Henrietta Barnett (HBS) Vs Dr Challoner's High School, Amersham

[rmann5050]

Folks,
My daughter has secured a place in final 250 to be considered by Henrietta Barnett for 11plus entry. She has also cleared Bucks 11plus. I am now a little lost to make a final decision and need help.

HBS is very high in schools leagues however I would like to know how is life in school in terms of children overall development and if there is emphasis only on academic achievements or there is extra curricular activities to mix fun with studies.

I need to make a decision in next 3-4 days so a quick response will be of huge help.

Cheers.

Both schools have a very good reputation. No children at either, but I have only heard positive things about both. If it were my child, I would be taking the journey into consideration. How long will it take to get to each school?

I would choose the school nearer to home. As they get older and homework increases its beneficial to have more time to spend on homework Also friends will be nearer so you wont be driving all over the place.

Exactly what ThreeBee has said.

Good luck!

Unless you are prepared to move house, go to the nearer school (assume Dr C).

No school is worth a ludicrous commute. Even with the best teaching, pastoral care etc etc, your child would be miserable and under-perform.

If you're prepared to move much nearer, it's a different question.

Do I gather you do not yet have a place at HB? You are at the final cut stage? Accept Dr Challoners and you can always pull out later if you wish. I would actually take the one with less travel time and the easiest to get to. Dr C is a great school and if it is local to you I would take it.

They are miles away from each other. If you live in or close to Bucks and don't intend to move then please don't subject your daughter to a horrendous journey, it will far outweigh the perceived advantage of a school which scores slightly higher on the league tables.

Folks, Cannot thank you enough for your time and suggestions here? I guess we have just moved into Amersham to be in catchment area of Dr C hence moving closer to HBS is fine.

In terms of seat in HBS, nothing has been confirmed to anyone except that my daughter is not in final list of 250 which school will be sharing with local allocation authority.

We, parent now need to fill in CAF form with our preference. I want to you from my fellow mumsnet member, which school should be given first priority? HBS or Dr C assuming we can move close to both schools.
Thanking in anticipation with warm Regards.

Whichever one you like most BUT assume that your dd will actually get Dr C, realistically. If she is not in the top 250 at HBS, she will not get a place, sorry.

But the rule for the forms is ALWAYS PUT THE ONE YOU WANT MOST AT THE TOP. If HBS is your dd's first choice, then by all means put it first. Dr Cs will not know it is second - but if you don't put HBS first your dd will not get a place there even if a miracle occurs and the first 250 all magically decide to go elsewhere.

But prepare yourself and your dd to actually end up at Dr Cs - HBS never goes beyond the first 250 as it is too popular.

Thanks breadandbutterfly.
Extremely sorry, my typo- she is IN 250.
So, we have real chance for HBS and Dr C. We need to decide between the 2.
Cheers,

Honestly.....go to Dr Challoners and stay in Amersham. The upheaval is not worth it. I have never heard of anyone in Amersham considering moving away for such a small difference in schools. The likely outcome for your daughter will be the same. Many people are so proud of their girls going to DR Challoners and I think you should be too, especially as you moved to be in catchment. Why bother if you really wanted something else?

Actually OP you are giving very conflicting information. You say you have just moved into Amersham and then you say you say you need to move to be closer to both schools. If you are not a Bucks resident there is a cut off date for outside applicants to be in catchment. You are playing two systems here and it is dangerous because many parents will be appealing to get a place at Dr C and you will need proof of residency. You need to get a move on and get into the catchment area if you are not there already.

Thanks LittleSiouxieSue.
We are living in Amersham for last 5 months or so, just 0.5 miles away from Dr C.
Daughter is in top 250 of HBS and also got very good score in her 11+ Bucks exam.
We are little lost by FT ranks difference ( HBS at 7 and Dr at 107).

Honestly ranking can change so much year on year. HB may be marginally better but Dr C is frequently in the top 100. If you compare results there will not be huge differences. You must remember that HB takes girls from a wider geographical area than Dr Challoners. It is more selective so will get, and should get, better results. When my DD took 11+ six children in her class got the maximum mark, 5 of them girls, so plenty of high achieving children around in Bucks but other children will be borderline grammar school in Bucks and not stand a chance at HB. In South Bucks in excess of 30% of children will get to a grammar school and in some primary schools this will be a higher percentage. If your DD has a near maximum Bucks mark, you might get a place at HB, butI cannot imagine any other parents in Amersham ever considering chasing a place at HB. I have never come across any.

HBS is good, yes, but not uniquely so (I went there). It gets top results because it is highly selective; those pupils get the school the good results, not the other way around.

If your dd is capable of getting into HBS, she'll be capable of getting good results at Dr Cs.

Is it really worth moving her twice within a year (to say nothing of the rest of your family)?

Thanks LittleSiouxieSue & breadandbutterfly for your thoughts, much appreciated.