Affordable education near North London

[hibbledibble]

In case grammar options don't work out, I'm keen to do anything possible to avoid the local (dire) state secondaries. Any suggestions for decent schools where admission is not by distance, or private schools that are not the most expensive? I would likely not receive any bursary at all based on the online information, but due to the cost of London living, multiple children with high childcare bills and others expenses, could certainly not afford the 'premium' private schools eg Channing, Highgate, South Hampstead

There are a lot of good state schools in North London
Archer Academy in East Finchley is supposed to be excellent and they got an Outstanding Ofsted report recently
You also have Alexandra Park School/Fortismere in Muswell which are very good especially APS which seems to be the better of the two at the moment.

Why are you so against state schools in North London?

Sammy it depends where you are in North London. I'm aware of most of those schools, and they have fairly small catchments, which I'm not in. I couldn't afford to move into them, due to high local property prices. I'm in a less well healed part of North London, with rather dire schools.

To be clear, I'm looking for state options where there is an option for admission other than by catchment.

@hibbledibble

Sammy it depends where you are in North London. I'm aware of most of those schools, and they have fairly small catchments, which I'm not in. I couldn't afford to move into them, due to high local property prices. I'm in a less well healed part of North London, with rather dire schools.

Oh fair enough. That makes sense. What part of North London are you in?

@hibbledibble

To be clear, I'm looking for state options where there is an option for admission other than by catchment.

Then I guess its just grammar or private then are your choices?

I'm guessing you're more east or in a admission black hole.
I would still try for a bursary at the more well known schools although you say you have multiple children which doesn't solve your problem further down the line.
Have you looked at boarding? There are some amazing state boarding schools where you only pay for the boarding part so it's much more like a cheap private, alternatively the normal boarding schools do give out bursaries and often easier to get them that day school ones as they're for a very niche client.

Have you looked into Dame Alice? Or Ashmole? Wren? They are partially selective.

There are a number of black holes in North London where there is literally no school you can go to except the really struggling ones. To the poster who mentions Fortismere, Archer or APS, those are great if you live in Muswell Hill or East Finchely but otherwise..!
I know there are parts of NW7, N12 and N20 which literally don't have a catchment school within 2 miles. (Every other school draws the line at the 1 mile mark). This is why so many children in those areas end up private.
If a school isn't selective (academic or music) , there is no way to get around the distance rules unless there is some SEN or your child has been adopted or in care. I'm sure you're aware of the selective schools but these include Dame Alice Owens, Latymer, Mill Hill County, St Michael's, QE Boys and Henrietta Barnet.

There are other schools where religion is the golden ticket, particularly the Jewish schools like JCOSS, JFS etc.

There are some schools with much wider catchments than others. These often have a difficult past or present, and are hence avoided by local parents - righty or wrongly. There is also a new school called the Ark whose catchment may be wider as it only opened a year or two ago.

Private schools that don't cost an arm and a leg. I've heard good things about both.
Mount House, Barnet (mixed)
North Bridge House (mixed)

That's probably about it though..

There are a couple of partially selective ones - St Mary's Magdalene with governor places is I believe far less competitive than the grammars. Also Marylebone which has a religious allocation and performing arts places, although those places are still very competitive. You say you can't afford to move into the Muswell Hill catchments, but have you considered moving into other catchments of good state schools? If you have several children, it may well be worth it. There are some areas with decent state schools further east, Hackney, Stoke Newington, Walthamstow, which may well be cheaper than North London.

All non-selective schools allocate by distance, there is no way round it. There are faith schools which have selective and non-selective places. As for privates, there is nothing less than 6k.

If your DC play an instrument or sing, there are music places in the system.

There really isn't a lot of choice in schooling sometimes.

Whereabouts are you in North London? I'm not sure what state school other than grammars wouldn't have catchment as a key admissions criteria?

@wydlondon

All non-selective schools allocate by distance, there is no way round it. There are faith schools which have selective and non-selective places. As for privates, there is nothing less than 6k.

If your DC play an instrument or sing, there are music places in the system.

There really isn't a lot of choice in schooling sometimes.

