Decent secondary schools in north london (independent or state)

[Loopylooni]

Hi - we are in Hendon and looking for good secondary schools. Happy to look at independent or grammar if we get in. Any ideas - ideally somewhere reasonably academic.

Girl or boy?

@pinkfleece girl, thanks!

bump!

We are thinking NLCS, South Hampstead, Northbridge. I'm thinking location really, not too far to commute. Any other tips?

Channing, Habs Girls, Highgate (mixed), Henrietta Barnet (super selective grammar).

You mention the commute but NLCS is miles from the other schools you mention.

@NLseneca what do you think of South Hampstead

Very high pressure, academic, high achieving. A lot of people I knew from there had issues e.g. mental health, EDs etc.

In fairness though a lot of the NL girls schools are like that. On your list only Northbridge isn’t but it also isn’t the most academic school and would be seen really as a back up in case they didn’t get in anywhere else

Queenswood - has door to door transport. Lots of north London girls there. Gets the results without the stress.

Yes, from Hendon you have wide choice - , Belmont, Channing, Highgate, SHHS, St. Margaret's in Hampstead - also out to Habs, NLCS, Aldenham, Edge Grove. Depends what you are looking for academically, facilities etc. Henrietta Barnett if she is super bright (3000 applicants for 90 places).

@pinkfleece what's your view on Channing? I'm also worried about costs as I'll have two.

Less academic than others but lovely reputation for pastoral care.

With VAT you're looking at £30k per child to start and 5-10% fee inflation per year will take it to at least £45k per year per child between y7 and y13

@pinkfleece yes, that doesn't seem feasible for me sadly. We might try the exams and see.

Worth tutoring for henrietta barnett maybe. I know a few who go there from Hendon.

St Margaret's in hampstead is significantly cheaper. Small school, very good pastoral. If you visit though do ask about future leadership plans as it had a very small team including an inspirational head who very sadly had a stroke and isn't back yet, if coming at all. Goes to 16.

@pinkfleece I'm wondering whether bursaries are still around. I could maybe stretch to current st margarets but nowhere near channing

Definitely worth asking, usually info on website

Francis Holland RP is on a bus route from Hendon and might not take longer than the journey to Channing. Queen's College on the same route. Both have good reputations for pastoral care.

For me, pastoral care is key. Query : when they say bursaries not awarded to those with income largely over 4 times the annual fees , do they mean gross income or net?

I'm a therapist and I have seen a lot of clients that go to the named schools from previous posters.

It's such high pressure, a lot of depression, anxiety and peer pressure. It's so sad. I could never send my child to a private school if they're unhappy.

Hi again, does anyone know much about bursaries for SHHS and NLCS? These are ones we are considering but would need a partial bursary.