Westminster v Highgate

[Jane077]

First off can I say I know we are in lucky position to choose between these schools, and that they are both absolutely excellent. I’m really struggling because it feels like madness to turn down WM - think my DS would love the academic vibe there - but I think the commute from N London to Pimlico will be a real killer for him and the appeal of HG is that it will be close, amazing green campus (less polluted) plus his sister is there too. But DS is bright but lazy and I suppose I’m looking for reassurance that he will he stretched at HG academically and that the teaching is exciting and stimulating. DS is mad about reading, English, drama rather than Stem so that’s a factor. I don’t know anyone with kids at HG so would love to know about experiences, and also if people think I’m nuts to turn down an offer from WM. thank you.

Bumping

Same position re Westminster here
DS is also bright and lazy
The commute to Westminster fills him with dread
We are inclined to turn down
Whatever the education it’s never worth the journey
Plus I did not like the school grounds at all

HIghgate is nice.

@springisnear interesting that you are in similar position. Would you be coming up from South or down from North? How long would the journey be? Have you an appealing alternative to WM?
I think actually quite a few prob turn down WM in the end because of its super urban environment. I just keep wondering if in years to come, I’ll kick myself for not taking the place up

I know one family who turned down Westminster because they believed their DS wouild be happier a different school. There are very clever pupils in schools other than the 'known' academic names, so if your DS is in top sets he will be in just as academic a peer group. And if he isn't, he might be better off in a school,with a broader intake anyhow.

Talk to HG about what opportunities they offer for enrichment and cocurricular stretch.

Take DS to offer holders day at both. Where does he see himself?

*I just keep wondering if in years to come, I’ll kick myself for not taking the place up"

Assuming you mean Westminster at its normal 13+ entrance point (via scholarship exam, to have news at this point, and congrats, your DS must have done extremely well) then it won't be long before 6th form comes around, and it can be 'all change'

@springisnear I’ve just seen your previous thread and can see your dilemma, but looks like you’re leaning towards Kings which is a great school. Think you have the same reservations as me about WM campus but most people I tell I’m going for HG seem to question my sanity!
@AnotherNewt Not sure what you mean about 13+ entrance. DS would be joining year 7 which so long as gets on ok means automatic admission to the big school. True - we could have another go for Sixth form. Hadn’t thought of that, just seems crazy not to send him now really - if only his day doesn’t seem so exhausting with a long commute bookending each day.

Westminster

School on (most) Saturday mornings (so don’t forget to factor that into your week).

Academically very vigorous - boys are expected to be self directed and driven. Teachers are absolutely fine with boys asking them if they can go through a topic with them at lunchtime or after school if they are confused.

Location - pretty breathtaking really, boys get into the abbey a couple of times a week. They have playing fields about a 5 min walk along Victoria street. Any a nice gym.

Activities - 2 afternoons a week and 2 compulsory after school stations (clubs) a week in first 2 years (wide range of choices from sport, cookery, games, art, skills etc)

Drama - very good drama dept, also arts department too.

Spring - DS is basically half cat, half sloth. He was always top in his old school but is now middling (some boys are seriously scarily bright) but it’s not an issue for him (it hasn’t knocked his confidence). The teaching really gets the boys excited and fired up.

Behaviour - they don’t pull any punches and boys get referrals and detentions to keep them on the straight and narrow. The boys I have met have been a nice bunch of lads - polite, funny, bright and remarkably good company for teenage boys.

Some boys have commutes from far north and south London. There are plenty of tube lines nearby and obviously Victoria station. It’s not so bad really (we had an hour commute at the last school by public transport).

If anyone has any Westminster Qs you can ask and I will ask ‘The Source’ (once he gets up).

This is the upper school 👆

@Jane077
Nobody will question your choice of school for your child so go for one that is best fit. My DS is academic but not at all driven. He currently has a 5 mimute walk to school so the journey to central London would be a killer. I didnt know how academic he was compared to others so we signed up for Westminster for experience and will not have problem turning down. We went for a tour with a lovely female sixth former coming from Spgs and she spoke the world of Westminster but we left feeling the place was such a concrete jungle with science blocks in one place and drama suite in another, in between are offices of other companies / institutions. I just couldnt feel it was a school.
Kings seems lovely indeed and I do hope they sell the school better to DS on offer holder day.

"This is the upper school"

As OP said Westminster, not WUS, then that would be the school in question. It's a Great school, but not a Holy Grail. A clever boy can do just as well at other schools, and somewhere else might be the better school for the individual. It's very important to consider a teens wider wellbeing when looking at everything about potential,schools and where they will thrive

Yup I realised that afterwards, hence the follow up post.

