Advice on North London Schools

[mumster70]

Hello - does anyone know anyone who goes to The Mount School in Mill Hill or South Hampstead High? I hear good things about both but would appreciate some insider knowledge. I have considered both these choices for my DD in 2011 as well as Coldfall which we are in the catchment for. I'm also trying to find out a bit more about the assessment interviews. Thanks

My DCs don't go to either but do go to other N London indi schools and I know parents of girls who have moved to/from the above schools. They are v different and suit very different girls.
The Mount (from what I have heard) prides itself on getting excellent results from average and below average girls and is v good for SEN such as dyslexia. Girls I know who have gone there failed to get into Belmont/Mill Hill(not known for being the pushiest schools!). Up to age 11 the classes are very small and some mums I know felt they were too small for young children to have a choice of friends.
South Hampstead - a great school if you have an academic DD who enjoys learning and won't wilt under pressure. Some girls I know love it and feel energised and inspired, others felt it was all a bit too much. HTH

Thanks for the info, out of interest is there a stand out Indie school you would recommend? I'm a bit new to all this. Naturally I've had to consider cost but also popularity. Schools like Highgate have huge waiting lists and the best way in seems to be the Pre-School whose hours don't suit. I've heard good things about N London Collegiate but it's not practical distance wise. Also have you had any feedback on Coldfall (state) Primary in N10?

There can't be a stand-out school really as that wouldn't address the fact that different children will thrive in different types of schools and what works for one might not for another.

You really need to go and visit the ones on a shortlist you draw up.

Highgate practically impossible to get into at 3+ unless you are an old pupil or your dc is a younger sibling (which they're not).

Thanks, yes by stand out I meant the balance between the pastoral, Academic for those on that path and those who find it more of a stretch but I guess that is perhaps dreamland. Thanks again

Have you looked at The New Model School Company? They now have 2 primary schools in north london. I went to see Maple Walk recently which has a brand new building and facilities in Willesden. I thought it was lovely and also has a great ethos and is about half the cost of most independent schools in London

If you are in catchment for Coldfall - have you looked at Channing? Good reputation and cheaper than Highgate. Also Palmers Green High School for Girls- I don't know it personally but it seems to perfprm OK in league tables according to ParentPower in The Times. Also In Muswell Hill there is a small indi prep called Norfolk House.
Regarding waiting lists - they are more or less irrelevant for 7+ and 11+ entry as the children are assessed by exams and interviews. The only thing is that some schools close their lists after they hit a certain number.
I don't know Coldfall school I'm afraid.
How old is your DD?

mumster70 - will follow with interest, as I am looking at much the same options for 2011. FWIW - I know quite a few people with DCs at Coldfall in the last year or two and the feedback is very positive. I'm personally ex-South Hampstead - it was relatively academic, but didn't bother me particularly. Also very good for music if your DD is that way inclined.

GoldysMum - yes thanks I did look at the New Model School Company but thought the commute would be too much from N10. Also when I rang them 9 months to a year ago they told me they had a huge waiting list. I should maybe contact them again but unless they had a school bus system then I'm not sure it would work.

lovelyboots - I did consider Channing but I spoke to a couple of friends/neighbours and whilst they didn't say anything negative about the teaching they did comment that the parents/atmosphere was fairly snobby which is not at all what I'm after. Obviously one needs to make their own judgments but it's hard to do so from just an Open Day, I then read that someone thought the same thing somewhere actually it may have been on this site. You read my mind though about Palmers Green who I am about to contact, but thanks for the reference. I also contacted Norfolk House 9 months or so again and they said their waiting lists were fairly full for 4+ entry. I've heard good things about the school but hear that it doesn't have a lot of facilities for sport for example and stuff needs to be done off-site. My daughter is 2.5 at the moment, seems like early days but clearly not when it comes to schooling! Regarding 4+ entry, it's still as you know for the majority of indi schools down to assessment with most Reception years only taking 24 out of a couple of hundred or more applicants.

TheInvisibleHand - good luck to you with any choices/decisions. I'm not too hung up on 4+ entry and may try for 7+ but it's good to get feedback from a wide range of sources. The feedback on Coldfall has all been very positive and I was schooled all the way through on the state system and did very well generally and academically so I'll keep all the options open.

Just to say on the New Model School Company, as they've opened a new school recently I have heard that there is more availability now as double the places, one in Kensal Rise, one in Willesden, but I guess it is quite far from N10 unless there are other people who you could do a rota with.

