best free secondary schools in london or north london

[bumbleandbumble]

I am desperate to figure out where to send my two daughters, currently in year 4 and 5. The state schools near us really are not good and I did not like what I saw and heard from local parents.

I am desperate for private school, but with three kids and average incomes there is no chance. They are both bright, in top reading/math groups, and always get good reports, but by no means super genuis/gifted types.

The only thing I can think of is that we can move close to a good school if that helps as we are only renting. We are also C of E and go to church...but still the competition seems incredible and all everyone says to me is "good luck getting in there"

What do normal Londoners do? What can I do? What is the solution if you dont like your local choice?

2. Even bad North London schools are actually pretty good when you compare to schools elsewhere in the country.

This is so true. I was born in north London and went to school there. I've since moved outside of London. I wish we had local options like Hornsey girls!

Can they sing? Girls in the choir at Southwark Cathedral seem to do well getting into Greycoat in Pimlico.

@Bubbletea50

Latymer, Dame Alice Owen, QEBoys and HenriettaB are grammar schools. You will certainly need a fall back option given these schools are quite selective, if you are dead sure your local comprehensive is bad, you should move.

However, this may ease your mind or confuse things. The progress 8 score measures progress, but has some quirks to it. For example it removes certain outliers who may disproportionately affect the score (I forget exactly the methodology). In addition, it measures from the level achieved at the end of primary school to GCSE. In most areas this is a good metric, however in London/North London, this can create situations where heavily tutored primary school children end up dragging the school score down. This is because they have learned ahead of their level and eventually it averages out when the non tutored children are actually taught the material.

Additionally schools play games and sit children into different subjects with different difficulties.

I.e. the official metrics are very abstract bits of data.

Additionally, I think it's research from the Sutton group which found that parents in London disproportionally push their kids to do well, and that living in London increases your life chances dramatically, typically because your child can avoid rent for a bit when they come to look for a job.

Apologies this post is rushed, but mini summary:

1. comprehensives near grammar schools look worse on paper than they actually are.
2. Even bad North London schools are actually pretty good when you compare to schools elsewhere in the country.
3. Kids in the capital have a huge leg up because they are surrounded by like minded hungry families and typically live in a London home.

And yes, my kids are in the state system, and for even more transparency I'm not even a left wing/big state believer. I really do think the state schools are pretty good.

Dame Alice Owen is NOT a grammar school. In fact it's only semi-selective. Some of the places are allocated on aptitude following a test but many are also given to siblings, kids of staff and to those who live very close to the school. So move next door (the catchment is very small and of course houses in it attract a huge premium) and you'll get in. Whether you want to live in Potters Bar for seven years is another matter altogether!

Henrietta Barnet is in Golders Green, not Hampstead.

Fortismere is an excellent school - really lovely great all round school.

I agree with others though, North London schools are mostly exceptional.

@UnderwaterSymphony

Henrietta Barnet is in Golders Green, not Hampstead.

Fortismere is an excellent school - really lovely great all round school.

I agree with others though, North London schools are mostly exceptional.

It's not actually in either it's in Hampstead Garden Suburb

Yes, sorry! You are correct - I just meant re the tube station (and I was actually thinking I was posting in a different thread!)

My mistake. The catchment is so small I had mentally scrubbed that option out of my mind.

@Rachelico you forgot to tag the OP @bumbleandbumble on your query to her old thread so this bump will hopefully do the trick. I am also curious to know where you decided on in the end bumble and how has your experience been?

Thank you so much for noticing @mumsRule20
And everyone else that has comment so far

Having put one of mine entirely through the N London state system and coming out the other end I can categorically tell you that their GCSE results were almost identical to the privately educated peers, all 9-7 and they're sitting on the EXACTLY the same RG university offers to the their friends at Habs, Highgate, UCS and the like. They are well behaved, happy, motivated and well rounded and I'm a good £250k better off.