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Secondary education

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Original poster

Channing vs Queen's College vs Francis Holland Regent

53 replies

SameBoat2022 · 11/02/2023 15:59

My DD got offers from the three, (academic scholarship from Queen's, waiting list for academic scholarship from FHRP).

My husband and I adored the vibe at Queen's, and would choose it, but she now says she wants Channing, also because her best friends disliked Queen's. I feel Queen's would be more supportive, relaxed and nurturing, while Channing girls seem more edgy. She is very bright, not particulary driven accademically, fit but not sporty - more of a reader and writer and very sociable. But she also needs structure and a challenge.

It's unlikely any of her current school friends will go with her, wherever she ends up at, so it'd be important to pick up a school less cliquey than others.

Any advice please?

Thanks!

OP posts:
Soma · 11/02/2023 18:50

Channing or FHRP, the girls are not edgy at Channing. Queen's also piles on the homework compared to the other two.

afewtoomanychoices · 11/02/2023 19:20

I would say channing has the best facilities of them and is excellent academically. Queens historically was a more back up choice , although I have heard recently it’s much more sought after

Norwoodmummy · 11/02/2023 19:54

We did find that come Year 7 they soon make friends and find new tribes very quickly - so whilst it may feel like it now, it's not such an issue when primary friends dissipate to other schools. The new headmistress of FHRP (joined September) is very highly regarded and did fabulous work on her previous school (Sydenham High). School felt a little cramped given location, but they make very good use of Regent's Park.

KittyWithStripes · 11/02/2023 21:06

Channing and Queen’s can be much more cliquey as many girls are coming through from the junior school. I would pick FHRP over them, as all the girls start together in Y7 with no cliques.

But more importantly, what’s the commute? Channing is a long way from the other two. I’d want DD to have as many friends in the neighbourhood as possible, so what’s the closest school to you?

Nevermindthesquirrels · 11/02/2023 21:07

Channing or FHRP, whichever is closer. I wouldn't go with queen's if I had those options.

NWmum12 · 11/02/2023 21:09

I'd take FHRP.

Soma · 11/02/2023 21:14

The girls that come up from Fairseat and also friends that come in as a group from other prep schools are usually put into different classes at Channing.

Original poster
SameBoat2022 · 11/02/2023 22:22

Thanks everyone! We are in islington, equally distant more or less….

OP posts:
Nevermindthesquirrels · 12/02/2023 00:14

@SameBoat2022 what's the commute with less changes/more options? I'd go with that. Channing and FHRP are on par imo, Channing winning on facilities.

afewtoomanychoices · 12/02/2023 07:45

There is a large contingent of Islington/ harringey girls at Channing compared to the other two where they are much more spread out

Frogusha · 12/02/2023 22:24

We’re likely to take FHRP with a similar dilemma - offer from all above + 4 other schools. Location is better for us, opportunity as DD gets older for me to hang out with her as I work in the city (dinner, theatres, galleries), finally good stuff now 11+ if over! I’ll never be over by Highgate unless have to go there for school.

other pros over Channing:

  • pool (my DD loves swimming)
  • better facilities in RP vs Waterloo park
  • horse riding in Hyde park (that’s gold for my Dd)
  • Uniform is 1000% better than Channing apparently
  • everyone keeps commenting that it’s a kind nurturing school (nothing similar is being said bout Channing yet the results are very similar)
  • whilst both sites are small Channing has more girls, to me it looked more cramped despite a bigger site

can’t find pros for Channing despite a tiny % point which can change massively either way in next 7 years.

KittyWithStripes · 13/02/2023 17:10

@Frogusha they have RIDING at Francis Holland RP!? Well, that's just convinced my DD, game over.😁

I must admit I struggle to see the appeal of Channing, but it's perennially popular with the girls from DD's prep. Maybe I'm just irrationally prejudiced against brown uniforms having had to wear one myself at school. Ugh.

But seriously, for us Channing would be a hard no just because of the commute, whereas Francis Holland RP and Queen's are very easy to get to.

Original poster
SameBoat2022 · 13/02/2023 20:23

Does anyone have info on how they handle dual exceptionals? Thanks

OP posts:
HopefulMAM · 14/02/2023 21:31

Channing, based on academics and facilities.

Frogusha · 15/02/2023 13:51

@HopefulMAM which facilities specifically better in Channing? Not a wound up question, we have an offer from all 3. Queens in my view is siginificantly worse in terms of facilities but I'm not sure how Channing is better than FHS. The classes are just as cramped, Channing PE head admitted to me that they have no equipment for gymnastics (e.g. sprung floors or bars), they do "display gymnastics", there's no swimming pool. The park nearby is not on par with Regents park and as far as I'm aware they don't use it as much (probably because it's quite small and uneven).

We haven't yet decided but it's hard to see the appeal of Channing. Re: academics, FHS RP is No 30 in regional The Times ranking this year, Channing is 32. Yes, at GCSE there are 2% points in Channing's favour in grades 7-9. At A level it's the opposite A-B. So not sure we ca
n talk about a real academic advantage.

