CLSB, UCS, Habs or MTS

[Confusedmom53]

We have been extremely fortunate that DS has been offered a place at all 4 schools. Commute isn’t a problem as by coach/tube they all take approximately 30-40 mins. DS isn’t particularly sporty, and is more interested in creative writing/languages. Any insights from parents with children in these schools will be greatly appreciated

I would say UCS. They really aim to develop the whole person. My son was very happy there and made friends for life. However GD is at Habs and loves it and the boys and girls schools are gradually doing more together. UCS isn’t overly sporty.

My son is at Habs and absolutely loves it. Excellent academic school in my opinion, lots of club during lunch time and after school, with sports option-drama-music-history- and so much more! You can not find a club that is not in your son interests. Boys are encouraged to give their very best and involved in activities… good luck with your choice!

Thanks both. Any moms here with a child studying at CLSB?

I have a DS at CLSB, but in secondary. I have been very happy with it. Very diverse student body, pretty down to earth for a private school. Quite academic. Fantastic location. Wonderful teachers who really bring out the best in the boys.

Congrats to your son. It is a tough choice. We also have the same options and are struggling to decide. My son is a keen cricketer and I am worried that the fields for City are 40 min away. For Habs we are worried about how one would access to the school outside school coach times incase of fixtures etc. Not sure if rankings are much different between these two. Any thoughts from parents with children at these schools?

I know it’s a bit late but have you made a decision yet? Out of the bunch UCS is most certainly the most academic. Followed marginally by CLSB, then Habs, then MTS. City of London offers great academics, but also has, in my opinion, poor facilities. This is subjective and others may like it. It’s a great school. I don’t know too much about UCS apart from the fact that it is very academic. Habs is quite academic, good at cricket and football. Good facilities and fields. Mainly kids from the Indian subcontinent (not that it matters too much, just lack of diversity. Not racist btw, my parents are Indian). MTS not academi, extremely sporty and good at DT. Hope this helps DM me if you have any questions :)

@stressedmom18 my children aren’t at these schools but I am free to help. Message me at any time and I’ll will be happy to help.

I'd argue slightly differently. I'd say Habs is the most academic, followed by CLSB followed by UCS and MTS in distant fourth. Not much between the first three though.

CLSB is probably the most diverse of the lot and arguably the more grown up experience. UCS probably the most liberal ethos (not for everyone) and fairly homogenous student body, mostly from the better off parts of North London.

All wonderful wonderful schools. If I had a choice, mine would go to City or UCS.

Really? I know a multitude of kids who got into Habs, didn’t get into UCS, St Albans, Hampton etc. Isn’t UCS traditionally more academic, in terms of league tables? I think you’re right on CLSB though. What schools do your DS’ go to?

Nope.

The Sunday Times top 150 independent schools 2021, based on averages of 2017 - 2019 public examination results (they decided not to use 2020 or 2021 pandemic teacher assessed grades in this data):

• Ranked 2: King's College Wimbledon - 96.9% A - B at A level; 96.5% 7 - 9 at GCSE
• Ranked 6: St Pauls' Boys - 95.4% A - B at A level; 96.1% 7 - 9 at GCSE
• Ranked 7: Westminster - 94.1% A - B at A level; 98.3% 7 - 9 at GCSE
• Ranked 11: Eton - 94.6% A - B at A level; 95% 7 - 9 at GCSE
• Ranked 16: Haberdashers' Aske's Boys - 95.3% A - B at A level; 91.4% 7 - 9 at GCSE
• Ranked 22: Hampton - 91.7% A - B at A level; 92.7% 7 - 9 at GCSE
• Ranked 32: University College School - 90.8% A - B at A level; 90.5% 7 - 9 at GCSE
• Ranked 36: City of London Boys - 89.3% A - B at A level; 91.4% 7 - 9 at GCSE
• Ranked 39: Highgate - 89.8% A - B at A level; 89.8% 7 - 9 at GCSE
• Ranked 40: Merchant Taylors, Northwood - 90.6% A - B at A level; 88% 7 - 9 at GCSE
• Ranked 63: St Albans School - 87% A* - B at A level; 82.3% 7 - 9 at GCSE

I can help with any MTS questions if that's helpful

Ah just realised it's an old thread

Wait I said I know people whose kids got into some schools and didn’t get into others, that is true because I know it for a fact. These are some results, doesn’t mean it happened. Plus I think these are outdated because I am familiar with a few of these schools’ results.

'These are some results, doesn't mean it happened.'

