Secondary in Camden

[airyfairie]

Hello,
I'm sure there have been other discussions on these schools. I am keen however to get some feedback from parents of current year 8s in Acland Burghley, Parliament Hill Girls, Camden Girls and Highbury Fields.
Thank you v much.

Hi there!

I am not a parent at any of those schools but do know a few people going into Y11 in Camden Girls and they all seem to really like it/think it is a good school.

Highbury Fields has a pretty bad reputation, sorry I don't know much more than that.

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will come along at some point

Camden School for Girls is great (I used to teach there!). Parliament Hill good too but I would avoid A.B.

I have a child at Parli and really rate it - good pastoral care, enthusiastic teachers, bouncy kids. Less intense than Camden Girls and much nicer setting.

Burghley has had a difficult few years but has come back strongly. I like the new head - go and look and see what you think. All the people I know with dc at Burghley are strongly supportive of the school.

Highbury Fields has a different intake than the Camden schools, but has a vg ofsted and reputation for being nurturing. I know a couple of people who have chosen it over Parli or Camden and not regretted it.

They’re all very different, you have to go and see for yourself to get a feel for what would suit your child.

Thank you for your replies.
AgonyBeetle- we are planning to see them. I know children experience school life differently and a brilliant experience for one is not the same for another child.

I didn't know H Fields has a bad rep. It came on our radar as a friend went to the open morning last year and said she preferred it over Camden and Parliament Hill. I'm interested to know, AgonyBeetle- what do you mean by H Fields have a different intake than the Camden schools? Although to be fair, I'm not sure if we will end up choosing it in the end as there will be a small public transport commute for DD for that school. I quite like the idea of her being able to walk to and fro school. We are at the moment closer to Camden but that doesn't mean she will get in. I know Parliament Hill has a further intake.

Burghley is on the up. Excellent head and they filled Year 7 this year for the first time in forever with - in my experience people from the vg local primaries choosing it ahead of Ellis & Parli. However if you're in catchment for CSG then that still wins on academics.

I am surprised to see pp saying Highbury Fields has a bad reputation - here on the doorstep it is well-regarded, having made great strides in recent years. Having said that, if I were in Camden in easy reach of the good local options I am not sure that I’d be wanting my child to bypass them for a commute to Islington.