North London private secondaries for non-academic boys

[Rrelaxo]

Hello all,

I have just recovered from the 11+ saga with my daughter, who was lucky to get a place at South Hampstead. After a short week of relief, it is time to start thinking about my son. He is in Y4 and is a July baby, so one of the youngest. He is now at a good state school in Hampstead. Relatively strong in math, awfully behind in English. We have gradually started giving him additional support and thinking about secondaries.

He is a bright boy, but still too immature to take 11+ process seriously and he definitely wouldn't do well in a high-pressure school (if he even got in). So probably the likes of UCS, Highgate, etc are out of the question. I am looking at alternative schools with nurturing environment and good sports facilities. Mill Hill is one obvious option, but maybe you could recommend other worthy options to consider that will not give me grey hair in terms of preparing my son for entrance exams and not making him lose any interest for learning along the way if pushed too hard? Thanks a lot!

For now slight preference for boys-only, but will also look at co-ed to evaluate all options.

@mammmamia

Does anyone have any information about how the co-Ed thing is going for St Margaret’s Bushey and John Lyon?

Hopeful bump! Would be especially interested in how many boys are at (& projected to join) St Margaret’s, Bushey.

For those interested in St Margaret’s Bushey, we have a DS in Upper Juniors (Y6) who is loving it. Obviously they have only just recently gone co-ed, and our pioneering boys are still significantly in the minority, but it feels like there is a momentum about it and we have been very pleased so far. Back in the summer we thought we were all set for the North London/Herts 11+ bunfight, but have no regrets about electing for all-through in the end.

That’s good to hear, Jessy. By all accounts they are strong pastorally and on extra-curricular. What’s your impression on the academic side?

Honor we find the teaching to be strong and the school is ambitious for each child to fulfil their academic potential. This was important to us as DS is actually pretty strong academically, but was feeling unduly stressed by the build-up to competitive 11+ exams. If we hadn’t been satisfied that St Margaret’s would get the best out of his ability, we might well just have gritted our teeth and carried on with our intended applications to Habs etc.

What’s lovely is that he is enjoying his learning (they still do 11+ In Y6, but their progression to the Senior School does not depend on it) while no longer looking like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders. There’s time for lots of fun and lots of physical activity. He’s enjoying being 10, which for a while was looking unlikely!