Y7 Girls School in Ealing for Independent schools - any choices?

[mummyinaus]

My DD won't get into Notting Hill and Ealing High school. I think the test will be beyond her and we haven't tutored.

What other options have we got? considering a move to Ealing for work so we don't know the area well, but it just seems it can't really happen as there are no schools. Maybe someone knows of a bus to some further out school?

And we are really non-catholic!

I went to NHEHS but my older sister went to Harvington, is it still there?!

Radnor House in Twickenham? I would also have suggested St Catherine's but for the non-Catholic bit - how massively non-Catholic are you? They take non-Catholics but expect them to turn up at Masses which however don't happen often.

No need to commute. St Augustine's Priory is a standard Ealing option for less academic girls. Again Catholic, as is St Benedicts which was the boys equivalent, but now mixed.

Less academic schools tend to get a bad press on MN, on the basis that they don't get great results. I've met a few very happy St Bens parents. St Augustine's seems to suit quieter girls who need nurturing.

I assume Catholic schools have traditionally taken from across the ability range which is why they are often the better option for less academic kids given how selective London schools can be.

I thought they didn't want a catholic school?!

You don't have to be catholic to go to St Augustine's or St Benedict's. I would pay them a visit if I were you, I was pleasantly surprised when I did. In the end we had other options but I would have been happy with both of them.

My dd attends St Benedicts and we have been very happy with the school.

We are not Christians and this hasn't caused any issues at all. However the RE is based on a Catholic syllabus and it is compulsory for all pupils to attend acts of worship. My dd is used to this and has never felt out of place. I think that about 10% of pupils are from 'other faiths'.

I think that if you or your dd would be uncomfortable about attending a faith school, then it probably isn't an option - but if not, it is definitely worth going to one of their open mornings.