HopefulMAM · 15/02/2023 14:14

Good luck with your decision @Frogusha Regarding academics, you may want to look into some recent data points, I.e. the below (Sunday Times Independent Secondary School Rankings). Channing no.50, FHRP, no 134….

www.fhs-sw1.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/The-Times-Top-400-Independent-Schools.pdf

But yeah, you’re right, the Channing uniform sucks 😅

Frogusha · 15/02/2023 14:58

@HopefulMAM what year is this table from? Seems a few years old and FSRP hasn't been below over 80% in 7-9 in the last 4 years. This year's ranking Times ranking is Francis Holland RP 75, Channing 82. I have a download but as it's behind a paywall it won't display here and can't fund a way to add an attachment. Adding a screenshot

Channing vs Queen's College vs Francis Holland Regent
HopefulMAM · 15/02/2023 15:03

@Frogusha this was from the FH Sloane Square website! Thanks for the recent info.

Good luck with making the right choice for your daughter. FHRP is a good choice.

londonmum789 · 15/02/2023 15:13

We’ve had two daughters at Channing, one now left for university, and have loved it. A really good balance of academics and a nurturing environment to help them realise their own potential. The new-ish head is also great.
I wouldn’t set much store by league tables, which are only ever a snapshot of one or two year groups. Trend over time might be more useful, but it still won’t tell you whether the school will support your own child to their own success (whatever that looks like).
Best of luck with making your choice - the reality is your child will almost certainly do well at any of these schools

Original poster
SameBoat2022 · 20/02/2023 10:55

I would not rely exclusively on results as you never know if and how much tutoring is involved. There is also a chance she'll get Camden School for Girls eventually, which I suppose would also be a good choice. Any thoughts on it?

OP posts:
Frogusha · 20/02/2023 11:14

@SameBoat2022 I’ll pm you

Dodgeitornot · 20/02/2023 11:52

@SameBoat2022 Camden is a great option of you get it. I would take it over any of the others and use the fees for other things or set aside for uni fees. I can't see the 9.5k fees being around much longer.

Frogusha · 20/02/2023 12:03

@Dodgeitornot why do you think CSG is a good option? We'll likely have it as well. CSG is a big school, all capabilities, less teachers. Results at GCSE are much worse than any of these three schools (25-30% worse, the difference is huge). Then at A levels almost half of kids leave, mostly from low sets and a mass of private school kids come for A levels and bump up the results to almost Channing / FHS level but not quite. The price for CSG is having to do all sports on the side as there's hardly any sport at school (and for teeneagers it's almost always late night) and for the parents to stay totally on top of schoolwork and hw as a state school would just not have the same resources for feedback loop. It's a big opportunity cost should things go haywire.

Dodgeitornot · 20/02/2023 12:45

@Frogusha This is completely anecdotal, my DD doesn't attend any of these schools but goes to lots of music and sports things with girls from CSG, Channing and SHHS. The fact she has friends from these school at her extra curricular isn't a suprise to me, I think parents are under this illusion that their kids will go to all these amazing clubs and use the facilities that are in the glossy magazines. The reality is all the ones we know from music, swimming or theatre are doing things outside of school and in school if time permits but those in school just aren't as good.

The vast majority of DDs friends at her music and theatre classes are kids from Camden, Fortismere, or the Indies. Nearly all have tutors as well. Some have multiple in the GCSE years. The Mum's have sent me recommendations.
I'm not saying it's not worth the money, that's really only for the parents to decide. Comparing CSG results to Channing is silly tbh, one has an intake 50% from local council homes and 50% from wealthy families. The other has 99% wealthy families and 100% academic girls.
If money was no object than sure go for the Indies, but don't do it because of the facilities or clubs. I am not criticizing the Indies, they're wonderful schools but I think it would be silly to turn down Camden for any of these Indies. The education is just as good and the girls are able to mix with a far more diverse student population.

Frogusha · 20/02/2023 12:58

@Dodgeitornot by DDs are at a prep. DD1 is in 4 squads and have 3-4 other sports clubs. She has regular fixtures and various local and national competitions. No local clubs are as good as what she does at school. To achieve the same in state secondary would be even harder as clubs start at 7-8pm for secondary ages kids. I have friends with DCs in grammars who drive their kids around. We just don't have the time for that, we work long hours. To go by public transport would take hours, hw would suffer. I agree sports are not for everyone but my DD has been brought up since the age of 3 with sports and I know should she go to CSG she'll start doing a bare minimum (whatever excuse for PE there's on offer) and as a result might have issues as an adult with keeping fit. Additonally sport is a major counterweight against exam burnout in secondary, so i don't agree it's stuff for glossy magazines.

in CSG there's no drama, which is part of the curriculum with free additonal clubs in all of the above schools. Again, it's good to have but if your kid wants drama and sport that's your week-ends gone as well as evenings.