State secondary schools south Camden

[Elfen]

Our son is very shy, quiet, quite academically able ('working at greater depth' in most subjects). We're in central London, Holborn area.
Looking for recent personal experiences of state secondary schools and any ideas of where to find information other than schools' websites (i.e. pupils' and parents' views). Also advice on where's best academically, where might suit a shy child, what the music/language aptitude or other tests involve, anything else useful as this is all new and a bit daunting.
Am thinking of:
Maria Fidelis, Haverstock, William Ellis, Central Foundation, any others we might be in the catchment area for.
Thanks! :)

i attended an online event last year called Meet the Parents. Very informative!

meettheparents.info/latest-events/

Also look at Compare Schools - a government website with lots of data comparisons.

Would you consider Elizabeth Garrett Anderson? When I helped out with Brownies in Bloomsbury quite off a few of the girls went there.

Thank you!
Meet the Parents looks great.
Isn't EGA only girls? I'll take a look.

Oh yea, so sorry - I misread your OP.

Hi OP. How far are you happy for your DS to travel? It might worth a shot at the aptitude test for Mary Mags in Islington; it’s verbal reasoning and creative writing.

You could also look at Marylebone Boy’s. It’s undersubscribed so no catchment. I really liked the headteacher and the ethos when we looked round, but decided it was too far for DS (we’re further north east than you).

Our son came from a prep school to Central Foundation and the change has brought out the best in him. We really love it.

The school ethos is aspirational with dedicated teachers, school leadership is solid (the school is on the strict side). They stream the students into sets and the top set are pretty bright, with a few CLS type students and the rest well above average in that set. There's lots of music and sports too. We turned down a place at Forest School (and NBH) because we got into CFBS.

Happy to chat if you have any questions.

These all sound good — thank you. Not heard of Mary Mags or Marylebone boys, so I'll look them up.
Central Foundation is definitely one we want to look at as it has a good reputation for academic achievements. Is it also known for being very strict...? And I imagine hard to get into? (Think we're just on the outer edge of its catchment, not quite in it.)

Yes, Central is certainly strict. The boys get clear boundaries and behaviour guidance. I think you'll have to be onboard with this as a family - the parents I spoke to definitely support the discipline at the school. Most students seem to want to behave well at school and want to achieve good grades.

There's been an extensive school refurbishment going on, finished next spring. Have you had a look at the school yet?

Oh and fingers crossed for you regarding the catchment area. We're on the edge too and got in through waitlist. I know some boys from around Lamb's Conduit Street who go there, which might be near you, but of course this can change every year.

I've not looked yet, but noticed they have open days coming up. It sounds good. The strictness might suit my child because he prefers peace and quiet!

well, as much as I can endorse this school, I think peace and quiet would be a step too far in describing it! But let us know what you think after the open day and what you'll decide in the end

Central Foundation is a really good school.

It doesn't have a large middle class intake like a lot of very good secondary schools that people rave about like Alexandra Park and Fortismere in Muswell Hill, a large amount of students at CFBS receive pupil premium. The grades are comparable to those schools though, so it must be very good.