Well funded Islington/Highgate public schools

[ldnmay]

Hi

I know that secondary schools in Islington aren't the best based in what I've seen in Mumsnet. However, I did want to ask about well funded ones in the Highgate/Islington area for either gender.

Thank you

You may have had no responses so far because people are confused by your terminology!

Could you clarify that by Public School you don’t actually mean an ancient, traditional fee paying school?

And what do you mean by well funded? Do you mean a state school with wealthy parents who might make large donations to any fundraising drive?

I may have completely misunderstood!

Don’t state schools all get the same amount of funding per pupil? Your op is very confusing.

Perhaps you are not from the UK but the only “public” school in the area you describe is Highgate School. There are various other independent (ie fee paying schools) and lots of state secondaries in Haringey and Islington boroughs.

Sorry for the confusion! I've heard some schools have more facilities and such then others even if they're both public schools (free to attend). Is that true about the area Ive mentioned?

Thank you

‘State school’ is a school funded by the state.

‘public school’ is Eton , Harrow etc. the terminology is confusing.

OP UK terminology is the opposite of USA terminology.
A public school in the UK is the oldest and usually the most expensive private school.

State run schools do vary, the more expensive the houses in the catchment area the better the school will be.
But unlike the USA you aren't guaranteed a place by moving into the catchment area.

OP if you click the link I provided above you will find an explanation of what the term ‘Public School’ means in the UK. (And you’ll stop using it unless that’s actually the type of school you mean!)

Hope someone can help you on Islington state schools.

You need to stop calling them public schools, it's confusing. What you're referring to is state schools. Both Islington and Highgate are classed as inner London for funding formulas so they're going to get the same money per pupil. Some will get extra money for free school meals etc.
All schools are different and will offer different facilities and clubs etc.

(You’ll probably think we’re being annoyingly pedantic - but the term ‘Public School’ can provoke quite visceral / violent reactions in some people. They may associate it (rightly or otherwise) with the type of school attended by a proportion of our least admired, most uncaring politicians. Most people have never stepped inside such a school, but their perception of them is wholly negative.)

Here’s a recent thread on Islington state secondaries:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/4496627-Islington-secondaries

NB: “SMMA” is short for St Mary Magdalene Academy (which is mixed).. Highbury Fields School is girls-only.

For Highgate and nearby Muswell Hill, search for threads on Highgate Wood, Fortismere, Alexandra Park School (“APS”) and you should find plenty of recent discussion.

Do not expect any of these schools to be well-funded. Unfortunately the present Government is looking for some £40 billion worth of public spending cuts to announce within the month, with education one of the biggest departments to target for cost savings.

Funding for schools in the UK is different to the US, if that's your experience; there is a complex funding formula, but at heart, it's based on number of pupils, not the small area in which they are located unlike the US. Local funding, largely property tax based, means there can be very significant equalities between areas in terms of schools funding in the US, and that's not the case here.

That doesn't mean some schools aren't better at managing funds, have more modern buildings if they have been required to expand recently, or have differing levels of parental contributions either directly or via parental organisations, but the base funding is per pupil and won't differ dramatically.

More money is given to a school
if they have children in particular categories. A school would get more money if they had more children who are eligible for free school meals. You can see the eligibility forFree school meals here. it will be children who come from homes where there are likely to be significant shortages of things money buys.
Once you’ve got your head around what a state school IS you then may have to think about different types of state school. Some get all their money from the government but some are voluntary aided or voluntary controlled. In Islington and the surrounds this would be church schools, and certain non church secondary schools. These schools do get government money but also have to find some of their money themselves.

I think of you want a school with lots of money you may need to pay for that. You would be looking at independent schools.

I’m not saying you’d need to
pay to get a decent school for your child, only that most state schools are struggling.

what do you want in a school? What sexes are your children? What don’t you want? Would you move to be near a school? How much is too much travel.