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Original poster

Hampstead hill or Mulberry house

39 replies

teoma · 14/10/2023 20:36

Our daughter is due to start Mulberry house in West Hampstead in a few months when she turns 2. In the meantime, we had a place offered at Hampstead Hill which is also an excellent school.

Ideally, we’d like her to sit 4+ and go to an all though school and HH is only offering to take her in Sep 2024 when she’ll be 2.9 y.o while Mulberry will take her at 2.

HH is within walking distance from home and it’s really tempting to go for the more convenient option.

I’m really lost and would appreciate any intel.

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4pluscraziness1 · 15/10/2023 11:42

Why don’t you take MHS and switch to HH at 2.9 if you’re not happy? Plenty of demand for MHS occasional spots so you’ll have no problem in terms of owing the MHS school fees.

4pluscraziness1 · 15/10/2023 11:44

Also for context my DD went to MHS (full time only after she was over 3 years old) and they did a fair job at prepping her for the 4+. She got in one of our preferred selective through schools in NLondon.

Original poster
teoma · 15/10/2023 12:13

Thanks @4pluscraziness1! Sure moving is an option, but if the children are happy and settled, why move them. I’m mostly contemplating keeping them home until they’re 2.9 y.

Happy your child did well on the assessment! Congrats on the good offer! Do you mind sharing where are went to?

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4pluscraziness1 · 15/10/2023 12:19

I get the point of not moving a happy child. That said, if you’re looking for a school that will prep your DD for a 4+ assessment process, relying on HH after she is 2.9 years old might be leaving it too late. Mind you, depending on the schools you’re looking at, some children will be tutored as of 2 years old (crazy, I know! I found that out after the fact). My DD is in Channing.

Original poster
teoma · 15/10/2023 12:58

That’s insane. We’re relying on nursery and parents input. No way I’m tutoring a 2 y.o!!

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4pluscraziness1 · 15/10/2023 13:29

Haha! I know right!

AgaMM · 15/10/2023 13:31

Wait, people tutor for the 4+?!

DS is only 2.5 but we assumed (rather naively) the 4+ is simply getting to know your child and making sure there are no behavioural problems.

4pluscraziness1 · 15/10/2023 13:36

Oh, please don’t get me started… there are numerous threads here debating this issue at length so I won’t go into it. But rather naively, I thought the same too. It really does depend on the schools being targeted but having gone through the process last year I now know for sure that people do send their 2 year olds to tutors in order to get into some of the most competitive NLondon through schools. Sad, but true.

SomeonesMum123 · 15/10/2023 13:44

There’s not much between hhs and mhs. My kids went to/go to mhs, but I also have lots of friends whose kids went to hhs. HHS now goes to 11 so should you want that it’s also a possibility.

I concur the madness that is the 4+. There is an insane amount of tutoring, especially at these two schools.

Original poster
teoma · 15/10/2023 14:09

My children are younger, but I know it’s not just fun and games, although schools might tell you that.

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Caps0218 · 15/10/2023 14:30

SomeonesMum123 · 15/10/2023 13:44

There’s not much between hhs and mhs. My kids went to/go to mhs, but I also have lots of friends whose kids went to hhs. HHS now goes to 11 so should you want that it’s also a possibility.

I concur the madness that is the 4+. There is an insane amount of tutoring, especially at these two schools.

Does HH go to 11….i don’t think so, just looked on their website….just to 7

AgaMM · 15/10/2023 14:31

4pluscraziness1 · 15/10/2023 13:36

Oh, please don’t get me started… there are numerous threads here debating this issue at length so I won’t go into it. But rather naively, I thought the same too. It really does depend on the schools being targeted but having gone through the process last year I now know for sure that people do send their 2 year olds to tutors in order to get into some of the most competitive NLondon through schools. Sad, but true.

Edited

Oh gosh, that is absolutely mental. I clicked on this thread randomly as it popped up in my active threads, but it doesn’t really apply to us as we’re looking at prep schools on the London / Hertfordshire, but I had no idea people tutor so young!

Not that it’s something we’re even going to consider - we’ve deliberately ruled out schools that are overly academic from a young age as they need to be enjoying their childhood at this age, not being prepped for assessments and exams.

