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Secondary education

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Original poster

Bancrofts - any experience/comments?

16 replies

feelingfedup · 07/12/2006 21:37

Thinking of sending DS1 to Bancrofts (Woodford Green). DS1 current headmaster speaks highly of it - not in our area so we don't know anything about it - anyone have any experience of it?

OP posts:
summer111 · 07/12/2006 23:04

excellent reputation but they select the absolute cream...

winterpimms · 08/12/2006 11:49

My friend's dd goes there. Seems to be happy there.

clerkKent · 08/12/2006 13:21

Some of my friends went there in 1971. This may not be helpful.

ParanoidSurreyHousewife · 08/12/2006 13:55

How bad would the commute be?

Original poster
feelingfedup · 09/12/2006 13:32

thanks for the info. commute would be from islington.

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frogs · 09/12/2006 13:41

Highgate is nearer would that not be an option? Personally Islington to Woodford Green is not a commute I'd consider not particularly easy on public transport, not by car either (I did it recently to take dd1 to a music exam and it took a good 45 mins each way, through some of the least lovely bottlenecks in East London).

Forest in Snaresbrook take weekly boarders, I believe, which might be another alternative.

ParanoidSurreyHousewife · 09/12/2006 13:51

Well I would take the commute into account. There are tons of people from Woodford/Loughton area and relatively few (if any) from "inner" London. And it wouldn't be a fun commute, certainly by public transport. Especialy when you take sporting events etc into account (most of these are with the likes of Brentwood, Chigwell etc so if anything further out rather than in).

Original poster
feelingfedup · 09/12/2006 13:56

I was told you can get a direct train from Liverpool st?

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ParanoidSurreyHousewife · 09/12/2006 14:15

Well you could get the train to Chingford and then get a bus. Or underground I guess, but I'm nnot sure that I would put my 11 yo on the tube unless I knew that there were others going from the same location (spot the overprotective mother!)

frogs · 09/12/2006 14:34

I expect you can get a train from L'Pool street. Or the eastbound Central line train from Bank. But it's still a v. long commute whichever way you cut it.

My dd1 travels on the Northern Line from Angel to her secondary school in Finchley, which is a pretty direct journey, but the whole thing still takes her an hour or so door-to-door each way, which is pretty much at the outside of what I would consider acceptable. I think anything involving changing trains or bussing from Islington to L'Pool street and then onto Woodford would take longer than that -- I think the not uncommon Islington-Dame Alice Owens commute is mad for the same reason.

If you're okay with private, wouldn't you consider UCS or Highgate? Highgate is even co-ed now. And as others have said, most kids at Bancrofts come from the Essex or Epping areas, so he'll be one of only a few. Or Latymer? A shorter commute from Islington, and it's free!

Original poster
feelingfedup · 09/12/2006 15:13

We have already missed the cut-off date for the tests at UCS.

No idea about Latymer, but expect we are too late for that too, and the endless round of tests look much more onerous than those in the independent sector.

Don't really like Highgate, close friend withdrew her two from there recently.

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ParanoidSurreyHousewife · 09/12/2006 15:22

Would you ever consider moving? It's a good school but that is a fair trek (and you shouldn't underestimate teh social side of it imo).

How recent was her unhappiness at Highgate - there's a new head and deputy there now.

frogs · 09/12/2006 15:27

Ah yes, if you're after Y7 for Sept 2007 then you are going to be a bit pushed for choice.

The only thing I can suggest is that you work out exactly how long the journey will be, using Tfl website, and then work backwards to see what time he will have to leave home and what time he'd get back. Dd1 currently leaves home at 7.15am, and usually gets home just after 5 (school finishes at 3.40). Bear in mind that it will be dark both in the morning and the evening from October to February half-term. Not ideal, I'm finding, and we're planning to move closer to dd1 secondary school as soon as we can. Would you consider moving?

City of London boys is another one that seems to be popular for Islingtonies.

Good luck.

swifts · 09/12/2006 17:03

Best friend's son is at Highgate and very happy although I think you've missed the deadline for Highgate as well if you're thinking of September 2007. I'd really recommend visiting schools though as you'll always find people have different views depending on their personal experience or that of friends. And different schools suit different children.... Good luck!

winterpimms · 10/12/2006 20:42

I definitely would not consider public transport from Islington to Bancroft's. Much too difficult.

Original poster
feelingfedup · 13/12/2006 08:39

Thanks for the info. I'm looking for Sept 08 so I will speak to City and Highgate too.

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