challenging environment. There will always be people who have negative stories from all schools

Cemcem08 · 15/02/2025 14:33

Could you let me know when the senior part of UCS starts in the mornings (what time? Also is there earliest drop off options and any breakfast chance at the school? My son has to travel at least 50 min to reach the school if we chose UCS and there is no way he would have breakfast at home as he is already struggling having a breakfast at normal time

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