By the way, you were asking about South Hampstead - I know lots of people who have sent there kids there for senior school and been very happy with it. It is academically very pushy but they do get amazing results. I think it is very difficult to get in at junior school as there are so few places. I know people who got into North London but not South Hampstead, so I imagine it is harder. However, close by is another girls school called St Christpher's in Belsize Park which I have heard very good reports on and a lot of the girls go on to South Hampstead from there.

Coldfall is an excellent school. I have 3 children there.

verytellytubby - that's what I like to hear. Thanks. I don't know why so many people are hung up on Tetherdown and I don't hear so much about Coldfall.

Goldysmum - thanks, still a bit too far. I wish they would open something a bit nearer. When I spoke to them they had no plans.

My daughter went to NOrth London collegiate school. There is no better one I suspect in the country - it is often the best for Alevel results of every school state and private in the UK . Well worth travelling to get into.

Thanks Xenia, I remember it looked a bit pricey, but I've heard excellent things and it's on top of all the league tables. I will contact them again.

Mumster - its interesting but a friend who toured both Coldfall and Tetherdown this year was much more impressed by Coldfall. She thought the Coldfall headmistress came across as really dynamic and the kids bright and motivated. I'm a bit worried that we may fall out of the catchment for 2011 as we're on the edge (N2)and the school is def getting more popular.

Re grounds etc if that has put you off Norfolk House, you should know that South Hampstead is pretty rubbish on that score too.

The travel thing is tricky - I might well be happy to travel with DD at age 11 or maybe even 7, but trekking e.g. to Stanmore every day (for North London) seems a bit tough on a 4/5 year old!

TheInvisibleHand - think there is a school bus from Muswell Hill to North London but obviously not suitable for Reception years. Hope you get into the school of your choice. We live 5 mins away from Coldfall so unless the catchment shrinks to literally those living in the playground then hopefully my DD will have a chance of getting in.

I was at Durnsford Park and all the Norfolk House children were using the park facilities. Coldfall has lovely grounds. The teachers are very committed to the school as are most of the parents. I guess the plus size to Norfolk house (and any private school) would be the class size. DC's are in a class of 30. I believe it's the quality of the school that makes 30 seem ok in a class.

And our other daughter caught a school bus to Haberdashers just before she turned 5. She's now 25 and doing pretty well and I think the coach was a good thing, they had a lovely older girls looking after younger ones on it and I really don't think it did her any harm. I doubt she'd be earning what she is in the City now if she'd not gone to Habs at 5, taken the coach, become independent and all the rest.... a long time ago but I wouldn't be put off putting clever sensible little girls on private school supervised coach journeys.

Thanks mumster - good luck with you decisions.

Xenia - I went through the private school system myself and am city solicitor (I think in your field) so am well aware of the potential advantages. My brother used to trek across from North London to St Pauls (his choice) and he obviously gained a lot from his choice of school, but did it at 12/13 not younger and it was pretty demanding compared to the 10 minute walk I had to school at the time. Helpful to know that there is the possibility of supervised journeys though.

Xenia - Thanks for the testimonials, it all helps. From the day my DD popped out she has been fiercely independent so I doubt she will even want me to walk her to school ! I was much the same in character, I went through the state school system and did law. I am now in the media business. I had no choice but to put her into a nursery at 8 months 5 days a week and I must say it has done her the world of good. She is a very sociable sharp tough cookie already at 2.5yrs. I hope she can maintain that in the right environment.

verytellytubby - I didn't know Norfolk House used Durnsford Park - doesn't the state Secondary nearby use it as well? Guess they have a rota.

Anyway it's a very molly coddled thing to drive the child in a warm car to school coach stop and then put her on that with children she sees every single day and the coach drives direct to the school. The only problem we had with daughter 1 (and at one point our 3 older children were all getting school coaches to 3 privaetg schools from the same point just about and it worked fine particularyl if you work because you can leave them earlier so it solves the pre school care issue too by the way and after school particularly if it's a child who wants to be in sports teams and the school has late coach and also late late coach which ours had) was she was scatty so she sometimes left kit on the coach and the ability to get your homework done on the coach might or might not be a useful skill. It certainly made it easier once she got home for the parent. A great system.

What about Grange Park Prep School (www.gpps.org) it is 15 minutes drive from Muswell Hill, 11 minutes by train from Hornsey Station or 9 minutes from Bowes Park Station.

It is a nice small girls school, girls are lovely, parents are friendly and the girls get into good schools.