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Secondary education

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Original poster

City vs Habs senior schools

52 replies

bstrong0805 · 31/01/2023 13:18

Hi - My son has received a place for City of London and Habs at 7+. My son is very sporty, loves cricket, tennis and all outdoor sports but is also equally interested in math, DT, computing etc.
We have visited the new City Junior School campus and were not hugely impressed, though I know they are having their set up and teething issues. The teachers and staff seemed lovely. We have heard some amazing things though about the senior school and that the boys really thrive. Habs on the ohter hand, all same campus, lot of sports but very academic too and likely to be less nurturing than City. Our decision to go to City will hence be influenced by the senior school but we havent had a chance to see it yet and hence my ask here if anyone has any personal feedback or City Boys School vs Habs.
Thank you!

OP posts:
Original poster
bstrong0805 · 01/02/2023 08:17

Anyone with feedback pls ? We need to make a decision very soon.

OP posts:
PermanentTemporary · 01/02/2023 08:22

I personally would avoid City unless you have a child who is only into curriculum academics, and doesnt have a passion for sport, music etc. That's not based on my child but a relative. City is a great school but the experience I saw from the outside was that literally nothing else but grades mattered.

Nevermindthesquirrels · 01/02/2023 10:36

If your child is sporty and academic than habs. Which is closer to you?

Original poster
bstrong0805 · 01/02/2023 13:17

@Nevermindthesquirrels we are about 35-40 mins from Habs and about 20 mins from City. So it is not an obvious one.

OP posts:
Nevermindthesquirrels · 01/02/2023 13:21

@bstrong0805 oh than City. If your son ends up super sporty than you can always switch at 11. Distance at that age makes such a massive difference.

sorrynotathome · 01/02/2023 13:22

Math?

Original poster
bstrong0805 · 01/02/2023 13:25

@Nevermindthesquirrels yes, hence our decision is tricky.
@PermanentTemporary thank you for the feedback. I knpw City probably isnt as big on extra curricular and sport but I hoped there was more than academics there!
@sorrynotathome what do you mean by Math ?

OP posts:
sorrynotathome · 01/02/2023 13:28

Math is not a subject. Maths or mathematics, thank you.

MigAndMog · 01/02/2023 13:34

sorrynotathome · 01/02/2023 13:28

Math is not a subject. Maths or mathematics, thank you.

You came on here just to say that?! OP may not be English so perfectly valid and actually a more logical abbreviation in some ways - why add an "s" when you're abbreviating.

Original poster
bstrong0805 · 01/02/2023 14:12

@sorrynotathome just to be clear I know what Math means (even though Maths is the right way to say it), but if you leave a comment saying Math I dont know what school you are referring to or what point you are trying to get across.
@MigAndMog thanks!

OP posts:
Nevermindthesquirrels · 01/02/2023 14:14

Is the route to Habs 40min on the school coach? Or public transport with multiple changes?
Is city 20mins on one train or bus?

monitor1 · 01/02/2023 14:29

It's more than an hour from city to Habs, so where do you live that is 20 minutes to one and 40 minutes to the other? one of those timings is optimistic.....

Original poster
bstrong0805 · 01/02/2023 14:49

@Nevermindthesquirrels Habs is 40 min on the school coach for us and City also on the school coach for now. Like I said in my original post, it is for a 7+ entry now so the City junior school is in Chancery Lane and not the main senior school building.
@monitor1 that probably answers your question too.

OP posts:
monitor1 · 01/02/2023 15:24

Hmm. I'd take those coach times with a pinch of salt one way or the other.

AegeanBlue · 01/02/2023 15:30

@bstrong0805 am assuming you’ve seen the option to see the City senior school - linked in offer email.

I have visited City boys on a general event and it was clear there are a huge amount of extra curricular things going on. True that sports fields are a coach trip away.