Do you think The Sunday Times made up this exam data, then? In no league table I've ever seen over the years has Habs Boys sat below UCS.

'Plus I think these are outdated because I am familiar with a few of these schools' results.'

Well, yes, The Sunday Times 2021 league table was based on averages of 2017 - 2019 public examination results, because - rightly - they, and many independent schools, considered it unfair to be judged by the 2020 and 2021 results because they were determined by teacher assessed grades, not by public examination.

No what I was trying to say is the fact that these are some results, but regardless, I know kids who have gotten into Habs but not other schools. Does that determine the fact that Habs is easier to get into, not necessarily. I simply pointed out that I know kids who got into Habs but not other schools, I am not implying anything, I am just saying.

The most recent exams data for the schools mentioned above were obviously 2020 and 2021 teacher-assessed grades which, rightly or wrongly, were not used in the most recent league tables by publications such as The Sunday Times. But even going by these teacher-assessed grades / results over the last two years, as published on the individual school websites, Habs Boys still emerges pretty strongly. It's true that in 2020, there was a higher proportion of 7-9 grades at UCS and Hampton, but not by much, and its A level results continued to be strong. In 2021, Habs reasserted its strength in GCSE.

• Habs Boys - 2020 A level: 98.2% A - B; 2020 GCSE: 94% 7 - 9
• UCS - 2020 A level: 93.81% A -B; Pre-U: 82.3% D1 - D3; GCSE 95.9% 7-9
• St Albans (boys) - 2020 A level: 94.7% A - B; 2020 GCSE 89.8% 7-9
• Hampton - 2020 A level (A - B figure undisclosed); 2020 GCSE 95% 7-9

• Habs Boys - 2021 A level: 98.6% A - B; 2021 GCSE: 99.5% 7-9
• UCS - 2021 A level: 97% A - B; Pre-U: 91% D1 - D3; GCSE: 95.9% 7-9
• St Albans (boys) - 2021 A level: 95% A - B; 2021 GCSE 91% 7-9
• Hampton - 2021 A level: 98.7% A - B; 2021 GCSE 97.83%

As I've said, however, these are going on teacher-assessed grades owing to Covid. Historically, pre-Covid, the data I've cited above from the Sunday Times league table, which averages out 2017 - 2019 public exam results, also places Habs above UCS, St Albans and Hampton.

And before I get shouted down for talking up Habs Boys, I am basing this on the facts of the examination data available.

I don’t want to start any arguments. I think Habs is a lovely school. It was one of the schools that we considered for my sons. My husband was very keen on the school.

Neither do I - and apologies if I came across as abrasive before. Certainly not my intention to start an argument.

I suppose it's interesting what one's definition of "academic" is, but if we're going by exam results, Habs stands up pretty well. Then again, that's not to knock UCS and the others mentioned above - there's a fine line between them. Not to mention that exam results are not the be-all and end-all.

Again, sorry if I was abrasive before.

No you weren’t, you were making articulate points. We were simply debating and you put you your points across. Makes sense, I respect it.

I know you weren’t trying to knock down other schools. Academics don’t necessarily make a school ‘good’, it’s only one aspect of what matters. I guess academics can’t be defined. It makes sense to define it by exam results or university destinations or successful alumni. But there are also other factors.

Exactly - and as we all know, it can be incredibly subjective what makes a school "good"! That's why it's so important for any prospective parents to go and visit each of these places to get a feel for them for themselves: exam results and other people's opinions on forums like these have their place, but they will only get you so far in terms of researching schools for your children.

That’s so true. I think there has to be a balance between a multitude of things when looking for a top private school. Academics. Extracurriculars. Campus. Facilities. Preparation. Pastoral etc. People shouldn’t be too fixated on one particular aspect because they all really matter in the preparation and nurture of your child. If I may ask, what schools do your children go to?

I actually don't have children but I have relatives and friends who went (or whose children have been) to places like Habs, UCS and Whitgift - all of them have their individual strengths. I'm sure they have weaknesses too (subjectively speaking).

Looking for a school is a bit like going house-hunting: it's that "feeling" you get on open days when you know it's the right place for your child. Only you (and your child) will know it's right!

I know all the schools. I would say Habs first then CLSB only because their sports facilities and the children there are so spread out, most so than any other school, UCS but serious reservations as many of the kids are absolutely off the scale wealthy in the way that there is more of a mix at Habs and CLSB and finally MTS purely because it's no longer very multi-cultural where are the others especially Habs and CLSB are.

MTS isn't multicultural? In what way?