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Secondary education

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

North London secondary school - Fortismere Vs Alexandra Park?

1 reply

phr1 · 07/05/2014 04:24

I am currently not in the country and have to choose a location to live when I am back in July purely base on recommendations and research. As I am not able to physically be at the school and have a firsthand impression I would greatly appreciate your thoughts on these two schools.
What would you say are the pros and cons for each of these schools?
What is your personal experience and what are the main differences between the two?
Both outstanding schools relatively close to each other but Fortismere appears to be more popular with a smallest catchment.
For some reason Alexandra Park School does not seems to have the same buzz associated with its name, is there any truth in this assumption?
I am planning to attend open days when I am back in the country but in the meantime we have to rent somewhere and "somewhere" hopefully will be near enough to the school of our choice.
My son is entering yr5 in September 2014.
Please help!

OP posts:
Rabbitcar · 07/05/2014 08:28

Sorry, don't have DDs at either, so most of the below is only anecdotal, but we looked round both and much preferred APS. I know lots of people rave about Fortismere, but we found it complacent and cliquey, almost like it didn't need to try any more. The teachers barely looked at us, existing parents just chatted amongst themselves, and it felt huge and impersonal.

By contrast, APS felt exciting and full of energy, with teachers who genuinely cared about their pupils. We loved it. I have heard that APS is more into school rules etc and discipline, which I also approve of! Have heard that Fortismere has more of a class/racial divide than APS, but that could just be a rumour.

If my DDs had not got into the local grammar school, we would have definitely chosen APS. Fortismere just felt too smug to us, and the other parents in my DDs' years at school also had the same impression. Having said that, others seem to love it, and I'm sure they will be along soon to provide more information. I know DCs at both schools who are very happy.

Would be great if you could see both schools at some point. The best of luck.

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