Henrietta Barnett School - share your experience please

[cartey]

Hi, my DD was offered a place at HBS and is starting in September.
I would be very grateful to get an insight on the quality of education offered, the music, the school trips, the teachers, the single sex element, opportunities offered for the girls, etc
Is it a very 'pushy', competitive school? Do the girls need to be tutored once they get in? What is the athmosphere - friendly or tense?

All your experiences will be very much appreciated.

Isn't it better to ask this kind of qu before applying??

I went there - was v relaxed then, despite being top of first ever league table, released the year I left. But I chose not to send my dd as it seemed to have become v pressurised. Maybe the fault of all those bloody league tables? Also, it used to be largely a local school - now girls from all over London.

But hopefully lots of mothers of dds there now will tell you I'm wrong.

The plus points haven't changed - its geography (in the middle of nowhere) and alll girls means there is relatively little pressure about appearance. No boys for miles! Plus single sex means better behaviour in lessons. Generally, I loved the single sex aspect.

Downsides - rubbbish sports facilities.

Anyone who tutors their girls once at a good school is mad and/or their dd is at the wrong school.

I left HB 17 years ago. I hated it, though I might have had a hard time anywhere. You definitely need some input from parents of current or recent pupils.

I was bullied, marginalised, needed tutoring in 2 subjects at GCSE and 1 at A-level. In one subject I had 9 different teachers during the 2 year A- level course. At one point in upper sixth a friend and I decided we were getting so little out of the "revision" lessons (for that read cramming classes for girls who had not paid attention earlier in the course) that we stopped going (with our parents' consent) and studied in the local library instead. We got into so much trouble.

I also felt pressurised into following a career that I wasn't sure about and have ended up hating. Admittedly some of the pressure came from home though. The career that really interested me was based on a hobby that was considered dead end and childish, and I was steered away from it. Actually, I could have done as well with that as with what I currently do. Sorry, can't be more specific as it will out me. My friend had almost identical thing happen.

Most of the girls were fairly local (the odd one from Edgeware or Kenton) but now they come from all over London, not great for socialising.

OTOH I noted very little shortage of boys! We did joint hockey with Christ's College, and had a "Biology Club" with them too.

Just to say, 17 years is a very long time. Sadly.

A close friend has a child in year 7 now. We very nearly sent our older daughter there, too. My friend's child is having a marvellous time; finds the work and atmosphere stimulating. She is making some good friends.

When we looked at state and independent schools in N and W London in late 2010, I thought Mr Blond, the current head, much the most impressive. He seemed really keen to impart the love of learning to his pupils. One of his goals was to try to persuade the girls that getting all questions right was not everything - I think (this is my interpretation) that he felt that too many were choosing Maths A level just because it's easy to see when you're answering a question correctly. He's introducing more drama, English and Oxbridge training.

FWIW, I completely agree with breadandbutterfly about not tutoring if you're lucky enough to have your child at an excellent school. HBS is one of the best in the country.

Thank you all for your comments.
I suppose I should have asked this question before applying but had not discovered this forum then :)
I had a gut feeling that this was the right school for my dd and she fell in love with it, so we'll see how it goes. I also liked the Headmaster and the ethos of the school!
Thank you nonetheless!

there are quite a few comments on HBS on the elevenplusexams website. have a look there.

Hi OP - hope you don’t mind me posting after all this time... I’m starting to look at schools for my daughter and HB looks very attractive in some respects but there are some worrying things - not least the really tragic suicide of an HB girl three years ago and reports of high levels of self harm and anorexia among girls at the school. Did your daughter go in the end? How was her experience? How did the school handle the awful sadness of the death of a pupil and do you think they have stronger / better pastoral care now? Thanks in advance!