Choosing the best secondary option for girls

[newmumintown14]

Hi mums, I have the option of sending my daughter into year 8 of Parliament Hill or Fulham Cross Girls School - any suggestions on which one is better? My daughter is shy, moderate in academics and ethnic Asian.

They are miles apart - I would send her to nearest one. Fulham Cross has greatly improved in the last few years. That part of London is very diverse. I don't know anything about Parliament Hill.

Hi HB Parent thanks for this. I should have clarified that we have just moved into UK and can live anywhere. In a sense we are also making choice of where to stay along with the school because I wouldn't want my daughter to travel much. Parliament Hill is next to Hampstead Heath and in some very picturesque surroundings; Fulham Cross is in the somewhat busier Fulham area.

Fulham Cross is near Hammersmith a very busy and congested inner city area. If you are staying long term I notice that it doesn't have a Sixth Form. It is also rather an expensive area.

I have no personal knowledge of Parliament Hill but the website looks like there is much more going on than Fulham Cross.

Are those the only two schools in London with places for year 8? There are a lot of schools in London and the most popular are oversubscribed in all year groups and you have to live more or less next door to get in.

Hi HPparent, Its true Fulham is rather can't talk now am in a meeting. Parly Hill is in a very quiet setting but probably a more expensive area? There were other schools - Sian Manning in Ladbroke Grove, Burntwood and Ricards Lodge in Wimbledon, Elizabeth Garrett in Islington. Fulham has the best results amongst all these schools. And we thought its better to live a bit more central than Wimbledon.

And we don't expect to be here long term...

Sion Manning is another up and coming school. It had an awful reputation locally but I know a girl there currently who is very happy with it. Ladbroke Grove is an extortionate place to live though.

Why not tour the areas if you can, decide where you might want to live and take it from there. Perhaps have a look round the schools if you can. If you are not here long term, I wouldn't worry too much about exam results, just choose somewhere which your daughter likes.

Thanks HB, We toured all the schools. My daughter liked Fulham because she found it smaller and cosier. I think she felt Parly was too large. But she is happy to be guided by me and I am not sure...

Why not let her start at Fulham then. There are quite a few bus routes within say half an hours journey. West London is a good place to live on the whole.

Thanks HB. You are right. Its the last minute jitters. I just need some reassurance....