I know why they do it that way but its so unfair at times when you live in a place where you're away from the good state schools, especially when wealthy people just buy houses near good schools closer to the transfer times and people that even live 'closer' can't get a place.

@NOTANUM

There are a number of black holes in North London where there is literally no school you can go to except the really struggling ones. To the poster who mentions Fortismere, Archer or APS, those are great if you live in Muswell Hill or East Finchely but otherwise..! I know there are parts of NW7, N12 and N20 which literally don't have a catchment school within 2 miles. (Every other school draws the line at the 1 mile mark). This is why so many children in those areas end up private. If a school isn't selective (academic or music) , there is no way to get around the distance rules unless there is some SEN or your child has been adopted or in care. I'm sure you're aware of the selective schools but these include Dame Alice Owens, Latymer, Mill Hill County, St Michael's, QE Boys and Henrietta Barnet.

There are other schools where religion is the golden ticket, particularly the Jewish schools like JCOSS, JFS etc.

There are some schools with much wider catchments than others. These often have a difficult past or present, and are hence avoided by local parents - righty or wrongly. There is also a new school called the Ark whose catchment may be wider as it only opened a year or two ago.

Private schools that don't cost an arm and a leg. I've heard good things about both.
Mount House, Barnet (mixed)
North Bridge House (mixed)

That's probably about it though..

This is true tbh, i was silly to say that.

Muswell Hill and East Finchley are very expensive places to live and you have to have serious money to move there.
I think Archer Academy in East Finchley have made it even more difficult and you only get in if you live in a certain postcode.

If you have daughters then Camden School for Girls has a music route. It doesn’t matter where you live for admission by that route. There aren’t many places so it’s very competitive but worth a shot at if you’ve a spare place on the admissions form. Tiure daughter would have to sit the banding test in addition to the musical tests.

Are church schools an option?

Are the local schools really that bad?

I live in N15. Local schools are very rough. I would invite anyone who doubts that to stand outside and see them at the end of the school day.

Religious schools are an option, but wondering about other semi selective options. Some great suggestions here, thank you.

I can't afford to move to a better area sadly, due to needing enough space for my children, so stuck with what I can manage while living here. I would love to be able to afford Muswell hill, but it will never happen! Private is almost certainly not an option due to cost, but probably worth investigating as a back up.

@hibbledibble

I live in N15. Local schools are very rough. I would invite anyone who doubts that to stand outside and see them at the end of the school day.

Religious schools are an option, but wondering about other semi selective options. Some great suggestions here, thank you.

I can't afford to move to a better area sadly, due to needing enough space for my children, so stuck with what I can manage while living here. I would love to be able to afford Muswell hill, but it will never happen! Private is almost certainly not an option due to cost, but probably worth investigating as a back up.

Isn't that near Gladesmore? That is a decent school. Obviously not APS or Fortismere but I know 2 people that went there and they got very good grades. They came from strong homes where education was the main thing (both Nigerian) and one of them went to Woodhouse College for sixth form, the other one went to Alexandra Park for sixth form.

@hibbledibble - I hear you, I also think it is unfair, especially when there is such disparity within the same city/town. At primary level the problem is not so obvious as most primaries are good. At secondary level it is a bun fight. With indies being so expensive, there is no fall back for most people.

Faith schools also have academic/music/performance places. Some do fair banding.

In the mean time, start 11+ prep, keep going to church, keep practising musical instrument or sing in a bid to have more options. Choice for schools is an illusion.

I'm guessing you don't live within Gladesmore catchment? I'd invite you to stand outside any secondary school at hometime if that's your only worry.
I personally wouldn't want Skinner's or park view.
In your position (if you don't get top whatever latymer want these days) I would out down:

1. Heartlands
2. Stoke Newington
3. St Mary Magdalene
4. Ashmole
5. Gladesmore

1- Amazing school, v strict and often backup for APS so the waiting list moves a lot. You're not going to get it on offer day but putting it down gets you on waiting list.
2- Stoke Newington- same as above but a lot less movement. Lots on waiting lists for grammars and privates and places do come up. I'd put it purely to stay on waiting list.
3- Try the test. You never know, much easier than latymer but does get lots trying obv as one of the best Islington options.
4- try the music aptitude. You don't have to have any music experience for it and it's really easy to get to from wood green.
5- honestly don't judge it by home time crowd. It's a really great school.
6- leaving that for your grammar option.