@lordfrontpaw thanks so much for all that info. One question. Will you ask the source how he finds commute and being in such an urban spot? He’s prob totally got used to it.
Are his friends from all over London? Does he resent Saturday school?
@AnotherNewt V wise words. I think DS feels more at home in HG, and we are going round both schools again before we make decision. Would it be completely mad to ultimately leave decision to him? We are fine with either. Just want him to be happy and reach potential etc

Well we live centrally anyway, so it’s a 15 min bus ride now - but when he was going further afield (about an 40-hour bus/train) it was fine (apart from when there was all those train strikes and going by tube was impossible because of the school location). Actually at that school there was a girl who had the most horrendous commute - about 1.5 hours by train from outside of London all by herself!

He quite likes Saturday school - more opportunity to hang out with his friends! Each house has, well a house with a common room for each year, so the boys hang out there a lot in between classes/lunchtime/after school (they have a small kitchen, bring in pizza, play games and music) so sometimes I have to drag him out of there!). Does the lower school do Saturday school? I believe they need to do a summer session before joining for their Latin (the source says he isn’t sure because he didn’t go there).

Because of our location he has always had friends scattered across London (mostly south) and now his best mate is ‘up north’ London (about 40 min drive). It’s fine because they do get to hang out a lot at school and after classes in the House and because there are borders, there is always boys hanging around (they go out for pizza or to the cinema). And as they get older they can hop on the tube.

You really can’t make a ‘wrong’ choice. Go with your ‘gut feel’ as to how he will enjoy it and fit in culture-wise.

Look at the other students and see if they look happy or stressed out? See how the masters interact with them in the yard (do they stop and chat, do the boys seek them out to speak to them - are they friendly?).

The source absolutely loves it - and he is one of those boys who doesn’t usually go with the flow for an easy life. If he didn’t like it we would know all about it!

OP, you say your dd is at HG so presumably you do know a lot about it?

Westminster is an amazing school and depending on your nearest tube it's well situated for many commutes, but both options are fab so if your ds is keen on HG go with that

@Lordfrontpaw thanks again. I really appreciate all the info you’ve given me. The Sat school thing sounds quite fun, in fact. DS would be commuting down from Crouch End so he’d have to get to Finsbury Park then Victoria line down. Not too bad but busy.
@ForeverbyJudyBlume No DS is not at HG sorry if I wasn’t clear. I’m trying to choose between these two schools. I don’t know much about HG other than the fact it has a lovely campus and we liked the feel of it on a tour, and we liked the head Mr Pettitt.

Yes, but you say "plus his sister will be there too"

@ForeverbyJudyBlume Yes his sister will he starting HG in Sept (lower down the school), which is why we are torn between the two - it would be easier for the family to have two children at same school.

Ah, OK!

Like I said, I'd leave the decision to your ds - Westminster is amazing but HG isn't exactly full of duffers and the family link is important

Highgate is great. Lots of opportunities for stretch and challenge for bright children and the pastoral support is outstanding. Perhaps weirdly, given the location, it feels a bit more "urban" than Westminster - kids a bit scruffier and more streetwise - but it's a brilliant school.

Highgate is a super desirable school that most parents in North London would kill to send their kids to. However, their Oxbridge rate isn't as high as Westminster's if that's a concern. I think you should have a look at both schools again and go with your son's preference, which is what you were planning to do anyway

Hi,Will be moving to London from India in 2021 on account of husband transfer.DS has got an offer of place from Highgate... he will be joining as an overseas student in Sixth form 2021.Just wondering how easy or tough will it be for him to fit in?He loves Mathematics and some amount of sports.Was worried when I read about kids being “rough” at Highgate .Is discipline an issue?I would hate for him to feel left out and bullied... since as it is Sixth form is a tough year to move for any child.Please share your views Incase you have or know kids there.

I guess your challenge is the commute. My son is not at Westminster but City of London School so I can share the experience of the commute. They do cope very well indeed as that becomes their normal, and mine started in 10+. If you think Westminster will be overall better for him, don’t let the commute put you off. Schooling centrally would also mean that he has friends from all over London, not just the north.

PS - Highgate is a great school too.

@Jane077 Did you choose Westminster or Highgate in the end?

We chose Highgate. No regrets for my son but it’s such an individual choice. Do DM if you want more info - I have lots to say on it!