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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Henrietta Barnett Sixth form

34 replies

schoolproblems797397 · 08/03/2021 15:02

DD has an offer here. She goes to Bancrofts School at the moment on a 50% scholarship. Anyone go there? What is the teaching like esp in Biology, Physics and Maths and Economics?
how many people per class etc
general comments?

OP posts:
Original poster
schoolproblems797397 · 08/03/2021 15:06

just wondering if the teaching is good or if students are the driving force behind the grades

OP posts:
tonicwaterparty · 08/03/2021 17:09

I'm sure HB is a great school, and it's free - so is a bargain even compared to a 50% scholarship at Bancroft's. I imagine that - like Bancroft's - the teaching is pretty good, but that the results of the school are significantly a reflection of its highly-selective intake; you would expect the grades to be good given the raw material the school has to work with.

I presume you live somewhere reasonably close to Bancroft's in which case HB is miles away and the journey round the A406 at rush hour twice a day, 5 days a week, 30+ weeks of the year will surely be awful?

Original poster
schoolproblems797397 · 09/03/2021 17:40

yep thats exactly what i say to her, travelling will be awful. but she is pretty independent and convinced she will use travel time wisely to read/study etc

OP posts:
bagelsandlox · 09/03/2021 18:06

My DD moved there for 6th form, currently in Y13. She does not take any of the subjects that you mention, but has been very happy there. Teaching excellent, class sizes small (for her subjects at least). She moved from a selective independent girls school and we feel the standard of teaching is roughly similar. We live close by but many girls travel quite a long distance to school.

tonicwaterparty · 09/03/2021 19:29

@schoolproblems797397

yep thats exactly what i say to her, travelling will be awful. but she is pretty independent and convinced she will use travel time wisely to read/study etc
You might find this link useful - www.zcoach.co.uk/School_Transportation/Henrietta_Barnett_Grammar_School/
EleniT · 11/03/2021 09:24

Got a daughter, similar position but moving to Dame Alice Owens.
Anyone who can comment about joining DAOS at 6th form is much appreciated. Subjects to take are: Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Product Design

Tash45 · 11/03/2021 11:59

DD is also considering this school for Six Form but I am wondering how far do kids commute for Six Form; it would be 1.5 hours each way for her: bus, underground, bus. How important is living close to your friends at that age?. I imagine that by 16/17 they should be quite independent.

How many hours teaching do they get in Six Form? Do they need to be in school 8 to 3pm?or is it more flexible?

Thank you and apologies for using your thread OP.

EleniT · 11/03/2021 13:20

My daughter used to travel on school coach for more than an hour each way, but that was part of her socialising as all children were from the same school.
So i can't really comment on the bus, underground, bus, sorry.
Also is your DD going to DAO or HBS?
Not sure of the timetable/free periods either.

Tash45 · 11/03/2021 14:17

Thank you. Meant to say DD is considering Henrietta Barnett for Six form. I guess we will have to check the commute, I think is doable for the right school.

I just looked at the results and they are very impressive.

EleniT · 11/03/2021 15:19

Yes, also it's only for 2 years.

Original poster
schoolproblems797397 · 11/03/2021 23:06

thank you very much for the coach link! :)
wonder what the rough cost would be if you know?

OP posts:
EleniT · 12/03/2021 07:38

I think this website will tell you: tfl.gov.uk/fares/

Also check the: tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/ and put maybe the postcodes of the journey and see the options.

If you need help to workout which is the best route, let me know maybe the from station/postcode and I can check for you, I don't mind.

Sometimes with travelling, you might find that if you take your girl to a particular station (by car) then it will be better.

bendmeoverbackwards · 12/03/2021 12:42

My dd was at HBS from Years 7-11, she moved for Sixth Form so the other way around.

She had a very good education there and it suited her intellectually. However the pressure is immense. The school try to underplay this but when you get a lot of super clever over achieving girls, of course the pressure is going to be an issue.

Teaching was generally good but you will get some average/poor teaching like you do in any school.

One of the reasons dd left was because she didn't want to do 4 A Levels and this is encouraged at HBS. One subject can be dropped but not till the end of Year 12. The new A Levels are a lot of work, even doing 3 is tough, I would advise anyone against doing 4. Universities only want 3, even Oxbridge.

@Tash45 sorry but it would be madness to put your dd through 3 hours travelling/day. A Levels are tough, she will be exhausted with that travel.

