Girls School chat, North London

[lolabeetea]

Looking at options for girls schools within reasonable radius from a North London base. DD starting year 6 and we have had some light tutoring so far to keep options. She is super bright but we are still concerned not quite "programmed" like other girls to pass 11+ at top marks because we started turning relatively late. She is also training 4 days a week in a gymnastics squad. For state Grammar (girls only) school options, as far as I'm aware Henrietta Barnett in the only one, but we don't like the idea of it anyway being a pressure house and slim chance of getting in if not tutored long enough.
So we are also considering independent schools. Are we right to assume Habs and NLC are not as hard core as HB? Just for the sake of comparison, if we targeted these schools, will she likely end up still being endlessly pressured? The new Head for NLC seems like a down to earth individual with well-rounded agenda for the girls education program. We have not yet visited Channing and City.. And how is South Hampstead? Any thing you can share here around this topic would be amazing!!
Also, how would you suggest to best use the time between now and exam time, January 2020, for practicing for the entry exams? Thanks

I need some urgent help/ advice. My DD has been accepted to Northwood College and St Helen's. I am so confused which school I should send her to. She is having a hard time at the current school she attends and want to make sure she gets the right teaching and help to develop her.

VPKPO1 head over to the independent schools' page of the 11 Plus Forum - www.elevenplusexams.co.uk, they have tons of information about both Northwood and St Helen's.

Hey everyone! Please can I have some advice on boys schools? We are looking at boys school for 4 plus... We live in Hampstead and would love some first hand advice / experiences you’ve had with private schools near the area e.g UCS, The Hall, Arnold house, Devonshire house, Highgate etc.... Covid is posing a problem with visiting the schools to get a really good feel for them so any personal experiences would be grateful appreciated. Thank you

I would start a new thread if I were you, as this is discussing girls secondary schools rather than boys 4+

I will! I’m new to this! Sorry everyone x

NLCS works the children too hard and incessantly - a true hot house - Habs is kinder and more considerate - if you care for your children's happiness and welfare best avoid the hot house. The mental health of children once damaged can not easily be restored.

I am but for my DS. And indeed it is hellish

Not sure if you're asking me or asking generally however I know there have been more applicants than ever this year (which I find crazy but there you go). Some of the schools we applied to are interviewing all candidates this year, some are interviewing none and a couple of the toughest ones only interview a subset after the exam. My DS wasn't offered interviews for either of those but they were both stretch options for him. The whole process has been crazy stressful with major tech challenges for some remote exams (at the school end not ours). We had the last exam today and I'm just so pleased the process is over.

Good day to you
We did get some offers for my daughter for year 7 11+ and I really need advice and help to make a decision
We are south Hampstead waiting list
FHR we got an offer
Channing we got an offer and FHS we got an offer as well
I believe south waiting is a bit tricky but any idea about FHR and Channing
Best regards

Barristermmum
What about FHR we got an offer
Channing we got an offer
South Hampstead waiting list
I need you advice dear
Thanks

Hi Shery82 - Huge congratulations to your daughter and how lovely for her to have a choice.
I have my daughter at Channing and a friend's daughter was offered SHHS and went there in the end having also been offered FHR. Both girls are very happy in the schools they ended up in. I'd say SHHS is more academic than FHR and possibly more intense than Channing - but if your girl is seriously inclined then she will thrive there. FHR seems relaxed but quite wealthy, Channing quite academic but unshowy, SHHS aspirationally seeking to challenge NLCS and St Pauls. But these are huge generalisations.
It seems this year competition was more intense than ever and i have a friend with a child on the waiting list for SHHS and waiting on St Pauls but also offers from NLCS and Channing but total silence from many at her school where they were all competing for same schools suggesting many are absent the offers they had hoped for.
Does your daughter have a gut instinct of where she most enjoyed the interview or the open day? They are all great schools.

Many thanks dear barristermum
My daughter like FHR but as I told you south in the waiting list but she is not leaning to south
Channing a quite far than FHR as we live in NW8 but my concerned now which is more academic as my daughter is quite academic she came from state school but she like to learn and ambitious let’s say
She like the facilities in regent more than Channing
Anyone who has a daughter right now in Francis as I knew her current headmaster is used to be the duapty head of city London boys which is very good sign
Channing the headmistress is new I believe
And we still waiting for south
I want some feedback about Channing as well if you don’t mind
In the meantime I’m very very grateful you you for caring and reply

Channing's new Head, Lindsey Hughes is lovely - strong background in pastoral care but quite no-nonsense in person. Previous head was a very strong personality - Hughes seems a bit more low-key. It's hard to get a huge sense of her as we've all been kept so remote with the lockdown but she's done as much as anyone feasibly could.
On that note Channing have managed lockdown and remote learning brilliantly. Girls have been kept in a total routine with good mix of assignments, live learning, google meets and the like.
Journey is important - a lot of Channing are very local - if the length of journey is wildly different that might be a really important factor.

Many thanks again and again for your advice
Well I need to know more about FHR
Many people have some not good points about south Hampstead as each one got his own opinion but I didn’t hear any not good thing about FHR all were positive feedbacks
Waiting list is tricky and we have to focus what we’ve got it
Many thanks

Yes dear
You are absolutely right , the traveling is a mater especially with the rush hour
FHR is just 8 mins away
South Hampstead is the same distance as well but I believe Channing is 20-25 mins