Ideas for bright girl secondary in London

[MarriedDadOneSonOneDaughter]

Having sorted out the lad, my attention turns to the lass. Currently at state primary year 3. Rated year 5/6 for Maths and year 7(!) for English. Somewhat of a perfectionist and sensitive to mistakes/failure. Very social and into performing arts and quite sporty.

I

[Ericaequites]

Choose a school of similar quality to your son's school with an easy commute and strict uniform. I went to and prefer single sex schools, but am also a childless lesbian. I had a long commute by car each day which made friendships hard. Strict uniform makes for a smaller clothing budget and fewer arguments about same.

[HPparent]

As an ex-Tiffin Girls' parent, I welcome the changes to the school admissions criteria. They are now proposing six form entry (from 4 when DD went) and giving some priority to local girls from low income families.

I think it would fare better as a "local" non super-selective grammar school. DD found Sixth form was unbearable with loads of pressure. It might slide down the league tables but it will be a much nicer place.

[AmazingDisgrace]

You can scratch Tiffin Girls off your list too, if you're in North London you won't be in catchment

[Lilymaid]

basildonbond I think you are correct!

[northlondoncat]

@marrieddadonesononedaughter NHEH is Notting Hill and Ealing High School. It is though not a top top academic school - but it is a very good school and worth looking at. If you want a genuinely happy school with good pastoral care - this is it.

[RedLobster19]

I'm sorry to jump in here, and I appreciate that it is a little late, but I must dispel the utter rubbish I am reading about state schools, in particular HBS.
I have a daughter currently in Y10 at the school and I can honestly say that sending her there was the best decision I have ever made for her. It is a fabulous school - beautiful environment, helpful and dedicated teachers, and a lovely atmosphere. Certainly not an exam hot house, as some people claim.
As for the idea that even the top state schools aren't on par with the top private schools - nonsense. Henrietta B is currently among the top 5 schools in the country, with GCSE and A-Level results rising every year.
The hideous claims that LauraBridges is making about parents at the school are simply untrue. Girls come from a wide variety of social, cultural, and economic backgrounds, which is one of the things which makes the school so amazing. My daughter now has friends she would not have if she had gone to some of the more snobby private schools we looked at, where girls were defined by their wealth only.
MarriedDadOneSonOneDaughter - I recommend state schools to you. All the schools on your list are great in their own ways, but HBS is definitely worth a shot, as your daughter sounds very intelligent and well-rounded.
Don't discount schools based on people with prejudices - visit them when the time comes and make your choice on whichever schools 'feel right'.

[MarriedDadOneSonOneDaughter]

BeattieBow

"Girls do better at all girls' schools and boys apparently in mixed ones - Now disproved - when properly analysed."

There do seem to be two distinct schools (!) of thought on this, not just amongst parents but also schools. Unsurprisingly, single sex schools make convincing arguments in favour as do co-ed schools (when they can be bothered to).

It's clear that there is a historical legacy for single sex schools that make the league tables appear to support them - but that is most likely more to do with existence of single sex schools and some parents continued support of them that it is to do with actual differential performance.

I'm interest in real impartial evidence either way.

Any links to such evidence would be appreciated.

[alejandro]

BeattieBow, do you mind disclosing your own choice, for the benefit of those of us with a stronger stomach? ;)

[TacitusMouse]

I actually went to two of those schools on that list in the last 5-10 years so have personal experience. If you want to pm I can answer any specific questions you have

[Blu]

"Girls do better at all girls' schools and boys apparently in mixed ones"

Now disproved - when properly analysed.

[basildonbond]

Don't rise to it Beattiebow ... If LauraBridges isn't Xenia under another name then she's her identical twin

[BeattieBow]

Laura Bridges, there are lots of working class people at those state schools! even (gasp) the ones in the list. some even go to Cambridge.

[LauraBridges]

I have a friend whose daughter was at the state school Henrietta B and loved it. She went to Cambridge and recently graduated, Did fine. (Father obese, working class made good, very clever, wears gold chain round neck, not that that's relevant but it is what is coming to mind as I type... bad me...)

[BeattieBow]

I have a daughter at one of the north london state schools on the list.

I wholeheartedy recommend it, but can't see that you're going to look at it if you are also thinking of NLCS/HABS/St Paul's and the like, because it's like comparing apples and pears imo.

Even the top London state schools are absolutely nothing like the top London independent schools, and you have to decide what it is you want from a school.

Personally, I didn't want private for my daughter and didn't want her to travel. For me, (and her) it is so important to have local friends, a local community and a mix of backgrounds at her school. Whatever anyone says, there is not a mix at the London independent schools. My daughter is thriving there - apart from the musical bit, she sounds very like your dd. A perfectionist and will push herself, sometimes too much, and I would worry that she would put herself under too much stress if she went to somewhere like Henrietta Barnet. In any case, local won for us and was the right decision.

I have a son at a London day school too by the way.

[LauraBridges]

Girls do better at all girls' schools and boys apparently in mixed ones so it woudl probably be better if this girl's brother is at St paul's that she goes to a similar girls' school.