People are often under this illusion that HBS is the gold standard of schools. It is just a school, certainly not worth travelling hours for.

bendmeoverbackwards · 12/03/2021 12:44

@Tash45

Thank you. Meant to say DD is considering Henrietta Barnett for Six form. I guess we will have to check the commute, I think is doable for the right school.

I just looked at the results and they are very impressive.

Yes of course the results are impressive, this school is one of the hardest ones to get into and cream off the brightest of the bright. What did you expect the results to look like? They say more about the type of girl rather than the teaching.
Tash45 · 12/03/2021 18:13

@bendmeoverbackwards

My dd was at HBS from Years 7-11, she moved for Sixth Form so the other way around.

She had a very good education there and it suited her intellectually. However the pressure is immense. The school try to underplay this but when you get a lot of super clever over achieving girls, of course the pressure is going to be an issue.

Teaching was generally good but you will get some average/poor teaching like you do in any school.

One of the reasons dd left was because she didn't want to do 4 A Levels and this is encouraged at HBS. One subject can be dropped but not till the end of Year 12. The new A Levels are a lot of work, even doing 3 is tough, I would advise anyone against doing 4. Universities only want 3, even Oxbridge.

@Tash45 sorry but it would be madness to put your dd through 3 hours travelling/day. A Levels are tough, she will be exhausted with that travel.

People are often under this illusion that HBS is the gold standard of schools. It is just a school, certainly not worth travelling hours for.

Than you. I think you are right about the commute; it will probably be too much with all the pressure of exams on top. Also, I am not sure I would like my children to go through all that pressure and competition.
Tash45 · 12/03/2021 18:15

She was also looking at St Marylebone and Camden School for girls but they don't have DT/DE which is her favourite subject; however Greycoat does and that will be much easier for her to commute too, just one bus. Would be nice to have more options for Six From though.

Original poster
schoolproblems797397 · 15/03/2021 17:23

Dd is pretty sure on henrietta barnett now.
Unfortunately the coach company doesn't take year 12s- they have to split an uber which would be very expensive. I am worried about her feeling exhausted after the journey- i for one would. Any advice for this?
Anyone else's children going.

OP posts:
tonicwaterparty · 15/03/2021 17:35

tbh, my advice would be to tell her she's staying at Bancroft's.

Creamegg11 · 15/03/2021 22:03

Have you considered Woodford County High grammar school, like HB, a girls school and no need to travel far as it’s literally next door to Bancroft’s?

EleniT · 16/03/2021 06:42

How about LAE Stratford. I can see how long it can be for your daughter to travel to HBS if you live near Bancroft's school.

As someone who has to travel to work on public transport I believe anything more than 45 minutes would be too much. You need to consider also days where there are delays etc. which can be annoying but also stressful especially in the morning. It will be horrible in the winter months.

Is there any way for her to live near the school Monday-Friday maybe, so that she only has to travel twice? Any relative she can live with?

Original poster
schoolproblems797397 · 16/03/2021 18:58

haha she's very adamant about going, I don't want her to resent me if I make her go somewhere else.

Lae Stratford and woodford's deadlines have passed for entry and I don't think she's very keen on them-
nope I don't think either party would be happy w her living somewhere else

OP posts:
EleniT · 16/03/2021 21:36

She does sound really determined, perhaps she needs to do the trip a few times over holiday to make sure she understands what it takes.

On the other hand, I guess, is just over 1.5 years and that will give her a very good sense about long travelling. Problem will be that it will be rush hour that's the only down thing.

Maybe you will find a way to drive her part of her way to school to make it easier for her, you might think of something until September.

Good luck to her and yourself and well done for getting the offer.

init123 · 16/03/2021 21:45

It's great school. well done to your DD.

Original poster
schoolproblems797397 · 22/03/2021 18:51

@EleniT

She does sound really determined, perhaps she needs to do the trip a few times over holiday to make sure she understands what it takes.

On the other hand, I guess, is just over 1.5 years and that will give her a very good sense about long travelling. Problem will be that it will be rush hour that's the only down thing.

Maybe you will find a way to drive her part of her way to school to make it easier for her, you might think of something until September.

Good luck to her and yourself and well done for getting the offer.

I forgot about rush hour! she will be going from Woodford, I wonder what stations would be good to go to Golders Green from, anyone have any ideas? are there any stations near Golders Green that are on another line that isn't the northern line- she's happy to have a long walk in the mornings haha!
OP posts:
Tavannach · 22/03/2021 20:31

Walthamstow Central, Victoria to Euston, change onto the Northern for Golders Green? Does that work at all?

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