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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

City of London Boys

29 replies

hanette · 21/09/2010 23:04

Hi - Does anyone know how difficult the entrance exams are for City of London Boys and Northbridge House (NW1)? Have only just started the tutoring for my DS - had relied on the academy in Swiss Cottage opening but now it will be delayed for a year I am stuck. Because I wasn't planning on private sector I had no idea I should have started tutoring a YEAR ago! Help - anyone got any advice please? And does anyone know how hard it is to get into either of these two schools? Help much appreciated.

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animula · 21/09/2010 23:14

City of London Boys is one of the more testing exams. They have examples of all the papers on their website. You might also try asking them which areas of the curriculum your ds will be expected to have covered. I think I knew that at one point, so maybe that information is available too.

If you're going to tutor for CoLB, then you might as well apply for some of the grammars too, you know.

Original poster
hanette · 21/09/2010 23:18

Thank you. Yes I suspected it might be quite tough. I have also applied to Queen Elizabeth Boys in Barnet but that seemed so dauntin when we visited. I feel out of my depth! I went to a v good comp and I never imagined I'd be here. I had a look at the past papers at COLB and they seemed pretty challenging. He's just started with a tutor 2 hrs on a sunday and we do an hour every night. Do you think there's enough time to get him exam ready by Jan?

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Original poster
hanette · 21/09/2010 23:20

by the way I meant daunting, my keyboard is difficient, I am not a rapper!

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controlfreakery · 22/09/2010 00:01

cls is very competitive for 11+ entry. 600 odd boys took the exam in January '10 for 60 odd places. The website gives good info with past papers etc. Northbridge house much less academically selective. These are very different types of school, where else are you thinking of? UCS? Portland Place? Highgate? What does current school / tutor think about what would suit your ds / what is realistic?

Original poster
hanette · 22/09/2010 00:05

Thanks CF. Sounds terrible but my reason for Northbridge is cos it is a 3 min walk away from home! And CoLB has a footy scholarship scheme which I thought might be an option though obv a v long shot. Head recommended an academic school for DS as he has done well at his state primary...but there's a lot of diff in being top set for maths in a state primary and passing entrance exams. crikey 10:1 is pretty pressured. TBH if he could get in Northbrige it would make everything easy day to day...except the finances of course! is it seen as a back up school for those who didn't get into the top private schools? Advice welcomed

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Original poster
hanette · 22/09/2010 00:07

ps UCH i was put off by the non-competitive side, seemed a bit touchy feely, is this too swift a judgement? Highgate I liked but am purely looking at the extra £1k per term....

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controlfreakery · 22/09/2010 00:13

which school do you like? what do you think will suit your ds? has he been to visit the schools you have in mind?
if you really want him at cls and and he's up for it then go for it. January is still a way off. He needs to practice using entrance papers / verbal and non verbal reasoning (ask tutor). Let him know you want him to do his best but that it's no big deal... (and have a back up plan!). good luck.

Original poster
hanette · 22/09/2010 00:16

hey thanks CF. He is v keen on northbridge because it is so near but we are going to the open day at CoL on 21st so perhaps he'll be up for that too. i think we'll give them both a go and also visit others. we've been doing endless verbal/non-verbal and he is getting better. you never know...! (is it just me who finds them hard?!) :-)

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Original poster
hanette · 22/09/2010 00:18

ps back up plan is St Aloysious RC in Archway, appears to have gone from bottom to top of league but my heart's not in it. Open day 7/10 - anyone who knows about this school i'd love to hear

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blameme · 22/09/2010 04:52

St Aloysius has a sparkling new building but apparently with a lot of problems - the staff walked out! Having said that, it does seem to be doing better academically than other state schools in Islington (that's not saying much). Would you meet the religious criteria?

Never visited Northbridge but I always thought it was less competitive than London boys' schools and possibly a bit touchy-feely as well! Personally I quite liked UCS but pastoral care is quite important to me.

Have you looked at Latymer grammar as well as QE?

CoLB also have interviews and ask for reports from the primary Head as well as the exam, I expect most of the other private schools do as well - you'll need to get advice and practice from the tutor if he gets to that stage.

norflondoner · 22/09/2010 04:53

CoL is fiendishly difficult to get into because its a numbers game and its convenient location means there are boys applying from all over london.

