G&L, CLSG, SHHS, Highgate? Your honest opinion is needed?

[NewMum112]

Good Morning , I’m reposting this again as you advised
We live in NW London, we didn’t have a chance to visit any school only through virtual openings, so I need your honest opinions about CLSG, G&L, SHHS, and Highgate please.
With the exploding offers we need to make a first and second choice at least, please if you have any experience with any of these schools or any +/- information please do share, I value the views of parents more than any information I could get from the school itself. Thank you.

NHEHS is a terrific school with a great headmaster. Very forward thinking. Your daughter has done brilliantly to get in.
FHSS is also excellent. But obviously much more central and with a very different vibe.
Most importantly, where do you live?!

We live in West London so both are a tube ride away albeit FHS is closer. Don’t want my daughter to feel out of place ....

Can I be nosey and ask if any of you have also got provisional places in the selective grammars? DD is on the waiting list for Latymer (Enfield) and would like a sense of how many end up accepting independent places rather than grammar.

Humblemumble: What is important to your daughter? Academics? Sport? Music?
Compare the two schools in those terms.
NHEHS' building projects have resulted in superb on site facilities eg. the swimming pool. FHSS has more limited on site facilities, but plenty not far away.
And what about the 'vibe' of the school? FHSS central, more international etc. NHEHS more suburban(!), leafy etc.

Thank you Utility for your input
She loves music and that’s her passion.

@stokey my DD isn't taking up her place at Latymer - hope that helps. I know of one other child offered a place who definitely isn't.

@stokey - to clarify, I don't mean that we put it first on the CAF and will turn it down after offers day, I mean that we didn't put it first on the CAF but instead chose the closer school where she has a guaranteed sibling place as her preferred option on the CAF.

Thanks @deathbyprocrastination and congratulations to your DD. It's a weird time with everyone finding out where they're going over the next few weeks. For the waiting list places we have no idea whether or when we'll get closure. Am hopeful we may get a place by the end of the summer term but will just accept our second choice in the meantime & wait and see.

Thanks @stokey and all the very best to your DD. Where is she on the list? I know there was a fair amount of movement last year. Latymer sounds like an awesome school - we know lovely students there who are very happy. In the end DD decided she just couldn't face the journey (would have been an hour each way for her) otherwise we'd have taken it like a shot.

She's early 300s, so would have got a place in 3 out of the last 4 years. Just not sure whether the year we've had will have any effect on people choosing grammars over independents or vice versa.

Yes good point. I'd have thought fewer people choosing independents but actually friend who works in a top London private said they'd had record numbers of applicants this year so who knows. Best of luck anyway.

@stokey actually just heard tonight of a third kid who isn't taking up his Latymer place (has chosen a different grammar instead). I know it's only tiny shifts here and there but still...

Every one helps! I think the pandemic has really highlighted how much more flexible and adaptable independent schools can be and the value that they can add. It may well make people who can afford it thing more seriously about going down that route.

@deathbyprocrastination

I'd have thought fewer people choosing independents but actually friend who works in a top London private said they'd had record numbers of applicants this year so who knows.

Hard to say. On the one hand, the effects of COVID on the economy have demonstrated to a lot of people that their incomes are not as secure as they'd thought. On the other hand, the effects of COVID on schools have demonstrated to a lot of people that many private schools have delivered better teaching than many state schools, if only because they have more funding per pupil and students who are more likely to be able to access online education.

Or maybe it was just easier to apply this year. Did your friend's school use ISEB this year?

This thread has become something else.
@NewMum112, are you okay?

@TomorrowOnce I think @NewMum112 was also @Justanothergirl19 who ended up receiving offers for all the schools she started the post on, so expect she is absolutely fine and on a high!! As I asked earlier in the thread how she was getting on.

Think it seems others are in need of digress and not many other MN forums or threads where it all relates, short of starting new ones...

@MumsRule20 Thanks!

congrats to all. It's done!

Should we withdraw CAF application after accepting offers?

sorry think I'm probably partly responsible for the tangent thread has taken but @user149799568 no, they didn't use ISEB.

But absolutely agree with you re what people are now weighing up re private vs state. There has been such a huge variation across and within both sectors in what schools have offered.

Hello ladies, we will release Highgate offer but we are still a bit stuck, I’m leaning towards City 25-30 mins and our daughter’s heart is in G&L although it’s 45 mins away from us, and SHHS is just 10 mins . So I don’t know shall we put the location aside and go with gut feeling, or what do you think?

Why don't you try all 3 journeys with your dd this week? Journey time is so important. Make sure your dd carries a backpack with books, water bottle etc.

Please ignore *not in my line above: “but not obvs Covid” should read “but obvs Covid times”

Sorry didn’t check back.

Apogies for derailing the thread. Good luck everyone with your decisions. They're all great schools.

@jumum123

congrats to all. It's done!

Should we withdraw CAF application after accepting offers?

You can't withdraw your caf now - its too late in the process. Just quickly decline the offered school on the 1st of march.