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Secondary education

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

Original poster

North Bridge House senior

20 replies

wildcatpinkdolphin · 28/04/2022 09:01

Hi mums, we live in Dalston but
my daughter is having issues at her current north London only girls independent school: she complains about lack of local friends to hang out with and the “stuffiness “ and poshness of her current school and also I think she would like to interact with boys as well.
She would like to go to a state school so I’m considering both Stoke Newington secondary and sixth form and North bridge house senior. I’m desperate for some updated experiences at both schools as I would not want to fail again. Can anybody help with some honest realistic opinion on both schools? Thank you!

OP posts:
itssquidstella · 28/04/2022 10:25

North Bridge House is a private school.

Original poster
wildcatpinkdolphin · 28/04/2022 11:12

Yes I know , But we are considering visiting both :-)’ !

OP posts:
Mrseven · 28/04/2022 12:33

NBH Canonbury will offer you a very small peer group of potential friends

Original poster
wildcatpinkdolphin · 28/04/2022 13:25

@Mrseven thanks for your answer ! are classes so small? She’s currently in year 7 :-)

OP posts:
Mrseven · 28/04/2022 13:43

They say up to 15 kids, less at A level. You might be lucky and have a small group of nice kids or you may not have many friendship choices, and a slightly too sheltered school life In my opinion.

what school is your DD at right now?

Mrseven · 28/04/2022 13:47

And have you considered St Mary Mags? Or Forest?

Original poster
wildcatpinkdolphin · 26/05/2022 08:00

@Mrseven hi! Never heard of St Mary Mags ?
Forest again is too far … she’d like to go to a nice school which she can walk to without being too complicated to meet up with friends afterwards

OP posts:
Notcontent · 26/05/2022 10:12

It sounds like you are looking for the holy grail - a good, local school…

Agree about NBH - it’s a very small school so very small pool of friends and no guarantee that there would be anyone local. Mary Mags is good what what I have heard but it’s not that local to you and very hard to get a place.

I am in North London and it’s quite likely my DD is at the same school as yours. For us it has worked well as my DD needed a calm, slightly sheltered environment that the schools closest to us would not have provided but Stoke Newington might work well for your DD - it’s quite a big school I think.

Noonado · 28/05/2022 21:30

Mary Mags and Stoke Newington are both seriously oversubscribed; according to their website SNS has a waiting list for places in every year, so your DD might have to wait to get in there.

Sukiri123 · 07/06/2022 12:26

NBH? Don't waste your money, terrible School.

Original poster
wildcatpinkdolphin · 07/06/2022 13:39

@Sukiri123 thank you ! What makes you say that?

OP posts:
Mumholly · 14/09/2022 17:32

I agree. Don't waste your money. Poor teaching!! Lots of supply teachers. The quality of teaching is better at the less known state schools. The classes are small also and you may find children don't gel very well so there's lots of disputes. I wouldn't send my child there unless I was desperate.

XelaM · 14/09/2022 17:50

If you're looking at independents, Mount House is definitely not stuffy. It's very relaxed and friendly and is co-ed. My daughter loves it (having moved from a stuffy school). Might be too far for you, but they have a bus service.

SazzyS · 25/11/2022 08:02

Hi there, I was wondering how you got on with your school decision. We are also considering North Bridge House but a few of the people who responded to your thread didn't rate it - eek, hard decision! My daughter would be transferring into year 7.

SazzyS · 25/11/2022 08:21

Hi Holly,
We are also considering North Bridge House but I've noted your observations about it. Is this from personal experience of a child going there? Disappointing that they have a lot of supply teachers.

Mumsafan · 30/11/2022 12:20

I wouldn't bother with any of the Cognita schools if I were you

Donotgogentle · 24/12/2022 07:19

My DS is at NBH Hampstead and we’re very pleased with it. Hardly any supply teachers.

It’s amazing how such strong opinions are spouted by pp with absolutely no evidence offered to back it up.

Iam2 · 28/01/2023 22:31

Maybe a little late to answer, but my DD was at NBH Canonbury yr 9-11. True, the year groups are small so not a large pool of potential friends. Most kids are though reasonably local. Teaching staff does tend to change in some subjects, but this is usually over the summer so we had no issue with supply teachers. All English teachers have been excellent, and usually also maths pretty good. The Drama teacher is outstanding and so is the Music teacher (they never changed). Art also a strength, and history teachers are very good. Possibly some variability in Science, but the Head of Science is excellent. My DD is now at a highly rated state school, and all I can say is, I now know I have not wasted my money.

SazzyS · 29/01/2023 07:55

Thank you for this info about NBH - good to get a rounded viewpoint on it. In fact, my daughter has now started at Mount House. It’s early days, but so far we are all very happy with it. It’s been very helpful to read the threads on different schools.

Haysedge77 · 26/09/2023 18:34

What is the commute like to Mount House from Dalston? I couldn't see a way we could do that from Hackney or am I missing something!?!

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