Highgate Primary or tetherdown

[MWHmama]

Hi

i was wondering if anyone has any current experience with either tetherdown or Highgate primary school? I am moving my daughter who is currently in year 1. I have applied for a in year move to tetherdown and Highgate primary. I am yet to receive any information regarding waiting lists or spaces. I have an up and coming tour with Highgate and have heard great things.

tetherdown I saw years ago and can’t see it again until sept which by then we may have been offered a place.

i am looking for a creative, kind, nurturing school that doesn’t have behavioural issues/bullying or high levels of special needs in one classroom.

my daughter is sensitive to noise and would thrive in a nurturing environment.

any feedback would be much appreciated. Thank you

They are both nice schools, but there is no school which can guarantee that there won't be high levels of special needs in a given classroom. Even if there aren't at the moment, that could easily change. In the same way, there are no schools which don't have bullying or behavioural issues, it's just how these are dealt with. The SENDCo at Tetherdown is excellent and very experienced, I don't know about Highgate. I'm surprised you can't get to see Tetherdown before next term, though, lots of primary schools have weekly tours for prospective parents. You could also consider St Michaels and Muswell Hill Primary.

Thank you that’s really insightful. Yes I do mean more how bullying is dealt with and if dealt with well and in regards to special needs, I am not against inclusion but my daughters current class has 6 highly special needs plus more children who haven’t had a diagnosis yet or have some behavioural problems. It’s causing a lot of distress for the children who don’t have special needs. This is the main reason we are moving. I just don’t want to make a mistake and move somewhere that has similar problems.

Like someone mentioned above, there is no guarantee that the class won’t have kids with special needs. Our daughter’s class has so many kids with special needs and it’s such an inclusive classroom. Where everyone is aware of autism, adhd, anxiety etc. So many kids wear noise defenders, some have puttys to use in the class, some use loop earplugs, some have wobble cushions, some require regular movement breaks, some eat in a quiet space during lunch,…so having kids with special needs is not all that bad.
But I do get that if there is regular disruptions in classroom that might be distressing your child, and perhaps your current school isn’t handling the situation well. So you are doing the right thing by moving her.
I toured Tetherdown and have heard excellent things about Highgate primary. Both excellent schools. Although very different.

Hi thank you for your advice. I think my original post came out wrong (sleep deprived with a baby and stressed out of my head about schools with my 6 year old) I am 100% all for inclusivity I believe in it but as long as it’s managed well and all children can thrive not survive a classroom. My eldest daughter who is in year 5 has many children with adhd and Autism in her class but it’s managed well as I think these children are not high on the spectrum so she’s has no problems with noise levels or disruption and as a academic child she loves school. The problem I’m having with my youngest is she has 4 or 5 children in her class who need one on one provision which they just don’t have as only 2 children actually have a diagnosis. My daughter finds her class room so disruptive we have resorted to giving her headphones in class for when children are screaming and trying to escape classrooms. when she comes home from school she is an emotional mess. It has been agreed with other parents the situation with her class is not being dealt with well and has a long road ahead. I’m happy to move her but my biggest issue is to where and whether it’s just the same everywhere or do other schools have better provisions for making inclusive classrooms calm for all children. It’s a tricky one and I understand there is no perfect school environment and there are alot of parents who share many frustrations whether dealing with a send child or a neurotypical child who is struggling with noise levels. But I’m hoping to find a better environment than the one we currently have. Although she doesn’t want to leave her friends we have to do something to help her.

i have been to see Highgate and have been offered a place now! so I’m hoping all goes well and she can thrive and come home a little less deregulated.