But goodness, I feel like I’m about to enter a crazy new world!

IdealisticCynic · 15/10/2023 15:00

I really wouldn’t worry about choosing a nursery based on 4+ assessments. I know it feels stressful when you know lots of people are tutoring their 2 year olds (bonkers!) but schools don’t want tutored kids at 4. It can give a false sense of their natural abilities and assessors specifically look for tutoring and it goes against the child in the overall assessment (told this by a teacher at a private primary school.)

We decided last minute to apply to our closest private schools (Highgate and Channing). No preparation or tutoring and DD went to a very ordinary (occasionally a bit rubbish!) local nursery. But she was happy there. She got offers from both schools. She’s bright, but not a genius or anything.

We chose Channing (I really hated Highgate but that’s another story!) and not one of the kids in her class was tutored, and none went to a prep/ feeder nursery.

What I am really saying is don’t worry. It feels like these decisions are terrifying and and life changing. But actually, a happy child is a confident one and that (as well as one who is genuinely interested in learning) is what they appear to be looking for based on the children we know there.

Original poster
teoma · 15/10/2023 15:13

Thanks, @IdealisticCynic, that’s very reassuring! We’re really set on giving the children good education, but I don’t want to become mental in the process. Why did you dislike Highgate?

@Caps0218 HH are opening 7+ entry from autumn 2024.

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Caps0218 · 15/10/2023 15:29

teoma · 15/10/2023 15:13

Thanks, @IdealisticCynic, that’s very reassuring! We’re really set on giving the children good education, but I don’t want to become mental in the process. Why did you dislike Highgate?

@Caps0218 HH are opening 7+ entry from autumn 2024.

I noticed its 2023 results, seemed excellent….maybe an anomaly year?

6 WUS offers and 6 SPJS offers.
6 offers from HH for the 22 places at WUS….thats sensational.

IdealisticCynic · 15/10/2023 15:38

I’ll private message you about it if that’s ok? Will have to be later though because DD’s craft project has reached a very messy stage! Do feel free to nudge me tomorrow if I forget to message tonight.

Original poster
teoma · 15/10/2023 15:54

@IdealisticCynic no worries at all! Thanks for taking the time whenever you are free!

@Caps0218 is that HH? Can you share the source? Can’t find any info for next school on their page.

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Caps0218 · 15/10/2023 16:41

teoma · 15/10/2023 15:54

@IdealisticCynic no worries at all! Thanks for taking the time whenever you are free!

@Caps0218 is that HH? Can you share the source? Can’t find any info for next school on their page.

If you look at their 2023 results, it’s very impressive….though maybe an anomaly….as previous years have a couple per school.

Original poster
teoma · 15/10/2023 17:15

Yes, great record for Highgate if that’s an aspiration

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Original poster
teoma · 15/10/2023 17:18

Yes, I think 2023 was definitely a good year for them! Not such great performance for NLCS for example

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SomeonesMum123 · 15/10/2023 18:47

HHS are opening a junior school that goes to 11. You can see their instagram for confirmation. HHS results have improved as everyone is now tutoring there as well for 7+ which never happened before. In fact, this years current 7+ cohort have received multiple emails from the school discouraging it as it has become extremely widespread.

Caps0218 · 15/10/2023 18:54

SomeonesMum123 · 15/10/2023 18:47

HHS are opening a junior school that goes to 11. You can see their instagram for confirmation. HHS results have improved as everyone is now tutoring there as well for 7+ which never happened before. In fact, this years current 7+ cohort have received multiple emails from the school discouraging it as it has become extremely widespread.

Shows how tutoring can have such an impact. Personally feel the right tutor will be all about technique and how to do well in the exam….the syllabus is not difficult, parents can teach it…..the right tutor will help your get your son into the desired school.

Original poster
teoma · 15/10/2023 19:15

I’m beginning to think that placing them in the “right” nursery is just not enough. I didn’t know that’s the case with 4+ too though.

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SomeonesMum123 · 15/10/2023 19:16

NLCS only takes 7 girls at 7+ so it’s not a bad result for HHS

Original poster
teoma · 15/10/2023 19:22

Yes, I see 2 this year, still a good proportion

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