Its quite a different school from NBH. I know some kids at NBH both at prep and senior levels. Its a nice school and they are all happy, its not very pushy and is very small.

St Aloysius on the other hand is completely different. I know boys who go there as well, it is definitely improving but is still far from being considered the desirable school in the area. The academic results may be the best in Islington but they are distorted by their BTEC equivalents, so don't compare their GCSE results directly with other schools. Your DS will need to be quite robust to survive the atmosphere there - just hang around near the school at opening and closing times and you'll see what I mean.

Acland Burghley or William Ellis are considered far more desirable than St Aloysius by families in the neighbouring schools.

norflondoner · 22/09/2010 05:00

Have another look at UCS if your son is academic. NBH could be considered as "touchy feely" as UCS but definitely not as academic.
If NBH is local to you then UCS wouldn't be much of a trek.

Highgate is quite different, a very focused and self obsessed school imo. not my cup of tea at all.

TheBossofMe · 22/09/2010 05:11

What about Habs Boys? Its pretty academic but also has lots of bursaries, lots of emphasis on sport, music, drama etc and used to be one of the cheaper good boys day schools. Great coach service as well, covers your area, so school run less of a problem.

Original poster
hanette · 22/09/2010 09:04

Thanks everyone for all this - v helpful. I will definately look at UCS again. I was put off by the fact they don't ring bells between lessons but in hindsight that's a bit rash to discount it! i'll also take a look at Habs. Wish I lived in catchment areas for William Ellis or Acland Burley, Sound Camden is my most likley state option...

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animula · 22/09/2010 11:24

I'm just flagging up the poster who suggested Latymer grammar school (in Edmonton). State grammar school. Just in case you missed it.

Seems to me, if your ds is trying for CoL you've nothing to lose entering the gs exams (providing, of course, your ds can actually travel to it with a reasonable journey!).

Original poster
hanette · 22/09/2010 12:12

Thanks - yes I did look at latymer, the only worry is the journey as it would invovle several changes. i worked out though that a cab each morning might be cheaper than paying private school fees!

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norflondoner · 22/09/2010 14:43

if you live in NW postcode then you won't be able to take the Latymer test . They put a restriction on which postcodes you can apply from.

Merchant Taylors is another one to consider.
How about Hampstead School - that's on a par with William Ellis etc.

Original poster
hanette · 22/09/2010 14:51

Hi Yes I met the Hampstead head at an open day and it all seemed promising. Travel there is do-able, do you know anyone who attends?

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Original poster
hanette · 22/09/2010 14:52

Hey I see Merchant Taylors do a sports scholarship too - thanks for the tip off!

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Original poster
hanette · 22/09/2010 14:59

Anyone know about POrtland Place? They do a sports scholarship but it seems academically very non-competitive. Advice appreaciated

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norflondoner · 22/09/2010 15:40

I have met people whose DC go to Hampstead and seemed happy with it. Its one of those schools that is quite mixed but seems to have a large enough cohort of ambitious pupils and parents that means it works for most.
Portland place definitely the reputation as more supportive, kinder etc.
Have you read the good schools guide?

firegarden · 22/09/2010 23:14

You've nothing to lose by trying for CofL and don't be put off by the 10:1 stats. All the boys are trying for lots of different schools and they can only accept one offer. So in reality it's probaby more like 4:1. I think Northbridge House is a much gentler school and definitely way easier to get into. It's also very small which may or may not suit your ds. Highgate is co-ed and so different to all the other private schools you mention. And although it's a bit more per term I know that the fees include lunches and all books etc so there are really very few of the extras that you'll find you have to pay for at other schools.

nlondondad · 23/09/2010 15:50

I would point out that it is well worth your son having the practice of taking several entrance examinations.

Original poster
hanette · 23/09/2010 16:41

Thanks that's a good point. Northbridge entrance test is 7th Oct which seems incredibly early - I wonder if they do that to try and get the offers of places out before the other schools so some parents will decide not to put their DC through the entrance exams for the other competitive schools?

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lazymumofteenagesons · 23/09/2010 17:43

If Head of your son's primary school recommended an academic senior school, then avoid Northbridge and Portland Place.

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