In all likelihood you'll probably end up getting park view allocated. If it is any condolence I do know a kid or two who did fine there, but I understand your worry and I would put those options down purely for the ability to go on waiting lists. They are very fluid and places will be easier in the next couple of years. End of baby boom and lots moving out of the borough.

Heartlands seems to be a decent option from what I hear (it wasn't on our radar). If you have daughters, then Hornsey School for Girls is a good option, they didn't have a cut off for 2019 and 2021 entry and it went to 3 miles ish for 2020 entry. We had it on our list for DD but she got a higher preference school. The Haringey website will have correct info on cut off distances.

www.haringey.gov.uk/children-and-families/schools-and-education/school-admissions/school-admissions-statistics

This link has the offer day cut offs and those on 1st Sept for Haringey schools.

@meadowbreeze

I'm guessing you don't live within Gladesmore catchment? I'd invite you to stand outside any secondary school at hometime if that's your only worry. I personally wouldn't want Skinner's or park view. In your position (if you don't get top whatever latymer want these days) I would out down: 1) Heartlands 2) Stoke Newington 3) St Mary Magdalene 4) Ashmole 5) Gladesmore

1- Amazing school, v strict and often backup for APS so the waiting list moves a lot. You're not going to get it on offer day but putting it down gets you on waiting list.
2- Stoke Newington- same as above but a lot less movement. Lots on waiting lists for grammars and privates and places do come up. I'd put it purely to stay on waiting list.
3- Try the test. You never know, much easier than latymer but does get lots trying obv as one of the best Islington options.
4- try the music aptitude. You don't have to have any music experience for it and it's really easy to get to from wood green.
5- honestly don't judge it by home time crowd. It's a really great school.
6- leaving that for your grammar option.

In all likelihood you'll probably end up getting park view allocated. If it is any condolence I do know a kid or two who did fine there, but I understand your worry and I would put those options down purely for the ability to go on waiting lists. They are very fluid and places will be easier in the next couple of years. End of baby boom and lots moving out of the borough.

Heartlands GCSE pass rate isnt that great. Only 51% pass English and Maths at GCSE.

@ExiledinIslington

Heartlands seems to be a decent option from what I hear (it wasn't on our radar). If you have daughters, then Hornsey School for Girls is a good option, they didn't have a cut off for 2019 and 2021 entry and it went to 3 miles ish for 2020 entry. We had it on our list for DD but she got a higher preference school. The Haringey website will have correct info on cut off distances.

I was going to say look at the single sex schools in yours or neighbouring boroughs; they sometimes have a more generous admissions policy than the local community co-ed comprehensives because they have an obligation to serve families from across the whole local area who have a preference for single sex eduction. Don't wholly write off faith schools either because they sometimes offer community places, for those with a different / no faith.

Sorry I really don't have anything helpful to offer. I'm in Lancashire where all the local schools are very definitely oversubscribed - but within a half hour walk of my house we have 7 primary schools all good or outstanding, 3 free grammar schools, 5 high schools one RI, the rest good or outstanding. We're looking at 4 bed detached homes for around 270k here. What an absolutely bonkers situation to be in.

@sammyvine do you understand how schools progress gets measured? How prior attainment and progress 8 works? How EHCPs effect the school?

It might not be helpful, and I don’t know the area, but as more and more pleasant families and dc go to a school, there is often a drive to improve the overall school community.

When dc come out of school, are you seeing the ones who maybe stay behind for sport and clubs? If schools serve areas where education isn’t valued, or too many dc have needs, exam results are obviously compromised. Progress might not be.

I would also look at 6th form destinations and also accept there are other options for 6th form. Look at Ofsted reports and try and find out from any school how well they are doing regarding improvement. You may well find improvement in school is taking place and dc let off steam a bit when they come out!

How far / long are you prepared for your child to travel? If you are near Tottenham Hale station and they have an aptitude for languages and or music in theory they could get a place at Hockerill in Bishop’s Stortford and travel by train each day. Might be an extreme solution but the school has a good reputation and people do travel some distance.