NLCS vs Highgate vs Alleyn’s

[Buru]

Hi all. Would really appreciate your advice on the choice between NLCS and two top co-ed schools. We just moved to the UK in summer and were not accustomed to single-sex education. DD really wanted to go to co-ed school but we were quite impressed with NLCS and asked her to give it a try. She got in and it now feels like a very hard school to reject given its academic excellence and the opportunities it offers to girls. Am I right in praising it so much or are the two co-ed schools she got into, are equally good? Or if we remove the co-ed factor, NLCS is a clear choice?
DD has many interests in extracurriculars, such as drama, debates, signing and sports. In Highgate she would probably join their amazing design and technology club. She is very brainy apparently but has not been exposed to a rigorous academic environment up to now. It was nice and easy for her at a small and cozy primary school abroad.

We will be moving for her school, so will try find something reasonably close to her school. We like the Highgate area but can probably equally find something in not so expensive areas around Hamstead for NLCS or Dulwich / Clapham for Alleyn’s.
Last but not least, we have two other young DDs who will also need to find schools for, so an area with a few options would help.
Would welcome any thoughts and recommendations on our dilemma. A breadth of insights on Mumsnet is very impressive!

My daughter started in Year 7 at NLCS. She is very happy there. But we need to make sacrifices because of the fees. Will you be able to afford the independent sector with your other 2 daughters?
She came from a co-ed primary sector but for secondary education we decided for an all girls school. She keeps in touch with her primary school friends, though. I would advised that you also visit the schools you have in mind.

Well done to your DD - tough schools to get into!
I can’t comment on NCLS or Highgate as I have no experience of these but we are very happy with Alleyn’s for our DS - hopefully someone will come along to give their perspective as a parent of a daughter there.

I can tell you, however, that there other excellent local schools for girls in Dulwich when factoring in your other DDs. Most convenient and comparable is JAGS, which is literally across the road from Alleyn’s.
Sydenham High is a well regarded private girls school about a 15min drive away and is a part of the GDST - there are school buses from Dulwich.
St Dunstan’s is co-Ed private and also well regarded.
If you live in Dulwich - there is Charter, a top state co-Ed school.
Finally Kingsdale in West Dulwich is also a very sought after state co-Ed with a mix of catchment area and lottery style admissions policy.

Dulwich and the surrounding areas are lovely places to raise a family.

They are all excellent schools. All of them will have extracurricular provision for DT. I would decide whether you want Co Ed or mixed, and then decide where you want to live. A bright child will do really well at any of these schools. I wouldn't do NCLS from Hampstead - lots do but it's a long coach journey, and I just wouldn't want my child wasting that much time every day on a bus.

Highgate feels like a very ‘local’ school. Most kids live within a few mile radius. Possibly unlike some of the other big private schools. It’s getting better and better academically and harder to get into. It’s a good choice if you want co-ed. They have done well for science and Oxbridge this year. A friendly feel overall.

And Hampstead is more expensive than areas around highgate and not ideally placed for any of your three choices.

If your daughter wants to try co-ed then by all means it's worth thinking about giving it a try. Highgate used to have a bit of a reputation for being very 'cool', with some quite sophisticated, privileged kids and the associated issues that come with that... but the school seems to be keeping a closer eye on parties/drugs etc lately. Alleyn's is a lovely school, my friend's geeky and arty daughter did brilliantly there.

NLCS is unbeatable for exam results but if you've moved here to give your daughter a more rounded, modern British education, then co-ed is definitely worth looking at. Good luck!

Thank you so much! This is very helpful. What are the best areas to live in for NLCS then?

Re fees: a very valid point! I’m essentially sacrificing my life and work full time to pay for kids’ education. Would love to send someone to a state school, to be honest, but will see if it’s feasible. We didn’t get anywhere last summer and since it was just before the start of year 6, I put her in a private school that took us and concentrated on 11+ exams.

Hello,
I have two daughters at NLCS, both very happy there. The lack of boys is both a godsend and a curse and they both would loathe and love to have them around depending on the day! They went to a coed prep school so it was a bit of an adjustment to be in a single sex school. They have both made a ton of friends very easily and for sure there are some elements of being all girls at 12-13 that are very positive. In terms of where to live, most people live in Stanmore, Bushey, Mill Hill, Hampstead, Highgate with some further afield in Islington or Kensington. Happy to answer any questions.

Queens College vs Channing vs out of London school

Really happy with offers for my daughter but struggling with the decision making since I find the schools very different. We love Queens but facilities on site obviously limited. Also offered a school with incredible facilities outside London which would require relocation - amazing sports facilities including rowing, swimming pool, lots of art and textiles rooms … My daughter loves art, also bright and likes most subjects and pretty good at trying everything. I think Channing is seen as a bit more academic (which I’m happy with) but it’s a little harder for us to get to. Final dilemma is that we are not in the higher wealth category, is she likely to be discriminated against at Queens for example ? Any insights very welcome. I would love to release places for others but finding the process quite overwhelming.

@Kittylondon - it’s probably better to start a new thread with the title containing the names of the schools you are interested in. You will probably only get people interested in NCLS, Highgate and Alleyn’s clicking on this one.

Sorry I’m new to mumsnet and thought I had created a new thread ! I wondered what had happened to it !

Hi, I can only comment on HIghgate and NLCS, as
my children go / went there. NLCS feels much more academic than HIghgate and I think a very bright child would do very well at NLCS. Our daughter thrives at NLCS, she takes the coach in and enjoys it. Many of her friends take the coach from Nw3, st Johns Wood and Nw11 and remember there’s a shuttle from Edgware and Canons Park stations. We took NLCS over HIghgate for its academic and its STEM offer. I loved the junior school setting at HIghgate, but the senior school is different. It’s an older building with smaller class rooms etc.

Hello! We've accepted an offer for my DD at NLCS, DD will be in year 7 :) very excited for her new adventures. I was just wondering whether we'll need to get used to a certain computer system (Mac or Windows etc), as DD is very slow at typing and does not know much about computers at all. Thank you.

Congratulations and welcome! Your DD will be given an IPad loaded with all the apps used at school (with only those - she won’t be able to load any personal apps) soon after she starts. The most used apps will be Microsoft team and Outlook which are used for all homework and assignments. Don’t worry, she will not be required to have a strong knowledge of any equipment or apps.

Thank you for your kind words! I was wondering if you knew the area around the school (i.e.: around Stanmore station), and whether it's a good/safe area to live? We're looking to rent something over there, but have never lived nearby. Although the crime rate on the gov website has been listed as medium, i know that the stats don't always reflect the reality! Thank you.

Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts and recommendations. We also went for NLCS in the end. Looking forward to next year. @gabisunicorn thinking of moving somewhere around Swiss Cottage / Queens Park. A house would probably be smaller than closer to school but would hopefully be an easier commute for work to City and two other children can also go to school there.