Nevermindthesquirrels · 01/02/2023 15:57

Hm I don't know about those timings but I suspect you'd be lucky to get the 40mins to Habs. For junior Habs the kids do tend to be a bit local, very north London centered. I think you will likely find playdates and general enjoyment of primary years a lot more if you go to City. It's a different type of parent too. Do you work? If not than you might find Habs suits you more.
I once went to an interview at the courts the City school is based at, it's really quiet and lovely but it's not really an area of London that's much use for young kids. No large parks or museums.
I think if you want the classic fields, sports, drama and academic than Habs. City will be a very inner city centre experience with all the pros and cons of that. It's hard to compare really as aside from the academic side, they couldn't be more different. I'm talking about both Junior and Senior when I say that.

hampsteadmum · 01/02/2023 16:04

City has better academic results and ranks higher on the Times list than Habs (11th and 19th place respectively). It also gets more Oxbridge offers. I have a 6th former at SPGS and a GCSE student at Westminster. They both have many friends at City boys and I can confirm that many sporty and musical boys go to City. City has some links with the Guildhall of Music as I recall and generally the boys we know there are sportier than the Habs boys. Habs does have the reputation of being the SPS of the North and is strong at Maths, but City seems to be doing better at the moment.

Original poster
bstrong0805 · 01/02/2023 16:05

@AegeanBlue yes going to see senior school on Monday so hopefully will give be a better idea. I saw your post on another group, are you accepting a City offer?
@Nevermindthesquirrels yes me and my husband both work in City and go in about 3 days a week! We are very familiar and comfortable with the City in general, but as you say we question if it is right for a 7 year old to study in that environment. But your perspective is very helpful, thank you!

OP posts:
Nevermindthesquirrels · 01/02/2023 16:19

Ah I think I'd definitely go for city in your shoes. Given that you both work and you're both in the city and closer to it, I think you'll find a lot more like minded parents and easier playdates. This is really the years you make friends with parents and unless you want to be driving to Stanmore every weekend, I'd go with City.
I find for boys coed is a nicer balance in the primary years. Habs doesn't have a reputation for churning out kind boys but I believe they're going to work with the girls school more.

ItsRainingTacos79 · 01/02/2023 17:02

Congratulations @bstrong0805 . I'm so happy for you and your DC. You beat me to it with your thread. I was about to start one myself to enquire about City. I haven't visited the school properly yet but will attend the offer holder morning next week. I'm quite torn, we have to choose between City, Highgate and UCS. Highgate and UCS are convenient location-wise but City isn't hugely out of our way either.

Sorry to hijack your thread, I was hoping someone could shed some light on rumours that a few children are looking to leave having only started last year. It could be nothing and just that the parents want to get into WUS or SPJ. Anyone with boys at City? Are boys adapting well with teachers and in an environment which was originally a girl's school? Teaching an all girl class can be very different to teaching a mix of boys and girls. Any feedback would be much appreciated 🙏🏼.

ItsRainingTacos79 · 01/02/2023 17:36

@bstrong0805 I'm trying to work out how to access PM. Request received but access denied 🤷🏽‍♀️

Original poster
bstrong0805 · 01/02/2023 22:33

@ItsRainingTacos79 I tried sending you another DM, let me know if you got it!

OP posts:
ItsRainingTacos79 · 01/02/2023 22:42

It's so frustrating @bstrong0805 it won't give me access to the inbox yet I receive emails saying I have messages. I will contact MN for support.

crazymama123 · 03/02/2023 10:27

ItsRainingTacos79 · 01/02/2023 17:02

Congratulations @bstrong0805 . I'm so happy for you and your DC. You beat me to it with your thread. I was about to start one myself to enquire about City. I haven't visited the school properly yet but will attend the offer holder morning next week. I'm quite torn, we have to choose between City, Highgate and UCS. Highgate and UCS are convenient location-wise but City isn't hugely out of our way either.

Sorry to hijack your thread, I was hoping someone could shed some light on rumours that a few children are looking to leave having only started last year. It could be nothing and just that the parents want to get into WUS or SPJ. Anyone with boys at City? Are boys adapting well with teachers and in an environment which was originally a girl's school? Teaching an all girl class can be very different to teaching a mix of boys and girls. Any feedback would be much appreciated 🙏🏼.

I'm interested in people's views on city/UCS/highgate too. We're waiting for 11+ results, and in the highly unlikely case that we have a choice, i don't know how we'd choose between them...

monitor1 · 03/02/2023 20:47

UCS every time, personally, if travel not an issue. But I'd probably say whichever you're closer to as the traffic is so awful in school run time.