I also second the fact schools like NLCS are not rife with eating disorders. My daughter and her friends chomped their way through loads of sweets never mind big meals and far from being obsessed with work both my girls as teenagers spend 10 hours a day from 9am on Sundays even outside at a riding stables covered in mud.

[MarriedDadOneSonOneDaughter]

Ching! Another to add to my shortlist (altough it was almost certainly going to be on it anyway). Thanks.

[blouseenthusiast]

Also, it is genuinely a very diverse school and that was important to us.

[blouseenthusiast]

DS1 is also a terrible perfectionist and that does mean he can spend far too long on homework projects, but I think that would happen at any academic school. My impression with Latymer Edmonton is that it perhaps tends a bit more to the science / maths side than the arts side, but that is an impression not based on vast amounts of evidence...

[blouseenthusiast]

I have two boys at Latymer Edmonton and they are v happy there, but I know you asked about daughters! The music is exceptional and academically it v good. My impression is that the girls in the boys' classes are thriving academically.

[TangerineSushi]

I would think about Highgate if you want co-ed. It's not the most academic school on your list but is academic enough that even the brightest kids there are catered for, if that makes any sense- good results, plenty going to Oxbridge. It has a very supportive and strong pastoral system, girls are fully integrated in the school and it's good across the board inc extra-curricular. Great sports facilities in particular for a London school.

It depends what you want, really. NLC, St Pauls and City are more academic but not co-ed.

[MarriedDadOneSonOneDaughter]

WorkingItOutAsIGo - Thanks, SPGS will make my shortlist for open days. Your daughter sounds great and I would wish the same for mine. You are exactly right with selection bias. However, hearing bad rumours about schools laid to rest by parent that actually have experience there is very useful. I have been told that self-esteem, appearances and eating disorders or other such issues are rife amongst teenage girls and it fills me with dread. I suspect it is as much more connected to home life, parenting, luck with teachers, role models and friends than it might be to any particular school.

horsemadmum - "NHEH"? Tried searching to find out which school that is. Probably kick myself when someone here spells it out for me.....

vestacurry and alejandro - I don't agree with the idea of striking state schools off my list, just because her brother has a place at a private school. Specifically, Dame Alice Owen's and Latymer are great schools (grammar co-ed N. London) and my gut feeling is they provide exceptional education and prospects. I think there are great grammars in west/SW London too. We could move to be near them if we thought they were worth it. If it turns out that a state school has a better environment for her or that she doesn't cut it academically for selective schools I won't shy from that decision. I don't think private is always better for all children. There might be a correlation (perhaps a high correlation co-efficient on this forum!), but it isn't a rule in my view. All that said, if somewhere like SPGS seems best for her, that's fine too. I'm blind to the politics, I only care about her interests.

[WorkingItOutAsIGo]

But I will play your game. One DD at SPGS - I wasn't sure about the school choice as had heard so many things I didnt like but in fact its been more than wonderful for her and it turns out to have been the perfect school for her. She came from a small, non-selective primary school with no tradition of sending girls to SPGS. She has made a wonderful group of supportive, down to earth friends. It turns out she is really academic in the purest sense of the world - she loves learning for its own sake, adores her lessons, is lucky to have many inspirational and dedicated teachers, and acaemically has won prizes at a national level in more than one subject - without ever seeming terribly stressed or pressured but rather just enjoying the opportunities that come her way. Some of the lessons and activities I hear about them doing are the most innovative and creative ideas I have ever heard of in education. She is off to do a national competition in a third subject shortly - I mention this not to brag but just to comment on how broad and non-pigeon holing the education is as these are three very different subjects.

And yet, despite all of that going on, what she actually comes home and talks about is not her work but her sport, her music and her parties - it seems a very well-balanced, productive and healthy life for her.There are times she seems to have an awful lot of homework and might get a little stressed and then plenty of times when she sits and watches Friends or Glee or Sherlock or Dr Who or whatever her current craze is, so on balance I am not concerned. No immediate sense of anorexia or self-harm amongst her friends am relieved to say.I would like to see more focus on serving the community - there is charitable activity but there could be more. And when there is it can be a bit glamorous - the recent charity fashion show was judged by Stella Macartney and Poppy Delevingne!

[VestaCurry]

Hmmm yes, stomaching a state school really isn't so bad when the school in question is on a par with the best private schools in terms of results and your children are flourishing there there.

[alejandro]

"if you really can stomach a state school"

that was a really lovely comment

[horsemadmom]

Agree with LB. I've got 2 DDs at NLCS and they both love it. The pastoral care is exceptional.
We found the sibling thing threw up some weird 11+ results. Schools DD2 should have walked into didn't even give her interviews- I guess they were clever enough to know it was a waste of time (incl Habs). This doesn't apply to you, OP. In the StP Boys area, you should look at SPGS, LEH, G&L and NHEH. Have a look at the NLCS coach routes on the website. Unlike Habs Girls, it is possible to take the tube if your DD stays late- shuttle costs £1 from school if they don't want to walk to the station.
Do keep in mind that the pool of girls who do the exam are self selecting from the start. Few enter a less than clever DD. They will all be top of their primary school. After that it comes down to the cleverest of clever.