North London scondaries

[monkeygoesbananas]

Not sure whether school tours are happening this year. Moving to the area and it looks like we could either go for Fortismere or Highgate Wood. From previous thread Fortismere doesn't seem all that great but the results are so much better. Any views?

I always hear great things about fortismere. Lots of friends kids went there and everyone is positive about it. I think it had a really good ofsted too

I’m not really positive about Fortismere sorry, I think behaviour and communication is poor. Academic results are very good, if you have a robust child they will probably do well there. More sensitive children can find it difficult.

I’d go for APS or the Archer over Fortismere. Don’t know about Highgate Wood.

Academic results are good at Fortismere because it's an extremely middle class intake and many children have additional tutoring.

HW is a much more mixed intake. Most children who go there do well.

Muswell Hill-ers - Fortismere or APS in your view?

I have a child at APS and it is completely different in everyway to Fortismere. I think it depends on your child. If you look at the stats of recent years you can see that APS is much more popular than Fortismere at the moment. I think Fortismere is still good and lots of children are very happy there, but families are choosing APS over Fortismere right now. But there are totally different and Fortismere is still great. The catchment for APS is the tiniest in the borough but there are some great priced properties to the north side of the school. I have a child at Highgate Wood and so far I have been the most impressed by Highgate Wood for the following reasons: kids seem to be really happy there, there is a lovely atmosphere and spirit. They are really getting on with teaching during COVID and had started to do lessons in Lockdown - the only local school I know of. The results are getting better and better. My son LOVES this school and has many friends. He is a set 1 kid who has lots of confidence and loves sports. There are SEN kids and quiet children there and a great mix and I really recommend it!

I think they are both good schools but as PP said the Fortismere intake is very middle class and I have heard a lot of tutoring goes on to support those grades while Highgate Wood has a more mixed intake. I think an engaged child who wants to learn and is supported at home should do fine at either. I have a child at Highgate Wood and I think the school has done quite well through lockdown and now since returning, the teachers seem to work very hard, am quite happy with the pastoral support, I think the academic rigour is probably pretty standard for a state school (sometimes feel DC could be pushed a bit harder) but certainly a lot of children do well in their GCSEs and A-levels.

I hear so many conflicting stories about Fortismere i am really thorned.... on one side, they had to close a toilet block because of (students) drug dealers. I have friends with daughters in Y8 and they already hang out with boys who smoke (i have not questionned whether the girls do as well... as hard topics for mums). I have heard of fight in corridors, low behaviour expectations in class etc....
on the other hand, i know great a couple of 6th form students who are sensible, had to navigate all this and “came out fine” in their own words.
Now i guess it depends on your child.... i think my child will end up going there. We could possibly go to Highgate Woods but not APS or Archer. Someone on my street got William Ellis last year (camden, small boy only school, first choice on list, was given fortismere at first but in july got offered their first choice). So it is poss to apply to other less well known, farther schools.

Again i hear conflicting stories about highgate woods (bullying vs great pastoral care). Hard to know...
Fortismere is not great for SEN/pastoral i have heard so if my child had any difficulties i wouldnt want to put her/him there.